Wyoming Earthship Build - April, 2010 [tire work]

[Search4diabetescure]

All these Mexican workers.

Lots of labor.

Did you check to see if they have work permits, Green Cards, of valid Social Security Numbers?

[Vegemighty]

what about places with moderate rainfall? What happens if it rains during construction of these walls? will it destroy all the work? are tarps needed?

[briangunn21]

Do these work in northern climates?

[theShice]

@briangunn21 for northern climates, strawbale would be a better choice, as it insulates better. Earth tyres should work as heat storage indoors, though.

[TheReasonWhyGuy]

@briangunn21 yes... they've worked in climates cold enough to normally carry a threat...

The benefit of being surrounded my dense earth and tires is temperature stability.

It means that the average temp between day and night, and the other heat sources add up to a comfortable stable temperature.

[dick117]

Wow, how long does it take to build an earthship? I love the concept, but the materials seem so labor intensive. I know most people there were probably volunteers but one layer of tires a day seems way too slow. Do any power tools help in packing the tires? Like a modified jackhammer.

[hmsenior]

We had a great time and most of the folks in the video were volunteers. We are completely the second half of the project in August.

[mrgetrealpeople]

Tires outgas toxins when heated up,no thanks ,I would be living in chemical allergy hell..

[RechargeableLithium]

@mrgetrealpeople - don't forget that these are all used tires - there's no more gas to get out. Even if using brand new tires, though - and some have - the tire walls are completely encased in plaster. At least one Earthship owner is so chemically sensitive that she cannot enter a tire store - yet lives full time in her Earthship made from brand new tires.

[mrgetrealpeople]

Tires outgas toxins when heated up,no thanks ,I would be living in chemical allergy hell..

[wranger17a]

herb is da boss

[TheBuilderguy1]

This is a VERY expensive project. Very very labor intensive.

[hmsenior]

@TheBuilderguy1 It is not that expensive. Most of the people in the video was volunteers from as far away as portugal and the UK. We had a great time and a lot of fun.

[waellerbe]

Texas is an excellent place to build an Earthship. City life has so many restrictions.

[waellerbe]

@supergoober50 - I did hear about how tires can be ground up and used to create building material. Natural building has so much creativity.

[lduvelle]

Man, you have to have friends to build one of those

[waellerbe]

@lduvelle - This would be a great reason to build some good friendships. Building is such a wonderful and creative process for all who may participate.

[lduvelle]

@waellerbe Thanks, I would love to do this in Michigan but what about the codes? Can this work in harsh snow?

[waellerbe]

@lduvelle - Since I don't live in Michigan, I can't say too much about the building codes. I CAN tell you about another man named Dan Phillips who's another inspiration, this man has an organization called The Phoenix Commotion based in Texas, which helps people build homes for $50,000 or less from 80% recycled materials. To Dan $140,000 is NOT affordable "to the working poor." I've gone so far as to follow Dan's company on Facebook.

[TheDudeRulez09]

We might do a small Earthship here in Waller Tx., close to Houston but it would just be a 1-U or possibly just a round, we already have a cob/ strawbale going and a couple pallet houses...

[roguegirl29]

@supergoober50 Let people live the way they want to live. I've seen people bitch about money yet they can afford iPods and all of the newest computers.

[notoriouslizw]

@roguegirl29 I've seen iPods for free on CraigsList.

[TheDudeRulez09]

@supergoober50 we are all ears goober, name some......

[SemiStoned]

Blue Heart at 8:41

[Den0Q]

How many tires did this earthship take to build? What was the square footage? thanks

[markallen200]

@upussey

If you were to take a moment and review my comments you would find that they are positive with regards to the earthship. You may also notice that I offered information to @casillademaxi regarding his question on tire disintegration. Cowardly actions? I think not. Perhaps you are the coward as you bite first instead of engaging in friendly conversation. If it is of any comfort for you, the removed comments were mistakes, using You Tube for the first time. Thanks for your concern.

[waellerbe]

@markallen200 - Friendly conversation helps to build communities across the globe. The topic of Earthships is something that I adore in more ways than one. As a person who looks FORWARD to living life off the grid, it would REALLY be nice to live in a Earthship. My friends may call me weird, but I would NOT care knowing that my quality of living would be better than average.

[RAM4486]

that was inspiring

[waellerbe]

@RAM4486 - I agree with you. This is VERY awesome. Looking at a video such as this helps me develop a greater appreciation for how an Earthship is construction not in a WEIRD way, but yes in a unique way with some serious Engineering involved. We're not looking at some ugly hut. Instead we are looking at the serious construction of an INCREDIBLE Eco system within a home. Traditional homes don't have the same concepts as an Earthship. I still want one.

[Gantzer1]

nice

[cdowell1976]

the size of that place looks enormous! 2 weeks is alot for tire work. I cant wait to see the finished product!  =D

[waellerbe]

@cdowell1976 - The enormous size is actually a good thing as we consider how much room is needed for the indoor garden. Can't say enough good things about Earthships.

[WizzleThump]

Really lets you see how much work this is.

That's a ton of people and it looks like they are getting no where! lol

[roguegirl29]

@WizzleThump They're humans. Not damn robots.

[waellerbe]

@roguegirl29 - Great point. We're also looking at the fact that the folks building this Earthship are using a non-traditional method of construction to make a home that is more "Earthy" than your typical Town home which does NOT sit on it's on land.

[roguegirl29]

@waellerbe Makes me appreciate how much work and effort goes into an Earthship.

[waellerbe]

@roguegirl29 - You're not the only one. I appreciate the work and effort as well. I can still see an Earthship as a work of art. Different from the "traditional" house model, yet beautiful in many ways.

[rockstarofredondo]

I want to do this. Are there any earthship communities in Texas?

[waellerbe]

@rockstarofredondo - Google has a wealth of information on Earthships in Texas.

[TheDudeRulez09]

@waellerbe theres actually only one in Texas

[waellerbe]

@TheDudeRulez09 - Wow. It would be nice to learn about the development of another Earthship in Texas.

[waellerbe]

@TheDudeRulez09 - Thank you for clearing that up for me. :)

[BMFlarson420]

freeze it at 7:47. lol

[hazeret]

can you make a video from scratch until the complete built house?

[casillademaxi]

How long the tires to disintegrate?

[Ullbritt]

@casillademaxi 2 weeks. I kidd, I kidd...

[markallen200]

@casillademaxi

The Earthship Vol 1 makes the statement that tires only disintegrate when allowed to be open to the environment. Oxidation I would guess. Otherwise, the rubber is covered by earth on both sides and is protected from deterioration. This protection renders the tires effective for centuries. Not to mention that most tires have steel threads within the walls of the rubber that will provide strength until the rubber deteriorates and until all of the steel has rusted through.

[waellerbe]

@markallen200 - EXCELLENT answer kind sir. You really understand the work that goes into an Earthship. I like the fact that steel-belted tires help to create walls that are virtually indestructible. By being nestled INTO the earth, this would help to explain how Thermomass helps to keep the home as warm as possible.

[TheDudeRulez09]

@casillademaxi about 300-500 years...

[Tressco]

Congrats!

Dog already on guard... :)

[befreier1]

Awesome!

[angryadrien]

9:51 the girl making faces at the camera didn't go un-noticed :)

[zzaaak]

So whats been your preferred tire sizes? I've been grabbing almost everything the last 3 months and here is what I have the most of

265/70 R17 qty 69

245/75 R16 qty 58

235/85 R16 qty 54

225/60 R16 qty 27

235/75 R15 qty 24

Then the rest of the less common tires sizes are all about 10 each.

What size tires were used in this build?

[hmsenior]

@zzaaak It took 800 tires to do what is in the video. Tire sizes started at 235 r15 75 on the bottom 5 rows. But these are getting hard to find. The key is the use biggest on the bottom and get progressive smaller as you go up. The top can be as small as 14's but, in my case, I used 205 15's.

[TheReasonWhyGuy]

@hmsenior I'm curious about prices

[lahaver]

This is an EXCELLENT Video. It really allows one to wrap there mind around what's in store when contemplating a build.