SB: Re: earth berming

["John Dittli" <dittli@earthlink.net>]

Scott said
snip
>To put a house anywhere
>other than the top (windy) or the bottom (limited options) means doing a
l>ot of leveling. I can't see doing that without wrapping the hill back
>around the house on 2 or 3 sides at least. And the idea of having a
>walk-in, main-level root cellar? Be still, my growling stomach...

Hi Scott. We were faced with the same situation. A hillside was the only
property we could afford in our area. Not wanting to erect a box on an
excavated landing we chose, as you say, to wrap the hill back around the
house (at least partially). Unfortunately, in our case, this required ALOT
of concrete. Our codes required engineered retaining walls on the uphill
side. Although perhaps not recommended by some (many?) on this list, we
stacked bales against the 5' walls (building paper between). As well we have
a walk in "mechanical room" and cellar. Building into a hill increases
complexity (i.e.. costs), but the gains in aesthetics (for your neighbors)
and other efficiencies, IMHO make it worth it.

John

John Dittli Photography
www.johndittli.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Scott Willing" <willing@mb.sympatico.ca>
To: <strawbale@crest.org>
Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2002 12:55 PM
Subject: SB: OT? earth berming (was Re: SB: Bread Dough, Earthen Plasters,
Mixing Time)


> In any case, I am convinced that earth is
> supposed to be handled with the right half of our brain.

I hope I can buy brain gloves somewhere, that sounds messy. :-)

But seriously, this one's gone into the keeper file. You folks make me
want to go play in the dirt.

Somewhat OT...

We're bale fans now living on a site that would appear to have some
potential for earth-berming or hybrid berm/bale construction. Meanwhile
our library is full of bale books.

Can anyone recommend a current work on earth-sheltered homes that
does a particularly good job of addressing (a) cold climate
considerations and/or (b) site evaluation (soil types, stability of slopes
yadda yadda) and/or (c) bale/berm hybrid and considerations and/or (d)
all that and a bag o' chips?

I know there are lots of books out there on the subject. I'm just looking
for a starting point and that's why I'm being specific on the angles that
concern us most.

Our wee spot is pretty much all glacial till. Nice rolling hills, hard not
to
imagine a few windows in some of them.
Too many choices, too little knowledge, much speculation, always fun...
Scott Willing


On 14 May 2002 at 21:23, nrk wrote:

> Dear Rob,
>
> I am now quoting from Gernot Minkeīs "Lehmbauhandbuch",
> first, it mentions that letting the dough sit for 12 to 48 hours
> before application(depending on the clay content) makes it stronger
> because the clayminerals group up due to electrochemical attraction.
> Then it states that a certain type of earth has a 57% higher binding
> force after ten minutes of mixing than with one minute. There where
> also slightly different values for different ways of mixing. After 20
> minutes of mixing the binding force was 11% down. Unfortunately there
> is no scientific explanation given, but a DIY Testing procedure, you
> prepare a ball about 2 inch wide and let it fall down a certain
> height. Then compare.  In any case, I am convinced that earth is
> supposed to be handled with the right half of our brain.
>
> For Rickīs question, I only know this procedure from mixing gypsum, I
> forgot why that is but if you donīt the gypsum sets up right away...I
> should listen to my teachers more carefully, knowledge like this you
> hardly find written down anywhere...
>
> Dinner is over, back to work, yours,
> Alex
>
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