Anti technology/science
- Thread starter Dr.Pecker
- Start date
ttystikk
Well-Known Member
The first place my dad bought after retiring from the State Department was a geodesic dome in New Mexico. It was constructed of prefab panels screwed and glued together- and looked more like a radar installation than a ranch house.
It was two stories tall- and that was its downfall, as the air would stratify and leave the main floor cold while the upstairs was hot.
He sold it when his wife's MS got so bad she couldn't make the stairs.
The place got me to thinking about alternative construction, and I would very much like to build a home incorporating many of the ideas in this thread. Soon.
It was two stories tall- and that was its downfall, as the air would stratify and leave the main floor cold while the upstairs was hot.
He sold it when his wife's MS got so bad she couldn't make the stairs.
The place got me to thinking about alternative construction, and I would very much like to build a home incorporating many of the ideas in this thread. Soon.
Dr.Pecker
Well-Known Member
this idea is pretty much sandbags placed in a circle, staggering like you would bricks. Barbed wire is used two strips between bags to keep from shifting. You need to look into earth bag building.
ttystikk
Well-Known Member
I'm not comfortable with the idea of thousands of pounds of sandbags held in place with only barbed wire.
The sprayed fiber-crete over balloons is much more stable, far less likely to crumble under unforseen loads like earthquakes- and because it's sooooo much faster to build, I'd be willing to bet that it's cheaper.
If I recall correctly, the concrete used would have Styrofoam beads or something mixed in similar to reduce weight and impart insulation value. This makes it even better because it eliminates the need for a layer of insulation inside.
panhead
Well-Known Member
NICE ! From a cost per sq ft price its very cheap , on thermal issues its unbeatable , in being unique it gets 5 stars & as a pre built kit assembly its fairly simple to assemble .
R values make heating & cooling costs non issues .
If you back filled overtop & around 3/4 of the struture & burmed around the property, then planted a grass like Miscanthus Giganteus you'd have your own version of the Shire , complete with 15 ft high grass land that attracts tons of little animals & birds that live in the grass , you'd have your own personal nature preserve with animals & birds all over the place , this is a dream of mine & i'll post more about my ideas in another post .
If you do decide to bury the structure you'll want to take special waterproofing precautions like those done to buildings with green roofs on them , a living roof will devastate unprotected concrete or adobe even if its sealed properly .
If you do decide to do this project & decide to go with your plan of a subterain habitat be sure to investigate below grade waterproofing techniques & materials needed , look into green roof products from Tremco inc & Garland inc , they make the best waterproofing products for that type application .
R values make heating & cooling costs non issues .
If you back filled overtop & around 3/4 of the struture & burmed around the property, then planted a grass like Miscanthus Giganteus you'd have your own version of the Shire , complete with 15 ft high grass land that attracts tons of little animals & birds that live in the grass , you'd have your own personal nature preserve with animals & birds all over the place , this is a dream of mine & i'll post more about my ideas in another post .
If you do decide to bury the structure you'll want to take special waterproofing precautions like those done to buildings with green roofs on them , a living roof will devastate unprotected concrete or adobe even if its sealed properly .
If you do decide to do this project & decide to go with your plan of a subterain habitat be sure to investigate below grade waterproofing techniques & materials needed , look into green roof products from Tremco inc & Garland inc , they make the best waterproofing products for that type application .
Dr.Pecker
Well-Known Member
I was thinking pit liner and smashing it between the bags to get a water tight seal along the filled in area. I wanted to create a french drain concept. Not sure about the grass I was thinking a small pond but even that seems unpractical. I would settle for a nice garden and some fruit trees.
Dr.Pecker
Well-Known Member
The concept is it will end up looking like an egg. eggs are a stronger structure then say a circle. look into earthbag buildings once its completed it should be stronger then any stick built home. I found this website that has a continuous roll instead of individual bags.
ttystikk
Well-Known Member
An egg shape is fine as far as it goes. I'm more concerned about it being made of a bunch of individual components that aren't fixed together very well.
This is why I tend to prefer rammed earth, adobe, sprayed concrete, etc.
Dr.Pecker
Well-Known Member
I did look into that balloon building with the concrete sprayed on. they cost about $10,000 not very practical for one room plus no insulation. Keep the ideas coming I want to work out all the bugs before I start. I'm going to begin clearing stumps and trees this spring.
Doer
Well-Known Member
That's what they said to Noah.
Doer
Well-Known Member
Ramned earth with a little cement seems to be the easy way, but a lot of labor...hard labor.
Dr.Pecker
Well-Known Member
How you doing today doer? Do you know anything about building solar panel controllers. I have a box of cells but if i use a home made panel on a controller it voids the warranty. If not what should I do with my cells I have about 100.
Fluff Up
Well-Known Member
Is an egg shape better? I thought the reason for the egg shape in nature is so things roll in a small circle rather than away. A circle can be constructed to distribute force evenly from any angle where as an egg will have a structural weak point. Engineering + circle
If you're going to grow a geodesic dome of glass section would be very efficient
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eden_Project
If you haven't learned about him already Buckminster Fuller was a fascinating engineer who did a lot of work and design on these sort of dome habitat.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckminster_Fuller
http://bfi.org/
Dr.Pecker
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the info, I'll check it out.
Dr.Pecker
Well-Known Member
