Essential Rammed Earth Construction

Everything you need to know to build with rammed earth in warm and cold climates.

Rammed earth - sand, gravel, and clay or lime/cement binder packed into forms - is a low-energy, high-performance building method, yielding beautiful, sustainable results. It's thermally stable and can be insulated, can actively modulate humidity, provides a healthy indoor environment, and allows site materials to be used for major structural and building envelope elements.

Essential Rammed Earth Construction covers design, building science, tools, and step-by-step building methods for any climate, with a special emphasis on building in cold climates of the northern US, Canada, and northern Europe. Coverage includes:



Overview of earthen building
Appropriate use of rammed earth walls
Stabilized versus raw rammed earth
Design considerations, including structural, insulation, and building envelope details
Special considerations for cold and freeze-thaw climates
Construction drawings, with step-by-step building instructions
Tools and labor covering industrial methods, low-tech techniques, formwork options, mix design, budgets, and schedules
Codes, inspections, and permits.

This guide is an essential resource for experienced builders, DIY home owners, designers, engineers, and architects interested in learning about rammed earth construction.