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Arizona Earthbag construction

Tina Pazzino

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posted 3 years ago

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Anyone find out requirements to build earthbag home in mohave county?

Rose Nicholas

Posts: 19

posted 3 years ago

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You will need an architectural drawing of the plans for your home. You will need to show setbacks and sewer/septic lines and location as well as water lines and gas lines. They may have an R-factor rating that will need to be followed and they will need you to have samples of the mix you will be using tested for strength (psi). Then you can submit your plans to the permit office. They will tell you if there is anything else you may need.

Wendy Bowles

Posts: 5

posted 3 years ago

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Jim Grieco wrote:Hello everyone! Just saw this thread and wanted to jump in. We have land outside of Seligman, AZ and are seriously considering an earth bag home. Off-grid no codes. We actually have bags already and are visiting Cal Earth this weekend for their open house. We are far from being an expert but are happy to get in on the discussion

Jim

Hi Jim, just found this site. We did call earth classes too, and are just east of Kingman, AZ. We're about a third of way on a practice earth bag shed, then home next. Where are you at with your plans?

Wendy Bowles

Posts: 5

posted 3 years ago

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Rose Nicholas wrote:You will need an architectural drawing of the plans for your home. You will need to show setbacks and sewer/septic lines and location as well as water lines and gas lines. They may have an R-factor rating that will need to be followed and they will need you to have samples of the mix you will be using tested for strength (psi). Then you can submit your plans to the permit office. They will tell you if there is anything else you may need.

Hi rose. Did you get your home done? Just found this site. We are just going to be starting. We are just east of Kingman az. My husband and I are about a third of the way done with walls of practice shed. Need some help/ team. Would love to connect with you, see your place, share tips, connect with any workers you were able to find that might want more work, paid or volunteer. Thanks so much.

Wendy Bowles

Posts: 5

posted 3 years ago

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Nicholas Kush wrote:I am a natural builder living in Phoenix Arizona. I have built cob, adobe, and wood hybrids. I am starting an earthbag hybrid project in Idaho until winter comes (first experience with earthbags). After fall I will be available in Arizona to help with earthbag or any natural building project if needed.

Would you like to come work with us outside of Kingman?

Wendy Bowles

Posts: 5

posted 3 years ago

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Donna Trimble wrote:Hi Jim. I have property in between Seligman and Ash Fork AZ & was wondering if you had made any progress with earthbag building? My plan is to build Spiral 2 one of Owen Geiger's house plans bags filled with scoria. Would love any feedback anyone might have.

When I talked with Yavapai County about plans for earthbag homes they said that they must be engineer stamped. Structure1 has been recommended by Dr Geiger for this purpose.[/quote
Did you ever build?

Mark Miner

gardener

Posts: 157

Location: PNW Steppe climate, not far from the big river.

104

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posted 3 years ago

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Hello AZ earth enthusiasts,
I'm an AZ general contractor, professional engineer, and earth build enthusiast, but have not yet gone beyond experimental structures for the various reasons discussed above. However, I am now in the position of starting a low-desert home design, and hope to incorporate earth in some form or fashion.

Codes are local, and many jurisdictions do not have earth explicitly codified, but a helpful document to start with can be the Maricopa Association of Governments earth code: https://azmag.gov › BCC › B...PDF
Standards for Earthen Structures and Straw Bale Construction

Maricopa is the county of Phoenix, typically more restrictive than other counties except Pima. If you are looking for guidance on designing with earth (adobe, CEB, rammed, bags, etc) that document can give reasonable structural guidance (you will still need an engineer, but he will like you better and may charge you less if you show him reasonable plans at the outset), and more importantly, it is a reference document to show your local jurisdiction to help them feel good about how well you did your plans. It is, however, a conservative bureaucratic document, and those interested in such items as barrel vaults and arches will still be on their own.

An idea for fellow earthbag-loving homesteaders, which I am currently working on: earthbag ring around above grade poly water tank. Helps temperature of water stay reasonable, adds a measure of projectile resistance, easy ready-made form, just have to leave access to the plumbing with bucks or (in my case, just leaving a narrow vertical strip and making a C instead of an O - could have been better if planned a priori, as with many things). Have used the 4-point barbed wire, very satisfied. Over-pinning with rebar, and adding a second ring of bags to half height, because one vendor sold me un-UV-stabilized bags which I now need to cover. Two layers of gravel bags at base, planning wood-bag-wood bond beam at top, project is about 60% bagged, then need to earth plaster it.

What other interesting AZ earthbag projects are out there?
All best,
Mark

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Kari Tyler

Posts: 5

posted 3 years ago

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Rose Nicholas wrote:Hi. We are getting ready to start our sandbag house build in Concho, AZ. We have floor plans/blueprints from Owen Geiger and have made updates and changes to suit our needs. We are in Apache County, which does have building codes set out for sandbag building, and can be downloaded and presented to other counties for approval if you want to do so. We are currently completing the septic, water lines and tank, and electrical runs from the battery house location. The fence should be completed my mid March and construction will begin at that time. Feel free to contact me with questions or advise. All is welcome.

Thanks,
Rose

Hi Rose,
My husband and I are looking into buying property in Concho/ St. Johns area, and we're looking at doing earthbags as well. I have a question about the plans that you found from Owen Geiger, did you need to have the plans reviewed and stamped by an engineer or were you able to get approved just from the plans from Owen? If you did get the plans stamped by an engineer, would you mind sharing who you used?

How is your build coming along?

Thanks, Kari

Mikhail Mulbasicov

Posts: 76

posted 3 years ago

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Kari Tyler wrote:

Hi Rose,
My husband and I are looking into buying property in Concho/ St. Johns area, and we're looking at doing earthbags as well. I have a question about the plans that you found from Owen Geiger, did you need to have the plans reviewed and stamped by an engineer or were you able to get approved just from the plans from Owen? If you did get the plans stamped by an engineer, would you mind sharing who you used?

How is your build coming along?

Thanks, Kari

According to this, I think you do have to have sealed plans for Apache County. Hopefully those Owen Gieger drawings are pre-engineered or something.

https://www.apachecountyaz.gov/Building-Safety

...clicked on <Alternative Materials> ...brings me to :

https://www.apachecountyaz.gov/accnt_591117/site_591118/Documents/Alternate-Buildign-Methods.pdf

...under #3, Earth bag or Rammed earth, "submit engineered plans".

Will see what Rose says....

philip hernandez

Posts: 48

posted 2 years ago

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Wendy Bowles wrote:

Rose Nicholas wrote:You will need an architectural drawing of the plans for your home. You will need to show setbacks and sewer/septic lines and location as well as water lines and gas lines. They may have an R-factor rating that will need to be followed and they will need you to have samples of the mix you will be using tested for strength (psi). Then you can submit your plans to the permit office. They will tell you if there is anything else you may need.

Hi rose. Did you get your home done? Just found this site. We are just going to be starting. We are just east of Kingman az. My husband and I are about a third of the way done with walls of practice shed. Need some help/ team. Would love to connect with you, see your place, share tips, connect with any workers you were able to find that might want more work, paid or volunteer. Thanks so much.

I'll help idk anything tho.

Jennifer Cox

Posts: 1

posted 1 year ago

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Hi! I'm looking to connect with Nicholas from this thread or anyone that can help with advice on earthbag homes and best areas to get them permitted. Thanks! Nicholas can you provide your email?

Mikael Heinz

Posts: 1

posted 1 year ago

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I'm just seeing this questions in 2024 after bringing several to code in Colorado with self supporting roof structures wondering how it went for you in az.

Jaison Bloom

Posts: 1

posted 8 months ago

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Wendy… how’d things go. I’m looking Earth bag or 3d printed in the sam area.

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