Jacob Moore

Hi Jim, thanks for responding. Earthquakes can be strong in Nicaragua as it's located along the ring of fire. I watched the movie El Barro, Las Manos, La Casa and found it very inspirational. Also, I've decided to build an earthbag house/shed and will start the project this May. As for the foundation, I'll use a rubble trench beginning a course of rubble filled bags below the ground line and continuing the next couple of rows up with the same rubble filled bags. I think the earthbag construction is going to be much more simple and much less time-consuming for the main walls. I've also found a group in Nicaragua working with natural materials Casa De Tierra and they've been an invaluable source of information.

The "boots" are one of the two most critical parts of any cob home, right? Which design and materials are right for my home? I intend to build in Nicaragua, a tropical country with a distinct dry and rainy season. That means significant rainfall at times. Drainage will likely be a key element in my design. Furthermore, it is a seismically active area of the world. I don't believe the standard rubble trench/stone plinth foundation alone will be adequate protection from earthquake damage. If at all possible I want to avoid the use of concrete, due to environmental concerns and the hydrophilic properites of concrete. I've come to the conclusion that gravel filled earthbags on a rubble/trench foundation might be the best option in my case. This foundation can be strengthened by the use of barbed wire and rebar stakes. I would greatly appreciate any opinions/comments with regards to the effectiveness of such a foundation. Any suggestions would also be welcomed. Thank you for your attention. I'm looking forward to reading a response.