raeb:rammed_earth_building [Knowledge Commons]

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====== Rammed earth building ======


![](raeb:rammed_earth_building.jpg)

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> “The World Heritage site of the Alhambra Palace in Granada was constructed from rammed earth around 1238.” - Paul Jaquin



===== What is rammed earth building? =====

It is building with earth (subsoil rather than topsoil). Two billion people worldwide live in earth constructions and rammed earth building is on the increase in Europe as well as in other areas.

The oldest surviving rammed earth buildings are around 8000 years old, and were built in areas with few trees, like the ancient city-states of Mesopotamia; the Romans introduced it into Europe.

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<figure>

![](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/rammedearth-formwork.jpg)

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_Constructing formwork into which the earth is rammed._

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The technique was also used on the Great Wall of China. [Cob](/cobb/cob_building) and adobe buildings are not rammed – a mixture of earth and water is built up slowly to form walls, or made into blocks.

True rammed earth building involves compacting soil into formwork. Particle sizes can range from gravel to clays, although the main constituent will be sand (50-60%); clays will be between 10-20% - higher than this will cause shrinkage.

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![](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/rammedearth-french-home.jpg)

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_There are many rammed earth homes in rural France._

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Rammed earth is a versatile material and can be used equally effectively for curves and arches as well as straight walls.

Rammed earth buildings have low material costs but high labour costs, so are comparable in price with conventional buildings; they come into their own when you consider the health, environmental, thermal and aesthetic benefits.

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<figure>

![](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/rammedearth-ramming.jpg)

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_Using a hand-rammer to compact earth into formwork. House-building and green gym combined._

</caption>

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===== What are the benefits of rammed earth building? =====

**Low CO2 emissions:** as earth walls don’t require bricks to be fired in a kiln, or cement manufacture, there is a massive reduction in emissions of CO2 (the most important greenhouse gas). Around 10% of global CO2 emissions are from the cement industry. Some websites say that 5-10% cement should be added to the earth, but [it’s not necessary](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/why-rammed-earth-doesnt-contain-cement/).

**Recyclable:** it’s just plain old earth, which can be used again on a new building, or be re-absorbed into the environment easily.

**High thermal mass:** walls can absorb the sun’s warmth during the day, and leach it slowly into the building at night; this reduces the energy required for heating, and so further reduces CO2 emissions and pollution. In fact, a well-built rammed earth house, with straw-bale exterior insulation and glazing on the south side (in the northern hemisphere) [should require no heating](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/rammed-earth-straw-bale-no-heating/).

<WRAP center centeralign>
<figure>

![](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/rammedearth-pneumatic-ram.jpg)

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_Compacting earth into formwork with a pneumatic ram to construct walls._

</caption>

</figure>
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**Non-toxic:** no toxic, or factory-produced materials in the walls at all – just earth.

**Local:** cement and bricks are heavy, and their manufacture is centralized; earth can be dug locally, reducing transport requirements, CO2 emissions and pollution.

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![](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/rammedearth-hut.jpg)

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_A rammed-earth, thatched school classroom built by Rammed Earth Consulting in Zimbabwe._

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**Cost:** cement costs around the same anywhere in the world, and so for poor countries, it will represent a larger portion of people's income. But there's a free resource available instead - earth.

**Other benefits:** if you’re looking for a [natural house](/buil/building), then earth can play a part, along with stone, timber, straw, slate and lime. The move to plastics and processed building materials after the war is slowly being reversed now. Non-toxic, breathable, natural materials are good for the environment, for your health, and for buildings and their air quality, which is good news for asthma sufferers.



===== What can I do? =====

First, look out for the word 'stabilised'. There are 'stabilised' rammed earth companies out there that use up to 13% cement in the earth mix. This means that their buildings are low-grade concrete rather than rammed earth, and so can't really claim to be natural or eco-friendly.

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![](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/rammedearth-shuttering.jpg)

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_Removing shuttering to reveal the first layer of wall._

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[Rammed Earth Consulting](http://rammedearthconsulting.com/) have experience of rammed earth building on several continents, and although rammed earth works well in the UK, they suggest that maybe internal rammed earth, structural walls with [timber](/buil/building) or [straw-bale](/buil/building) external walls would be better. This way you benefit from the thermal mass of the internal walls, and the insulation of the outer walls.

Foundations can be concrete, but a more eco-friendly alternative could be [lime](/lime/lime) and flint (or rubble). For extra strength, you can have steel rods from the foundations, up through the walls, and secured to the roof timbers.

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<figure>

![](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/rammedearth-alhambra.jpeg)

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_The Alhambra was built of rammed earth in 1238. Not bad for durability and beauty._

</caption>

</figure>
</WRAP>

Ply formwork (sections around 600mm high) is fixed onto the foundations about 350mm wide, with wooden spacers keeping the sides apart, and through-bolts holding them together.

A pneumatic (or traditionally, manual) ram is used to compress the earth to around 50% of its original height. Spacers come out as you go, (but it’s not the end of the world if some are left in). Plastic pipes can be located in the walls as you are ramming, through which electrical wires can be threaded later.

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<figure>

![](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/rammedearth-strawbale.jpg)

<caption>
_Construction of a 300mm thick rammed earth interior wall with 450mm thick straw-bale exterior insulation._

</caption>

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The second layer of formwork fits on top of the first, and later the first layer can ‘leap frog’ on top of the second. Formwork can come off immediately – there’s no setting time – and the holes left by the through bolts are filled.

Gaps for doors and windows can be cut into the earth, or formwork can be built around them to save ramming work; no lintels are required. Wire brush the walls when the formwork comes off and you have beautiful, natural walls which connect you and your home to the surrounding environment.

<WRAP center centeralign>
<figure>

![](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/rammedearth-classroom.jpg)

<caption>
_Rammed earth classroom built by Rammed Earth Consulting at Hill Holt Wood._

</caption>

</figure>
</WRAP>

Add a conventional roof, with a good overhang for added protection from rain. Walls can be sealed, rendered or limewashed like conventional masonry.

Rammed earth buildings are energy efficient, and conform to fire / health & safety regulations.


===== Forum =====

This topic belongs to the section [[gt:buildings|Buildings & construction]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/buildings).

===== Further resources =====

- [North American Rammed Earth Builders Association](http://www.nareba.org/)
- [Earth Architecture](https://eartharchitecture.org/) - huge resource of articles about all kinds of earth building
- [Earth Building UK & ireland](https://www.ebuki.co/) - fostering the conservation, understanding and development of building with earth in the UK and Ireland
- [Green Home Building](https://www.greenhomebuilding.com/rammedearth.htm) - info, books, plans
- [GreenSpec](https://www.greenspec.co.uk/building-design/rammed-earth/) - environmental benefits of rammed earth
- [Historic Rammed Earth](https://historicrammedearth.wordpress.com/) - books, forums, conferences, research, construction companies
- [Mother Earth News](https://www.motherearthnews.com/diy/rammed-earth-house-zmaz73sozraw/) - rammed earth construction techniques
- [Rammed Earth Constructions](https://www.rammedearthconstructions.com.au/) - Australian site with lots of info
- [Rammed Earth Consulting](https://rammedearthconsulting.com/) - non-profit consultancy specialising in rammed earth; standards
- [Rammed Earth Solar Homes](http://www.rammedearthhomes.com/gallery.htm) - gallery of rammed earth buildings



===== Related topics =====

- [[cobb:Cob building]]
- [[buil:building|Low-impact building]]
- [[plan:planning|Planning permission]]
- [[eafl:Earthen floors]]
- [[eabb:Earthbag building]]





===== Specialist curators of this topic =====