Interesting DIY homes

[Ellsworth]

I found a couple of interesting website today and thought I'd post them for folks to check out. Very unusual, DIY type of stuff.

http://www.tnstaafl.net/Earthship/earthship.html

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/glennkangiser/album?.dir=/8ac1&.src=ph

I'm not sure I like the idea of living in a home made of rammed earth and tires, because tires contain a lot of chemicals. I'd imagine that some of that would leach out over time?

The other home is rather neat. It seems very 'organic' in design and quite eclectic... almost like a bizzare hobbit hole ;)

[nobleknight]

Very close to a Hobbit hole, but no round doors. Very eclectic indeed.

Tom
nobleknight

[rreidnauer]

LOL, most Americans already live almost totally surrounded by plastics. Heck, most car interiors are all but 100% plastic. And anyone who knows their stuff about VOC emmisions from it can tell you that isn't healthy. How much worse could this be? :roll:

[ponyboy]

http://earthship.org/

The tires are filled with dirt and pounded with a sledge hammer to form a 300 pound "brick". Once you plaster over them there is no "off gassing" ( I think that's what they called it). :)

[NordicPrincess]

Thanks for sharing Ellsworth. The "hobbit hole" is eclectic indeed! But very homey and comfy looking. I would think it must be fun to live there.
I especially liked the "inspector". Those are the kind you want to deal with! :D

Shanara

[JeffandSara]

Ponyboy.... isn't plaster still a ... well, a permeable membrane, so to speak? I'd be really surprised if there wasn't at least some off-gassing.

Of course, you can't protect yourself from everything that could be potentially harmful, I guess. :wink: Some of these alternative building materials and techniques are certainly interesting anyway.

Sara :D

[ponyboy]

Hello Sara,

I believe your right about the plaster being able to breath. Especially the earth plaster they like to use. I think that with the tires being encased in plaster the things that make it want to "off gas" are pretty much taken away (sunlight, oxygen, Taco Bell....) :shock: :D

Here's their FAQ

http://www.earthship.org/build/offgas.php

Jeff

[JeffandSara]

Thanks, Jeff.

I'd glanced around the site but missed that page.

It's an interesting explanation, and sounds reasonably logical (and like you said, the elements that one would guess would be breaking them down are probably mostly eliminated.

Seems to me, however, that if this gentleman is trying to convert others to his methods, he might conceivably get farther in that direction if he didn't start off his explanation by labelling anyone asking about this issue as "irresponsible". Was I seriously considering his technique, that would have been quite a turn-off to me. :wink:

Sara :D

[ponyboy]

Seems to me, however, that if this gentleman is trying to convert others to his methods, he might conceivably get farther in that direction if he didn't start off his explanation by labelling anyone asking about this issue as "irresponsible".
Sara :D

Sounds more like something the log home kit manufactures would say when you ask them about their inferior building method.... :mrgreen:

[Ellsworth]

Wow, I didn't mean to start a controversial debate, I just thought they were some neat websites.

When it comes to tires, about all I know are the treadwear, traction and temp gradings ;)

[JeffandSara]

:lol:
Don't worry, Ellsworth. I think that WE are all copacetic, just curious. It's the guy on the website Jeff linked that seems to have issues.
:wink:

I never heard your dad call anyone an ignorant rube for questioning his methods. Not to their face, anyway, right? :lol: The facts speak for themselves, so there's no reason to get uppity. So if this guy has the answers about off-gassing, which he seemingly does, why the hostility about the questions? That was my only point.

Actually, I think that maybe the issue here is one of "environmental responsibility", and that's where the attitude comes in. If you really cared, you wouldn't be looking for reasons not to build with tires, or whatever.

Just my thought.

Sara :D

[ponyboy]

:lol:


Actually, I think that maybe the issue here is one of "environmental responsibility", and that's where the attitude comes in. If you really cared, you wouldn't be looking for reasons not to build with tires, or whatever.

Sara :D

I bet he's just sick of answering that question 4 times a day for the last 30 years. LOL :D

Jeff

[DYork]

Hmm. As far as old tires goes, retailers have been selling something called "EcoSurf" for years. It's a matting made from chipped up old tires, and while it does have an odor when 1st unrolled, it can used just about anywhere. The smell soon goes away. If you wish to see some, go to a Lowes Store, and venture into their major appliance section. You will find this grey material around the bottom of their fixtures that the dishwashers are displayed on. I know this because I work at a company that builds these display fixtures. I've read the MSDS on it and it has good marks. Been cutting, glueing and handling this stuff myself for several years now, with no ill affects. (Boss-I can't work tomorrow-the voices told me to stay home and load all the guns)

[dbtoo]

The previous owner of my place had a unique use for tires...

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e209/dbtoo/07frontporch.jpg

Don't think I'll use the technique for my log home, though.

[rreidnauer]

Ahhhh. A mosquito farm. Nice!

[DYork]

Ahhhh. A mosquito farm. Nice!

:lol:
I don't think there's a very big mosquito problem in those Mesa Arizona tires. Not much chance of rain collecting in them either--for very long.

[dbtoo]

Those be the Show Low tires, so they'll see a bit more rain, and some snow too! In Mesa, we actually do have a mosquito problem because too many people don't take care of their pools, let them get all green with algea. Perfect breeding place for 'squiters.

But that's off topic. Sorry. :oops:

[Russell Snow]

Has anyone mixed design elements from the earthship with the LBHA style cabin? I like the cabin, don't like the hobbit house look. I am wanting to catch my water, and build a greenhouse on the south wall. Would the humidity of a greenhouse rot the logs? It would give me passive solar heat in the winter and make an air draw though underground ducts in the summer. With radiant heat in the floors, which I could run chilled water through in the summer, I think I could make a self cooling and heating house. I am not sure how to run the numbers, but it should be feasible.

[Kola]

Hemp GH ! :)


Hmmm... I wonder if they can make hemp winda's?

[misplayed-hand]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfx89LDqrJk

[misplayed-hand]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB3e8xwu_Do

[Shark]

That's awesome!