• Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
permaculture forums growies critters building homesteading energy monies kitchen purity ungarbage community wilderness fiber arts art permaculture artisans regional education skip experiences global resources cider press projects digital market permies.com pie forums private forums all forums
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
master stewards:
  • Nancy Reading
  • Carla Burke
  • r ranson
  • John F Dean
  • paul wheaton
  • Pearl Sutton
stewards:
  • Jay Angler
  • Liv Smith
  • Leigh Tate
master gardeners:
  • Christopher Weeks
  • Timothy Norton
gardeners:
  • thomas rubino
  • Jeremy VanGelder
  • Maieshe Ljin

Earth Bag Weight?

 
Posts: 217
Location: Ontario
13
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator


Hello, I am seeking some options for inexpensive earth bags. I found some poly woven bags in various sizes. What would be the ideal filled weight for the bags, in terms of structural integrity of the building? I would like to know if the integrity of the building will be negatively effected, when using filled bags that are heavier vs. lighter.


 
gardener
Posts: 6814
Location: Arkansas - Zone 7B/8A stoney, sandy loam soil pH 6.5
1647
hugelkultur dog forest garden duck fish fungi hunting books chicken writing homestead
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
We did a few test bags to see if this would work for us as a building type.
We used empty hog feed bags (woven poly) that hold 50 lbs. of feed.
When filled so they would hold their shape after tamping, these bags held 100 lbs.
A little to much for my 64 year old body when building a wall so that turned us away from using them for our house.

We are going to use them for the above ground portion of our root cellar/ storm shelter though, we will be able to fill them in the spot they will end up.
 
Posts: 129
Location: Sierra Blanca, TX
9
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
For the main run of the wall just fill them full, (no packing) lay them in place and tamp down. The width of the bag will stop you from going too flat. Corners and door/window casings should be filled the same but then packed tight before laying, then just tamp down as usual.

Check out Earthbag Building: The Tools, Tricks and Techniques (Natural Building Series) by Kaki Hunter. Awesome book with everything you need and a few laughs along the way $18 on amazon and also available for Kindle
 
PI day is 3.14 (march 14th) and is also einstein's birthday. And this is merely a tiny ad:
Switching from electric heat to a rocket mass heater reduces your carbon footprint as much as parking 7 cars
http://woodheat.net
reply
    Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic