Sean Renoylds

After a lot of research I'm agreeing about structural integrity once you cut into it.

It would be great to design one for folks who want to berm.

Basically a shell with the fronr already window framed and built for back berming, that would save an incredible amount of time.

But I'm still leaning towards what jake is doing with the earth tubes.  Basically an earthship with earth tubes, no tires.  And it looks fantastic!!

Good ideas

There's def a possibility of it working tho.  I know the steel Quonsets are very strong and you could probably work with. Company regarding the idea.

It's something to explore possibly as I know the pounding tire thing is getting Kind of hold, since now you can can just use earth tubes.  Reference YouTube "jake vs the earthship". He's doing a great job with his!

For reference ?

Just thought I'd throw around an idea
Anybody have the thought of berming a steel Quonset structure?

It could easily be reinforced if needed for berming
It's already in a perfect "tube" shape for An earthship styled structure.

The other side not bermed could be cut , Inforced, and framed for angled windows.....this could save ALOT OF TIME AND MAN POWER???.

Tell me I'm crazy and how it won't work, but I don't see how it couldn't with some basic retro fitting.

Interior is easily cobbed and laid out anyway you want!

Interesting!

  Nice to hear from you!
 
  I'm gathering info about the build but the big thing I'm really disappointed in will be the lack of thermal battery being that it's not fully Bermed ie -west side/east side.
  Are you able to drop any more info on it?

Can you berm bags like an earth ship, ie staggered slightly towards the berm?

Do they need to be plastered before berming?

Those are my huge questions, ideally I'd love to have an earth ship styled home but done with bags, if switching the tires out for bags is logical, I imagine laying 100ft tubes is a lot easier than pounding tires

If I was to do more walls, I would rather earth bag it if possible, but as you can see the west side isn't able to berm...as she's at the end share she goes down

That's what I was thinking

Load bearing in mind, would be great the be able to do cob interior walls instead of the framing that's up for standard drywall.

From what the engineer told me, there was too much heavy bedrock to blast up there on the lot, that's why they had to adjust the original plans to make it terraced.

In floor heating, yup for sure opportunity is there as there is no slab yet.  

That end wall that's all wood framed you cannot berm it unfort as its on an edge close to a ridge...so the berming is not doable.

Pros:
Cisterns done and Bermed
Septic done
Tire walls done
Over half the front face is done (needs glass, I'm guessing not cheap.
Opportunity to change things as your not too far along in the build to adjust some things
warranty and permits are to be re-activated with purchase

Those are some good pluses with a lot of the hard work done. Looking fwd to seeing it

Quick update
Talked to the structural engineer and he sent me the actual stamped plans, 12 pages and trying to go through it and understand what they were doing.

I also got the contact for the general contractor who can tell me exactly where everything left off.

I'll be able to visit the site in 3 weeks.  But the same thing was said by the engineer:

Started off with some bad drawings and bad construction ideas and he came in and made everything good.  Is very happy with the end design and what was reworked and wouldn't hesitate to put his name on it again.

Also, reiterated the fact that it was a cash shortage, I didn't even ask him about it, he just stated it himself

While I agree with proceed with caution,
I am a business owner the past 10 years and I can attest that sometimes, "things happen."  I don't know how many times I've risked it all...a lot, sometimes business doesn't work out although you had the best intentions...

I can visit the site in about 25 days.  It's a 5 hour drive for me.

Firewood I'm not too worried about.  I'm very creative and have friends all over the place with plenty of access to year round wood.  A few large trailer loads and good.

I'm more concerned with the plans, obviously they are included, they are engineered stamped and they had all permits/warranty...this is confirmed.

It's an attractive option to take over, as long as the work was done right I think.

I'll be taking a lot of pics and videos on this trip, and meeting with the current seller to chat.