Earthbag House 3

Progress report on the Earthbag Ferradobeship. Just letting the subscribers know that I haven't run away to join the circus. Music is once again by Mike Landau, titled The Mighty SB.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• eathbag
• earthship
• ferrocement
• green building
• adobe
• owner builder

[ZokcoPokco]

do you plaster directly on the bags? you don't use chicken wire?

do you think it's safe for the mud like that?

[doctordirtbag]

@ZokcoPokco It's quite common to plaster right onto the bags. If using cement stucco, then you need chicken wire. I used a small amount of cement in the base coat plaster which makes it rock hard once it cures. I also tried a lime/straw plaster on a section which came out nice, but is not as durable as the cement stabilized plaster.Once the base coat is covered with a finish plaster, all should be good. Hope that helps.

[Quick2000]

How much does each bag weigh and cost if you don't mind sharing that here?

[doctordirtbag]

@Quick2000 bags are around 100lbs (guesstimate) bags are appr. 30¢ per bag.

[Sogwa]

So I take it that you don't have ANY of the many homes you started finished as of yet (the end of 2011)?!?!

Very interested in seeing the finished project.

[doctordirtbag]

@Sogwa Just ONE home so far, and it's still in progress.

[doctordirtbag]

@DontFriendInviteMe Yep, and if a frog had wings it wouldn't bump it's ass a'hoppin'.

It'd be pretty hard for me to shoot video of me building since I'm the only one out there. Thanks for the info though, Sherlock. BTW, I went to your channel. I seems to be a monument to negativity. Good job! (NOT)

[doctordirtbag]

@DontFriendInviteMe "video camera"? "editing"? "voice-over"? "start and stop video"?  "get a life"? Bottom line is - I don't have the time or motivation to make a production. I can cover a lot more ground with pictures. I've learned plenty from videos just like these, so I don't quite understand what your problem is. Are you 12, or what?

[ZokcoPokco]

dr dirtbag, you are so precise! I like that.

[doctordirtbag]

@ebertmadwoman that would be central NM. Turn left at the crooked cactus. : ) Let me know and I'll give you directions.

[ebertmadwoman]

Where are you building at in New Mexico? I still have family there and am probably going to visit in the near future, would love to stop by and see your earth home.

[doctordirtbag]

@dead4fun the main portion of the base coat was an earth/sand/small amount of cement mix. I've since switched to an earth/sand/lime/straw mix that's terrific and doesn't crack. The finish coat will be an earth/lime putty/straw mix that seems to work really well and looks great. (I did a few small patches to test it and it's a thumbs up)