Can you provide advantages and disadvantage on Rammed Earth homes in SE Arizona? Experienced replies only?
Elevation of building lot 4189′.
Rainfall :~ 11inches/yr.
Sun: 300 days/yr
Location: Between Tucson and Nogales, AZ
Elevation of building lot 4189′.
Rainfall :~ 11inches/yr.
Sun: 300 days/yr
Location: Between Tucson and Nogales, AZ
Advantages: very good insulation – the thicker the better; look at the missions at San Xavier and Tumacorri.
Sound barrier – i.e. very quiet inside.
Material is reasonable cost.
Only need load bearing walls; all the others can be curtain walls.
Disadvantages:
Erection time is long.
Placing material is laborious due to the weight.
Allot of messing about with forms.
Not just any dirt will do.
Earth source if on your property will leave a large hole like open pit mining like Duval or Pima mines.
Such as in adobe buildings, insects can be a big problem.
Exterior wall MUST be weather protected. Even stucco gets cracks and cracks are egress for critters.
Foundation MUST be sized to sustain weight of earth walls and this is added cost.
Interface of top sill for roof and sill contact with earth must be well done or there will be potential for rot and insect invasion.
Straw bales are a better way to go. Faster erection and better insulation.