footing and bond beam in CEB

[flaja]

Does anyone know if you can use a rubble trench or a continuous earthbag for the footings or bond beam of a compressed earth building?

Does anyone know of any kind of detailed cost comparison for different types of alternative building technologies? I know that you cannot readily compare costs from region to region, but what about the costs for the different technologies in the same region?

[Annpan]

I can't really answer your questions, but I thought I would give you this link for a forum on another web site that might be helpful.

[Muddypause]

You're using terms I'm not familiar with in the UK; CEB - is that what we would call cob? Or rammed earth? Or adobe, possibly?

Bond beam, also; the only thing I've heard of is a patent steel post and tie system, which doesn't sound like what you mean.

The type of foundations you use is always going to depend upon the local conditions, but generally, from what I know of earth building, rubble trench and earth bags are OK for the footings. But the detail of the interface between foundation and wall is something you may need to get expert advice upon.

Here are some more links that may interest you:
http://www.earthedworld.co.uk
http://www.weblife.org/cob/

[flaja]

You're using terms I'm not familiar with in the UK; CEB - is that what we would call cob? Or rammed earth? Or adobe, possibly?

Bond beam, also; the only thing I've heard of is a patent steel post and tie system, which doesn't sound like what you mean.

The type of foundations you use is always going to depend upon the local conditions, but generally, from what I know of earth building, rubble trench and earth bags are OK for the footings. But the detail of the interface between foundation and wall is something you may need to get expert advice upon.

Here are some more links that may interest you:
http://www.earthedworld.co.uk
http://www.weblife.org/cob/

CEB = compressed earth block, something made with a machine like the CINVA Ram.

Bond beam is a continuous structure, made out of something like concrete or lumber, that connects the top of the walls of a building (and between each floor in a multi-floor structure), while serving to connect the walls to the roof structure. My understanding is that the bond beam keeps a building from being twisted like a corkscrew when a force is applied to the walls.

I know that there is at least one earthbag structure in the state where I want to build. I don’t know if compressed earth blocks have been used. The local building codes may not recognize any alternative technology so I don‘t know what I will have to do legally.

I’ve read Kaki Hunter’s book on earthbag buildings, but I have yet to find any kind of manual for compressed earth blocks (at least for a First World country). Plenty of books on earth building methods mention earth blocks, but they are not really how-to guides for a builder. And no two people I talk to on the net will ever tell me the same thing.