Earthship Questions Answered
First of all my name is Abraham and I live about 30 miles east of EL Paso Texas. I watched your videos and I thought they were the most informative from the whole bunch I have watched. I had several questions I was wondering if you would have time to advise me on. I am planning to build a earthship home about the same style you were building yours, but I still feel short on some of the information I think I should know before starting, I checked on other websites but they don't talk much about it.
here are the questions:
- is there a foundation on the structure? or is is built right on the ground?
- does the first row of tires are filled with dirt o cement
- do you put the cardboard to all the tires or just specific ones?
- did you fill the holes with cans and mud?
- do you have picture of how you added the roof?
- what type of insulation did you use?
Thank you in advance for any information and hope to hear from you soon. My wife and I are planning to start a project like this very soon. We are about to start collecting tires and all the stuff needed.
Thank you again for your help and talk to you soon!!!
ANSWERS
- is there a foundation on the structure? or is is built right on the ground?
Yes, there is a foundation constructed of earth-rammed tires. These tires weigh between 300-350lb each. This tire foundation, which weighs nearly 400,000 lbs., floats on the earth, thus giving the alternative home the name "Earthship" . No footer is poured for the foundation to set on. Most newer Earthship designs pour a solid concrete footer on top of the tire foundation.
2. does the first row of tires are filled with dirt o cement
Tires all all filled with dirt, small rock, and sand, any hard material that won't decompose. Results from our own research have found that utilizing carpet on the inside of tires rather than cardboard before filling with dirt will add to the structural stability of these tire blocks. This would make these indestructible bricks. Cardboard can get wet and crumbles as it dries out, causing blowouts in tires. In blowouts we experienced, we found that air pockets that formed as a result can be filled with a mortar cement mix.
3. do you put the cardboard to all the tires or just specific ones?
All tires or the dirt would not stay in the tire row after row.
4. did you fill the holes with cans and mud?
No. Cans are only used for building mortared walls and filler between the voids of the tire wall, not for inside the tire. You also want to use dry material when packing tires. The wetter the tire amendments the more they have a chance of drying out and shrinking. This could cause moderate to severe foundation changes. It is extremely hard to find dry dirt so turning soil during dry periods does help.
5. do you have picture of how you added the roof?
Yes, this page should land on the images as well. If not, go here to view images http://www.peacefulacreslavenderfarm.com/earthship-construction-facts.html
6. what type of insulation did you use?
I used Rigid R39 4'x8'x4" thick board doubled up to 8" thick on top of 1" deck boards. The walls use 13" thick beer bottled structure with 2" board on the outside with 1/2" OSB on the outer. Then we'll mortar the entries outside over the.
