Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

i'm considering building a 4x2 rammed earth house on a block around armadale way. can anyone recommend a builder (or who NOT to build with)?
i'm not terribly happy with the price or the finish i've seen on a lot of double brick houses, something different is in order i think.

I doubt you would be impressed with the price of rammed earth then, a couple of people in Morawa when I was there got houses built from Rammed Earth, they were nice and cool in the 40c temps
try here http://ramtec.com.au/
or here http://www.rammedearthliving.com.au/ more links at this one

Hi timmy, Have a look at a product called "Timbercrete" Google it and you can read a great selection of comments. My daughters house is built from this product, I love the appearance (just like mud brick), the feel and the tremendus thermal capabilities. Too old now but if I was to build again would look at this.

The product is a combination of compressed sawdust and binding agents each is individually made block, can be drilled, sawn, forms int/ext wall and has great thermal properties.

I got onto the company and they sent me a DVD

I've gotten a few estimates since i posted - i prefer to term it "rammed rip off".
every single rammed earth place claims it's comparable to double brick, but just ask what a house with rammed earth will cost and the whole story changes.
what a load of bunk.

I told you so

Cheap as chips if you do it yourself

idunno if building yourself ends up being cheaper if you factor in the mistakes you make :/
the rammed earth walls themselfs aren't very expensive to have put up - $200 per sqrm. the overall cost of the rammed earth walls isn't a massive component of the house.

the problem is the builders whack a massive premium on doing it, even though the rest of the house goes up the exact same way, if not easier because all the services are prepositioned in conduit.

it's come down to $1500 per sqrm for rammed earth vs $800 per sqrm for double brick. eco friendly is the new rip off buzz word. very disappointed.

I've met a couple of rammed earth builders who have chucked in the game and sold off their businesses because their bodies are basically buggered. It's not easy stuff to do and they probably deserve what they get. I'd much rather pay the extra and have poured earth walls than standard double brick... At least for some of the main south walls.

Tony has some beautiful poured earth wall at his place up in the hills, using the natural gravelly soils.

I wish I had put a central spine of rammed earth through the length of my place for thermal mass. Steel frame on posts does not give you much

I've got a few nice walls too