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Note: If you’re new to earthbag building, first read the introductory Step-by-Step Earthbag Building Instructable (http://www.instructables.com/id/Step- by-Step-Earthbag-Building/) and How to Build an Earthbag Roundhouse (http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Roundhouse/) . Also, my new Earthbag Building Guide (http://www.earthbagbuilding.com /articles/ebbuildingguide.htm) and Earthbag Building DVD (https://www.createspace.com/326032) are now available. We built this earthbag dome at our home in Thailand for Mother Earth News Magazine in 2007. The article that describes the complete building process in detail was published August/September 2009. It is now free on the Internet: Low-Cost Multipurpose Minibuilding Made With Earthbags (http://www.motherearthnews.com/Do-It-Yourself/Earthbag-Building- Garden-Shed.aspx) , by Owen Geiger. This earthbag dome Instructable simplifies the process and illustrates each step of construction with photos. The two critical drawings are also included here. Please refer to the complete article before asking questions. This multi-purpose dome can serve as a storage shed or cool pantry above ground, or as a rootcellar or storm shelter below ground. No building permit is typically needed, because it is below the minimum size required by building (http://cdn.instructables.com/FZI/R6J9/GJHVL5JY/FZIR6J9GJHVL5JY.LARGE.jpg) About This Instructable License: 419,706 views 1,012 favorites (/member /Owen+Geiger/) Owen Geiger (/member /Owen+Geiger/) EarthbagBuilding.com (http://www.earthbagbuilding.com Follow Owen Geiger is the former director of Builders Without Borders, a Mother Earth News Green Home Adviser, The Last Straw Journal Correspondent and the director of the Geiger Research Institute of Sustai...read more » (/member /Owen+Geiger/) 649 Bio: (/id/How-to-Build- an-Earthbag-Roundhouse) (/id/Step-by-Step-Earthbag- Building) (/id/Insulated-Bamboo-Walls) More by Owen Geiger earthbags (/tag/type-id/category-workshop/keyword- earthbags/) building (/tag/type-id/category-workshop/keyword- building/) earthbag building (/tag/type-id/category-workshop /keyword-earthbag building/) earthbag house (/tag/type-id/category-workshop /keyword-earthbag house/) Tags: How to Build an Earthbag Dome by Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/) + Collection Download (/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/?download=pdf) (/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/?ALLSTEPS) 17 Steps (/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/step1/Dome-Plans/) Favorite (/) let's make share what you make > (/about/submit.jsp) (/) Explore (/tag/type-id/) Create (/about/submit.jsp) Contests (/contest/) Community (/community/) Login (/you/) How to Build an Earthbag Dome http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/ 1 of 11 14-01-28 11:57 AM

How to Build an Earthbag Dome

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Instructables guide to building a small scale earthbag

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  • Note: If youre new to earthbag building, first read the introductory Step-by-StepEarthbag Building Instructable (http://www.instructables.com/id/Step-by-Step-Earthbag-Building/) and How to Build an Earthbag Roundhouse(http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Roundhouse/). Also, my new Earthbag Building Guide (http://www.earthbagbuilding.com/articles/ebbuildingguide.htm) and Earthbag Building DVD(https://www.createspace.com/326032) are now available.

    We built this earthbag dome at our home in Thailand for Mother Earth NewsMagazine in 2007. The article that describes the complete building process indetail was published August/September 2009. It is now free on the Internet:Low-Cost Multipurpose Minibuilding Made With Earthbags(http://www.motherearthnews.com/Do-It-Yourself/Earthbag-Building-Garden-Shed.aspx) , by Owen Geiger.

    This earthbag dome Instructable simplifies the process and illustrates each stepof construction with photos. The two critical drawings are also included here.Please refer to the complete article before asking questions.

    This multi-purpose dome can serve as a storage shed or cool pantry aboveground, or as a rootcellar or storm shelter below ground. No building permit istypically needed, because it is below the minimum size required by building

    (http://cdn.instructables.com/FZI/R6J9/GJHVL5JY/FZIR6J9GJHVL5JY.LARGE.jpg)

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    2 months ago Reply (C15F8SJHO232SSI)

    codes, is not inhabited and is not attached to a residence.

    Earthbag structures provide a cool space in summer and an escape from thecold in winter (ideal for humans and animals), which means this earthbag domeis well suited for many purposes, like a quiet space for relaxing or playing music,as well as those listed previously. Depending on your needs, the most practicalcombination of uses might be a rootcellar/cool pantry for daily use and a disastershelter for emergencies such as tornadoes or hurricanes.

    The key concept that makes earthbag domes work is corbelling. This meanseach course (each row) of bags is inset slightly from the course below. Corbelleddomes made of adobe and stone have been built for thousands of years. Theconcept has been applied to earthbags in the last few decades.

    Basic project information:18 exterior diameter; 8 interior diameter; 11 exterior diameter, 50 sq. ft. interiorfloor space; total cost of materials: $300, which is about $6/square foot.

    Tools:Tamper(s), round nose shovel(s), grape hoe or grub hoe (digging tool), 13 x 16sheetmetal slider, knife, hammer, 2 level, 2 x 4 x 10 leveling board, tapemeasure, fencing pliers, handsaw, trowel, garden hose with spray nozzle, 6 or8 stepladder

    The following instructions assume you have cleared and leveled the site,removed topsoil, positioned fill soil around the building site to minimize work,dug a trench to stable subsoil, put about 12 of gravel in the trench, and addedtwo stakes with string lines: a center stake with string line to measure the radius,and a stake in front of the door to measure the dome curvature. Bags or tubescan be used. We demonstrate bags, because theyre often available recycled forvery low cost. My YouTube Channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/naturalhouses#p/a/572898D8C259FF4D/0/6ODplmnpSts) has a shortvideo showing how the dome was built.

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    gratefulnathan (/member/gratefulnathan/) says:

    Thank you Owen for all your wonderful information!You have inspired my son and I to build a semi subterranean earthbag dome.We have been hard at it for 2 months now and are finally getting close to the top.It has been a learning experience to say the least!

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    2 of 11 14-01-28 11:57 AM

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    Wanted to ask your opinion about waterproofing material.Our plan is to have a living roof when we are done.I am looking at the different materials available and it is all kinda confusing.You suggested using 6 mil sheeting. Could we use recycled 5 mil tarps as we haveno budget. Also what do you think of a light weight roof underlayment?The material is a little pricier but would it offer any better protection from leaks?We want it to last forever. Thank in advance!

    http://www.lowes.com/pd_283849-711-5008030_0__?productId=3151833&Ntt=roofing+underlayment&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNtt%3Droofing%2Bunderlayment&facetInfo=

    lsuydam (/member/lsuydam/) says:

    I LOVE this. What do you think is the largest dome you could build this way?

    bthorson139 (/member/bthorson139/) says:

    Owen,If I'm trying to make this dome for my cousins do you think it would be big enough?Or would it be better if I just made a roundhouse or regular one. I have a lot ofcousins and I want there to be enough room for all of them.

    Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/) (author) in reply to bthorson139

    This dome is too small to live in. It'sreally just a tool shed or emergencystorm shelter.

    I suggest making roundhouses. Seemy Roundhouse Instructable. It'seasy to make roundhouses largeenough for your needs.

    instructamaker (/member/instructamaker/) says:

    I knew that hobbits would eventually takeover the world.

    Terralive (/member/Terralive/) says:

    Hi everyone. Does anyone know ho big in diameter I can buid an earth dome withan normal size bag:

    Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/) (author) in reply to Terralive

    Somewhere around 20' interiordiameter is about the limit. Thatwould be 23' exterior diameter.

    The largest earthbag dome at thistime is the Om Dome. It's 27'exterior diameter. They hadproblems and had to rebuild partof it. Don't risk doing a largedome like this unless you're

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    3 of 11 14-01-28 11:57 AM

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    experienced. The dome could collapse on you while you're building it.http://www.earthbagbuilding.com/projects/omdome.htm

    vsergeyev (/member/vsergeyev/) says:

    Thank you much for your prompt response :-). Yes, you are absolutely right that itis quite challenging to gain sufficient solar gain in cold and cloudy climates for anystryctures, including domes. For that reason I plan not to use short term solar gainchargers ( classical old school greenhouse) as it is proven not to be affective andsufficient. Instead, I am counting on the long cycle chargers ( the technique knownas passive annualized heat storage). PAHS does not require greenhouse and lotsof windows on the south side of the house. On top of that it utilizes the earthsheltering on the 3 sides of the structure. Thus I am confident a bermed earthbagdome must be the perfect solution to leverage the pahs technique in order to reach100% off the grid sustainability. I have searched the Internet and did not find anybermed earthbag domes houses build in cold climates or bermed with a living roofexcept your little dome shelter. I am trusting 20" or 25" does could be bermed aswell, yet, I have no practical and theoretical knowedge on how to design andanalyze the earthbag structure to mate sure it could bear the top load of the soil aswell as the side forces to the walls. My essumption is the dome must be adjustedto the 3 side berming loads. Ideally, the walks are to be built leaned outwards(likewise the retention walls).I would like to be sure of how to estimate the strength of the earthbag walls andthe vaults (top of the dome) to make sure it is safe.I would be very grateful to you if you could kindly share your vision, knowledgeand experience on how to design such a structure.Thank you once again for your kind support :-)Yours,

    Volodymyr

    Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/) (author) in reply to vsergeyev

    PAHS is an excellent system thatshould work well in your climate:http://naturalbuildingblog.com/pahs-earthbag-house-near-completion/http://naturalbuildingblog.com/pahs-earthbag-house/

    I was suggesting 24" or so smallberms on the sides, but you'rewanting near 100% efficiency andthat will take extra cost and labor.What I'm saying will work and beeasier and faster to build. So insummary, you might want to do PAHSand south facing windows on arectangular structure. Or buryearthbag domes and add a living roof.Both will work. One provides a moreconventional appearance and moresquare footage. Domes are moreorganic, stronger and can be coveredwith as much soil as you want. In bothcases take care to channel wateraway and add multiple waterproofinglayers.

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    Good day dear Owen. Iadmire your work andexperience you put into allyour earthbag projects. I amconsidering designing anearthbag home structure(consisting of a few 20-22"domes) for cold and cloudyclimate of Ukraine (EasternEurope) that I would like toberm it on 3 sides (withmostly windows /greenhouse on south side)and put a living roof on top ofit. Ideally the house shouldtake the best of of theearthbag / earthship / pahs/life support systems to allow100% sustainability and offthe grid eco lifestyle.

    With these thoughts in mind,i would like to seek your kindsupport and anvise on how todesign and ensure thestrength of the structure tobear the topload andsideforces of the berm. Couldyou please kindly share yourbest considerations of howthe shape of the domes mustbe adjusted to balance theexternal forces? Could thedome walls ,perhaps, leanonto the berm likewise theretantion wall do tocounterforce the bermforces? What about the toppart of the dome, should utjust be more tall? What shellbe the rational on the shapegeometry vs the size of thedome? Would there be anycorelation? Thankyou verymuch in advance :-)

    Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/) (author) in reply to vsergeyev

    It's very difficult to get sufficient solargain in cold climates with domes. Youcan't make too many windows indomes because all the weight is incompression and would weaken thestructure.

    It's much easier to build a rectangularstructure like the ones popular in the1970's. The 'energy crisis' (oilembargo) back then prompted manydesigns and builders to come up withmore energy efficient designs. Withthe passage of time we now knowwhat works and what doesn't. This

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    information is available for free on the Internet. The common characteristicis lots of south-facing windows for solar gain, thermal mass to absorb andstore the heat, and insulation to prevent loss of heat. Earth-berming alsoimproves efficiency.

    See:http://naturalbuildingblog.com/underground-houses/http://naturalbuildingblog.com/pahs-earthbag-house-near-completion/

    One spin-off of this research was Earthships. They have the south-facingwindows and other features listed above, but also curved back walls toresist the thrust of the earth. The basic design works great. However, theplans are very expensive and ramming tires is slow and very difficult.Numerous builders have chosen to use the concept to make earthbagearthships. Search this phrase on our Natural Building Blog:http://naturalbuildingblog.com/

    You can see a prime example on my Instructable -- How to Build anInsulated Earthbag House http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-an-Insulated-Earthbag-House/ This should work perfectly for you.

    KMH (/member/KMH/) says:

    Could I make a 20' diameter geodesic dome of steel pipe welded solid, andcovered with re-bar/wire to support the earth bags filled with gravel/sand/cement/and a little water?

    Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/) (author) in reply to KMH

    Yes, if you use lightweight fill materialin the bags. Scoria, pumice, lava rocktype materials work great. They're fastand easy to work with, lightweight,non-combustible, insulating and don'tattract pests. Do not use regularearthbags on geodesic shapes or thestructure would likely fail (unless youuse a huge amount of steel to resistthe weight, but that's not efficient).That's why earthbag and adobedomes look the way they do -- theyuse a shape that works with nature,sort of like an egg shell.

    km21324 (/member/km21324/) says:

    Can this hold a snow load of 7ft or over? I know everyone says its strong, butwould hate to build one just to have it fail in the winter.

    Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/) (author) in reply to km21324

    That's nothing. There's around 20truckloads of soil on top and the domehas never budged. You could putanother 100 truckloads of soil on topand it still wouldn't budge, because ofthe nature of domes. The dome shapechannels the forces down and awayfrom the building.

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    AneuchResinousMolybdenum (/member/AneuchResinousMolybdenum/) says:

    I am so so curious, what does this look likeinside? Could you post a few pictures?

    Is it hard to live in there with crampedquarters?Are winters unbearably cold?

    Thanks!

    Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/) (author) in reply toAneuchResinousMolybdenum

    Inside looks like white poly bags stacked like big bricks. The walls curve upto a point. It's only 8' wide at the base and so it's a little difficult to takephotos. We use it for storing tools, and it works great for that purpose.You'd want to build a bigger dome for living -- say 16' diameter minimum.To determine the best size, simply put a stake in the ground, tie on a pieceof rope and scratch a circle in the earth. That will help you visualize thespace better.

    BigDogDahler (/member/BigDogDahler/) says:

    Do we need a specific size? i just would like to know before i order it, if some onecould help me out asap that would be great :)

    Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/) (author) in reply to BigDogDahler

    Everything you need to know is in thisInstructable and/or the Mother EarthNews article. You'll need 18"x30" bags(measured when flat and empty). Lotsof people are now using poly tubes,mesh tubes and mesh bags -- all 18"wide.

    BigDogDahler (/member/BigDogDahler/) in reply to Owen Geiger

    ok thank you, so if i order just that sizei should be fine? and how much do uthink were actually used? would 500be enough?

    Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/) (author) in reply to BigDogDahler

    The article explains how many youneed.

    BigDogDahler (/member/BigDogDahler/) says:

    where do you buy your earthbags? im having trouble finding them cheap

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    Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/) (author) in reply to BigDogDahler

    Everything related to earthbagbuilding is on our websites. Go tothe Resources page atEarthbagBuilding.com

    BLUEFOOable (/member/BLUEFOOable/) says:

    Do you think it would be possible to use a marsh clay for foundation bags, still withthe rubble ground covering>??, because i live in South Africa and i do not have allof the necessary resources.?

    Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/) (author) in reply to BLUEFOOable

    It's always best to use gravel infoundation bags so water can drainaway. The foundation supports thewalls above and so everything couldcollapse if the lower courses turn tomud.

    However, I do know of one project thatused marsh mud successfully. This isNOT recommended, but in this case itdid work. Build above grade (raise thesite so water drains away quickly orbuild on high ground), use wide roofoverhangs so water doesn't hit thewalls, use plaster to deflect any snowor rain. Berming earth around the sidesabout 24" high would also help protectlower walls. I would only do this in adry climate on a small house or cabinwhere no other options are available.Again, this is not good buildingpractice. I'm just saying that sometimesyou may have to break the rules out ofnecessity.

    urtlesquirt (/member/urtlesquirt/) says:

    Build a life size model of Bag End. Challenge Accepted.

    wakojako (/member/wakojako/) in reply to urtlesquirt

    No, no, no! Build a life-size model ofHobbiton, wait, no, The Shire!

    wakojako (/member/wakojako/) in reply to wakojako

    Wait a second, is this why Bag End iscalled Bag End?

    urtlesquirt (/member/urtlesquirt/) in reply to wakojako

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    1 year ago Reply (CYAWTJZH4ZN4SO7)

    Of course. OwenGeiger's real name isJ.R.R. Tolkein.

    timmycutts (/member/timmycutts/) in reply to wakojako

    "The name comes from thefarmhouse in the tiny Worcestershirevillage of Dormston, in which Tolkien'saunt lived. It can also be seen as apun on "cul-de-sac" (literally, "bottomof the bag")." - LotR wiki.

    More to the point, it's also a slight punon "Baggins", since if you say "BagEnd" quickly as one word, it soundsnot entirely unlike "Baggins".

    wakojako (/member/wakojako/) in reply to timmycutts

    Oh, I know it's Bag(gins) End - I wasjust fooling around.

    jediwhiz3 (/member/jediwhiz3/) in reply to timmycutts

    Precisely!

    unleavened (/member/unleavened/) says:

    hi i saw this article and thought it sounded crazy - i've got to try it!i'm pretty hands on, but i've never done anything nearly as complicated or big asthis - i'm a complete beginner. if i want to investigate this possibility, aside from apatch of land, what do i need to look into if i want to incorporate electricity, heating,water, bathroom facilities, and pretty much everything i need for a normal house?do i need planning permission? do i feed off someone else's electricity/water etc ordo i organise it independently? (you can see i'm a real beginner!)i'm living in israel where it gets pretty hot and pretty cold, raining quite a bit in thewinter. i'd like to build a two bedroom house - got any suggestions? how long doyou think it'll take?cheers, this looks like the revolution of the century! my family will think i'm mad - ican't wait!thanks so much!

    Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/) (author) in reply to unleavened

    There are many possibilities. Youhave to investigate the options whereyou want to build. Maybe you have toadd solar, etc. if you're off grid. Maybeyou can tap into local power andwater. But this typically requiresfollowing strict building codes. Codesvary considerably from place to place,so you have to investigate what localbuilding authorities require. Wetypically recommend building in rural

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    areas with few or no building codes to minimize costs.

    Time of construction will vary depending on your skills and strength.Earthbag is very labor intensive. It's best if you're strong and healthy or canhire low cost workers.

    Start with a small tool shed and take it from there.

    supershot1 (/member/supershot1/) says:

    how much are the earthbags alone??

    BigDogDahler (/member/BigDogDahler/) in reply to supershot1

    Apparently there is a place where youcan get 500 of them for only $75 but iwasnt able to find it. However I did findthis website, but i dont know if iselected the right size, 500 of themcomes out to about $160 which is fairlycheap.

    http://www.onlinefabricstore.net/utility-basics/utility-supplies/sandbags/polypropylene-sandbags/14-x-26-polypropylene-sandbags-.htm

    BigDogDahler (/member/BigDogDahler/) in reply to supershot1

    Apparently there is a place where youcan get 500 of them for only $75 but iwasnt able to find it. However I didfind this website, but i dont know if iselected the right size, 500 of themcomes out to about $160 which isfairly cheap.

    theshedlife (/member/theshedlife/) in reply to supershot1

    about 12 hours a day?

    Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/) (author) in reply to theshedlife

    Not sure what you're saying. I suredon't work outside 12 hours a day.Most of my time is spent researching,writing and designing houses. Theearthbag dome was finished a little ata time on weekends.

    Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/) (author) in reply to supershot1

    You have to shop around just likeanything. Prices range from 6 cents(our latest price for recycled bags innew condition) up to 45 cents or soeach.

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