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Big earth bags

 
pollinator
Posts: 337
Location: SW Washington State
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I have been researching building with alternative materials on and off for more than 20 years and am very interested in using earth bags.  The general composition of soil in the quadrant where my land is is compatible with EB construction.  I have been picking brains for a couple of years and have dug up the following equipment:  a claw that attaches to a backhoe that would pick up a super-sized earth bag; a twin paddle concrete mixer that is suitable for cement soil (I think also EB fill) and stucco.  My super-sized earth bags...if each bag were (filled dimensions) 36" l x 18" x by 12" thick, build time would be cut down substantially.   I am assuming that such a heavy bag would need a thicker bag - that is no problem.  However, would the size of the bag benefit from having some kind of "rebar", reinforcing material inside it?  bamboo sticks?  Any other considerations for the larger bag size?
 
pollinator
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Location: Bendigo , Australia
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What is this please?

EB construction


In my experience a bar inside the bag will be of no benefit, since any reinforcement needs to cross over between the bag ends.
Perhaps barbed wire at intervals across the whole length of the wall would be better.
 
Tom Connolly
pollinator
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Location: SW Washington State
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EB = earthbag
 
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