Earth-Sheltered Houses: How to Build an Affordable...

256 Pages·2006·116.66 MB·english

by  Rob Roy

Advance Praise for Earth-Sheltered Houses
If there were a Pulitzer prize for building books, Rob Roy would surely have won it by now.
His books are always a pleasure to read - witty, entertaining, and informative. This latest
volume provides crucial and hard-to-find details about a sticky subject - how to design, build,
and waterproof the parts of a house that are in direct contact with the earth. For lack of some
of the information in this book, one of my first living roofs has sprung multiple recurring leaks.
I'm about to tear it off and replace it the right way - using Earth-Sheltered Houses as my guide.
- Michael G. Smith, co-editor of The Art ofN atural Building
and co-author of The Hand-Sculpted House
Rob Roy is the guru the of the earth sheltered home movement. Earth-Sheltered Houses is based
on years of practical experience building and living in earth sheltered homes. The diagrams, photos,
and charts make it a must have resource for anyone considering building with this medium.
And better yet, the humor and wisdom of the writing make it a fun read.
- Tehri Parker, Executive Director, Midwest Renewable Energy Association
If it's "conventional" advice you are seeking - on home design, construction,
or financing - Rob Roy is not your man. But if you are receptive to new solutions,
Rob Roy is a fountain of new ideas. He is one of the truly original thinkers of our time.
- Stephen Morris, founder of The Public Press and publisher, Green Living Journal
Finally, a detailed yet user-friendly book on earth sheltered houses. As always, cordwood-masonry
master Rob Roy offers a hands-on, accessible read on the advantages (comfort and savings from
thermal mass, living roofs, affordability and dependability) and challenges (insulation and
waterproofing) of one of man's earliest and simplest forms of housing.
- Andre Fauteux, publisher/editor, La Maison du 2Ie siecle magazine
At last a comprehensive, authoritative book on earth-sheltered home building. This valuable
book contains a wealth of accurate and dearly presented information on one of the most
important ways to build environmentally friendly, energy-efficient homes.
- Dan Chiras, author of The Solar House; The Natural House; The New Ecological Home;
and The Homeowner's Guide to Renewable Energy
E»JH-SHELTERD€ HQUSES
HOW TO BUILD AN AFFORDABLE UNDERGROUND HOME
ROB ROY
NEW SOCIETY PUBLISHERS
Cataloging in Publication Data:
A catalog record for this publication is available from the National Library of Canada.
Copyright © by Rob Roy.
2006
All rights reserved.
Cover design by Diane McIntosh. Cover image: Rob Roy.
All photos and original illustrations by Rob Roy, unless otherwise noted.
Printed in Canada.
First printing April 2006
Paperback ISBN 13= 978-0-86571-521-9
Paperback ISBN 10: 0-86571-521-1
Inquiries regarding requests to reprint all or part of Earth-Sheltered Houses should be addressed to New
Society Publishers at the address below.
To order directly from the publishers, please call toll-free (North America) 1 (800) 567-6772, or order
online at <www.newsociety.com>. Any other inquiries can be directed by mail to:
New Society Publishers
P.O. Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC VOR IXO, Canada
1 (800) 567 -6772
New Society Publishers' mission is to publish books that contribute in fundamental ways to building
an ecologically sustainable and just society, and to do so with the least possible impact on the
environment, in a manner that models this vision. We are committed to doing this not just through
education, but through action. We are acting on our commitment to the world's remaining ancient
forests by phasing out our paper supply from ancient forests worldwide. This book is one step toward
ending global deforestation and climate change. It is printed on acid-free paper that is old
100%
growth forest-free (100% post-consumer recycled), processed chlorine free, and printed with vegetable
based, low-VOC inks. For further information, or to browse our full list of books and purchase securely,
visit our website at: www.newsociety.com.
NEW SOCIETY PUBLISHERS www.newsoClety.com
Lovingly dedicated to Jaki, who has been through it all with me for
33 years: Log End, Earthwood, Mushwood, and, now, Stoneview.
Thanks for all that has been and all that is yet to be.
v
Books for Wiser Living from Mother Earth News
T
oday, more than ever before, our society is seeking ways to live more
conscientiously. To help bring you the very best inspiration and
information about greener, more sustainable lifestyles, New Society
Publishers has joined forces with Mother Earth News. For more than 30
years, Mother Earth News has been North America's "Original Guide to
Living Wisely," creating books and magazines for people with a passion
for self-reliance and a desire to live in harmony with nature. Across the
countryside and in our cities, New Society Publishers and Mother Earth
News are leading the way to a wiser, more sustainable world.
CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . ..... ........ .. . ... ...... .... .. .. ..... .... ...X IU
INTRODUCTION .....................................................1
5
CHAPTER 1 - EARTH-SHELTERED DESIGN PRINCIPLES ................
Earth as Thermal Mass ...........................................5
The Importance ofInsulation . . . . . .. . ........ . . . ............. . .....7
Insulation in the North ....... ... .. .. ....... ... ...................9
Insulation in the South . ............. . . .. ....... .... ......... .. . .
10
The Earth Roof Factor .................. ...... ... . ............. ..
11
How Much Does it Weigh? .......................................1 4
Simplicity of Design ............................................1 8
Types of Earth-Sheltered Designs ..................................
21
Egress and Fenestration Code Considerations . ............. .......... . 24
The Original Log End Cave Plan .. . . . .. . . .......... . .. . .......... . 25
The 40 X 40' Log End Cave Plan ............ .. ............ ...... .. 26
The Earthwood Plan ............................................2 6
Using "Marginal" Land .......... ... ...... .... .......... ... ......2 9
Design Around Bargains ...... .. ............ .. ...................3 0
Plans and Models ..............................................3 2
VII
VIII EARTH-SHELTERED HOUSES
CHAPTER 2 - SITING AND EXCAVATION .............................3 5
Flat Site Excavation Calculations ..................................3 6
Log End Cave: ''A Gentle, South-Facing Slope" ... .... ..... .. ... . .... -40
Log End Cave: Laying out the Excavation ..... . .................... . 44
Earthwood: Site Work .......................................... -48
CHAPTER 3 - FOUNDATIONS .......................................5 1
Log End Cave: Laying Out the Footings ............................. 51
Log End Cave: Insulating the Footings .... .... .... .. .... ..... ... .. .. 54
Resisting Lateral Load on the Wall ................................. 54
The Frost Wall ................................................. 55
Earthwood: The Floating Slab ..................................... 57
The "Monolithic" Floating Slab ................................... 59
Earthwood: Laying out and Digging the Footings Tracks ................6 0
Log End Cave: Forming the Footings . .. . . .......... .. . . ..... . ......6 1
Reinforcing Bar (Rebar) ......................................... 65
Earthwood: A Round Footing ....................................6 6
77
CHAPTER 4 - THE FLOOR .........................................
A Wooden Floor ...............................................7 7
The Concrete Floor .. ..... ... .... ..... ......... ..... ......... ..7 8
Earthwood: Insulation ..........................................8 0
In-Floor Radiant Heating ... . ... .. . ............ ...... ........ ... .8 1
Under-Floor Plumbing ..... . . . ....... .. .. . ......... .. ......... . .8 2
Under-Floor Electrical . ............ ....... ....... . ............. ..8 7
Under-Stove Vents .............................................. 88
Log End Cave: The Fence .. . ... .... ...... ........ ...... ....... ...8 9
The Floor Pour: A Final Checklist .................................9 0
Log End Cave: Pouring the Floor ..................................9 1
Earthwood: Preparation for the Floor . ... . ... . .... . . ....... . ........9 4
Earthwood: Forming and Pouring the Buttresses . ....... . ............ .9 4
Earthwood: Pouring the Floor . . ........ . . . .. ......... . . . .. ...... . . 95
CONTENTS IX
CHAPTER 5 - EXTERNAL WALLS ...................................9 7
Conventionally Mortared Concrete Blocks ...........................9 7
Stone Masonry ........... . ............. . ............. . ........9 7
Cordwood Masonry ............................................9 9
Poured Concrete ..............................................
100
Pressure-Treated Wood Foundations ...............................
100
Rammed-Earth Tire Walls .......................................
101
Mike Oehler's "PSP" Method ....................................
IOI
Surface-Bonded Blocks .........................................
102
Log End Cave: The Walls .......................................
102
Log End Cave: Finishing the Top of the Block Wall ....................
III
Simultaneous Events at Earthwood ................................1 13
117
CHAPTER 6 - TIMBER FRAMING ...................................
About Posts and Planks .........................................1 17
Design Considerations for Rafters .................................1 18
Bending and Shear .............................................1 19
Sources of Timbers ....... . ....... . . ... ...... .... .. .. ...... . . ..1 20
Timber Framing for Earth-Sheltered Housing ........................1 21
Log End Cave: Timber Framing ..................................
122
Installing Posts on Concrete ........ .. ............................
123
Log End Cave: Plank-and-Beam Roofing ...........................1 25
Log End Cave: Installing the Planking .............................
129
Earthwood: Timber Framing ..... . .. . ......... .. .. . ......... .. ...
133
Earthwood: The Floor Joists ........... . ............. . ........ . ...1 35
Earthwood: Decking ...........................................1 37
Earthwood: Upstairs Post-and-Beam Frame ..........................
138
Earthwood: Rafters ............................................1 39