Essential Earthbag Construction

Kelly Hart is a pioneering earthbag builder, author, and filmmaker. The building of his multi-dome earthbag Colorado residence is chronicled in the video Building with Bags: How We Made Our Experimental Earthbag/Papercrete House. Kelly also founded and hosts the widely visited natural and green building websites greenhomebuilding.com, devoted to all aspects of sustainable architecture and natural building, dreamgreenhomes.com, which features a wide range of ecological home plans for sale by various architects and designers, and earthbagbuilding.com which explores in depth the many possibilities for building with earthbags. Kelly's other publications include Rolling Shelter: Vehicles We Have Called Home, Remodel Green: Make Your Home Serve Your Life, and Earthbag Architecture: Build Your Dream with Bags. Kelly lives in Silver City, New Mexico.

• AcknowledgmentsForewordChapter 1: A Brief History of Earthbag BuildingChapter 2: Appropriate Uses for EarthbagsChapter 3: Building Science NotesChapter 4: Material SpecificationsBagsFill materiaBarbed wire and other types of reinforcementPlasterChapter 5: ToolsChapter 6: FoundationsChapter 7: Building WallsLocate source of fill materialFilling bagsPlacing barbed wire and twineLaying bags in a patternClosing the top of the bagUsing a metal sliderTamping the bagsPlacing vertical reinforcement rods Building domesChapter 8: Design Considerations and ConstraintsVertical wallsDomesVaultsButtressesBond beamsDoor and window openingsDoor and window bucksArches and other shapesSpacing openingsVertical reinforcement for openingsLintelsWall thicknessMore than one storyBelow-grade constructionChapter 9: Plastering the WallsChapter 10: Floor and Roof OptionsSlab on gradeMasonry floorsAdobe floorsSuspended floorsRoofsChapter 11: How to Include UtilitiesPlumbingElectricalHeatingVentilationCabinetryChapter 12: Strategies for Seismic ReinforcementChapter 13: General Budgeting InformationChapter 14: Maintenance and RenovationChapter 15: Building CodesChapter 16: Other Uses for EarthbagsRetaining wallsCisternsDamsRoot cellars and pantriesSculpture and artResourcesAuthor's websitesOther websitesBooksDVDsWorkshops    Bag supplies onlineIndexAbout the AuthorA Note About the Publisher

"A must-have book for anyone interested in natural and sustainable building. It expands the possibilities with practical and essential information on this user-friendly method of construction."— Will Beemer, Director of the Heartwood School for the Homebuilding Crafts and author of Learn to Timber Frame."Kelly Hart and Dr. Owen Geiger ( who wrote the very informative Foreword ) probably know as much about earthbag building as anyone. Friend Kelly has always had a clear and concise way of explaining his subject, both in lectures and in his several books. I've never built an earthbag structure, although we once did a cordwood building on an earthbag foundation in New Zealand. But I wouldn't even attempt it without studying this book thoroughly and referring to it throughout the building process."— Rob Roy, Director, Earthwood Building School and author of Essential Cordwood Building"There is an urgent need for more sustainable homes and earthbag construction offers excellent, affordable, strong eco-friendly housing using natural and local materials. They are beautiful, comfortable and robust. This book is a comprehensive, practical and inspirational guide that is both detailed and easy to follow. Hart demonstrates that anyone can build a home, so use this book and give it a go."— Penny Pickerill, Professor of Environmental Geography, University of Sheffield, UK and author of Eco-Homes: People, Place and Politics (Zed Books)"Who doesn't love earthbags? Only people who don't know about this most versatile of earthen building techniques, suitable for building inexpensive low-impact homes on most parts of the globe. With just a pile of dirt, some bags, barbed wire, a tamper and a few basic tools, you can build an earthbag dome, retaining wall, or root cellar. For over 20 years author Kelly Hart has been experimenting and promoting simple DIY ecological building techniques, especially via his excellent web sites. Distilling both his own hard-won experience and the combined wisdom of the rapidly-expanding worldwide earthbag network, Hart delivers a thorough, detailed and readable guidebook that tells you everything you need to know for success with this potent technique."— Michael G. Smith, co-editor, The Art of Natural Building and co-author, The Hand-Sculpted House