Earth for Homes

At a glance..

This paper is directed to those who wish to become informed on the uses of earth and to perhaps investigate its possibilities under conditions with which they are intimately concerned.

The details..

Published by the Office of International Affairs under the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, Earth for Homes is an assembly of information from various sources about constructing houses made primarily out of earth. The book provides detailed instructions on different construction methods such as wattle-and-daub, poured adobe or mud concrete, rammed earth blocks among others.

The book also includes simple tests to determine soil properties like compression modulus rupture absorption erosion which can be used to assess whether it's suitable for certain types of constructions. Additionally, there are sections covering stabilization techniques through admixtures with weather-resistant materials like cement or lime stucco.

Apart from walls and roofs constructed out of earthen materials; this book also discusses floors made from soil-cement mixtures or oil-surfaced finishes. There's even a section dedicated solely to wall finishes including heavy rain test results conducted on cement-lime stuccos versus dagga-mud plastering.

Overall Earth For Homes serves as an excellent resource not only for those interested in alternative housing solutions but also aid workers who need practical knowledge when working abroad where traditional building resources may be scarce.