Earthbag 200-Square-foot Dome and Loft Construction

This page is about building details for earthbag construction domes and lofts. It is meant to be the most complete, comprehensive, and easy-to-follow guide available. One Community will be using the Earthbag Crowdfunding Campaign and construction of the Earthbag Village to make it even better.

This guide is still under construction. When complete it will consist of the following sections:

• Related Pages and Getting Involved
• What is This
• Why Open Source This
• Tools and Materials (coming)
• Municipal/County Involvement (coming)
• 200 Square Foot Earth-dome Construction Details
• 150 Square Foot Earth-dome Construction Details
• Loft Construction Specifics
• Resources
• FAQ

NOTE: THIS PAGE IS NOT CONSIDERED BY US TO BE A COMPLETE AND USABLE TUTORIAL UNTIL
WE FINISH THE CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN AND ADD ALL THE VIDEOS AND EXPERIENCE FROM
THAT BUILD TO THIS PAGE – IN THE MEANTIME, WE WELCOME YOUR INPUT AND FEEDBACK

HERE ARE LINKS TO WHO WE ARE AS AN ORGANIZATION (click icons for complete pages)

VISIT THESE DETAILED PAGES FOR MORE ON THE COMPLETE VILLAGE PLANS (click icons)

WAYS TO CONTRIBUTE TO EVOLVING THIS SUSTAINABILITY COMPONENT WITH US

SUGGESTIONS     â”    Â CONSULTING     â”    Â MEMBERSHIP     â”    Â OTHER OPTIONS

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WHAT IS THIS

This page will teach the specifics for constructing a 200-square-foot earthbag dome home with a loft. This is the same floor plan and design planned for the complete open source sustainable Earthbag Construction Village.

If you’d like to see the level of detail we will be including, take a look at these pages:

		Weekly progress updates
		Excavation & Construction of Footers, Foundation, and Flooring
		Electrical: Dome Home, Guest/Studio Dome, and Bathroom/Kitchen Dome

Go here for an overview of the complete crowdfunding program and plan:

CLICK HERE FOR THE CROWDFUNDING OVERVIEW PAGE

WHY OPEN SOURCE EARTHBAG CONSTRUCTION

Earthbag construction is economical, durable, artistic, do-it-yourself doable, and significantly more earth friendly than traditional construction. Currently, however, the immense volume of internet resources on this building method lack cohesion and professional presentation. By creating the most detailed and comprehensive tutorials available, we hope to help people better understand the specifics of what is involved in this building method while providing:

• An open source resource for earthbuilders around the world
• Detailed cost, labor, and performance comparisons with an identical aircrete dome
• Complete and permitted plans for two different domes that could each be used as a guest house, studio, play room, etc.; small enough to be built (if needed) in many counties without a permit

Our goal in doing this is to raise public awareness and stimulate the entire earthbag construction industry. By providing what is needed to build these domes with or without a permit, sharing the labor, cost, and construction specifics, and demonstrating how beautiful and functional they are, we will make it much easier for people to decide to want to build this way both here and in other countries. In so doing, we will help people do this on their own and provide a huge increase in business and interest for training and help from expert individuals and organizations like Cal-Earth, Earthen Hand, etc. 

EARTH-DOME CONSTRUCTION
200 SQ FT DOME DETAILS

The following videos are planned for inclusion in the open sourcing process of this component:

Video coming: Compass construction and installation:

VIDEO COMING OF: CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATION OF THE COMPASS

SEE OUR HOW TO HELP AND/OR CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN PAGE TO HELP CREATE ALL THE TUTORIAL VIDEOS FASTER

 

Video coming: Laying and tamping earthbag (and overlap demonstration with slider):

VIDEO COMING OF: LAYING AND TAMPING EARTHBAGS

SEE OUR HOW TO HELP AND/OR CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN PAGE TO HELP CREATE ALL THE TUTORIAL VIDEOS FASTER

 

Video coming: Every bag 3-course string cohesion:

VIDEO COMING OF: EVERY BAG 3-COURSE STRING COHESION

SEE OUR HOW TO HELP AND/OR CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN PAGE TO HELP CREATE ALL THE TUTORIAL VIDEOS FASTER

 

Video coming: Barbed wire installation:

VIDEO COMING OF: BARBED WIRE INSTALLATION

SEE OUR HOW TO HELP AND/OR CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN PAGE TO HELP CREATE ALL THE TUTORIAL VIDEOS FASTER

 

Video coming: Rebar reinforcement:

VIDEO COMING OF: USING REBAR FOR REINFORCEMENT

SEE OUR HOW TO HELP AND/OR CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN PAGE TO HELP CREATE ALL THE TUTORIAL VIDEOS FASTER 

 

Video coming: Changing the compass setting:

VIDEO COMING OF: HOW TO CHANGE YOUR COMPASS SETTING

SEE OUR HOW TO HELP AND/OR CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN PAGE TO HELP CREATE ALL THE TUTORIAL VIDEOS FASTER 

 

Video coming: Earthbag offset and peak closure specifics:

VIDEO COMING OF: EARTHBAG OFFSET AND PEAK CLOSURE SPECIFICS

SEE OUR HOW TO HELP AND/OR CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN PAGE TO HELP CREATE ALL THE TUTORIAL VIDEOS FASTER 

 

EARTH-DOME CONSTRUCTION
150 SQ FT DOME DETAILS

 

Video coming: Compass construction and installation:

VIDEO COMING OF: CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATION OF THE COMPASS

SEE OUR HOW TO HELP AND/OR CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN PAGE TO HELP CREATE ALL THE TUTORIAL VIDEOS FASTER

 

Video coming: Laying and tamping earthbag (and overlap demonstration with slider):

VIDEO COMING OF: LAYING AND TAMPING EARTHBAGS

SEE OUR HOW TO HELP AND/OR CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN PAGE TO HELP CREATE ALL THE TUTORIAL VIDEOS FASTER

 

Video coming: Every bag 3-course string cohesion:

VIDEO COMING OF: EVERY BAG 3-COURSE STRING COHESION

SEE OUR HOW TO HELP AND/OR CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN PAGE TO HELP CREATE ALL THE TUTORIAL VIDEOS FASTER

 

Video coming: Barbed wire installation:

VIDEO COMING OF: BARBED WIRE INSTALLATION

SEE OUR HOW TO HELP AND/OR CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN PAGE TO HELP CREATE ALL THE TUTORIAL VIDEOS FASTER 

 

Video coming: Rebar reinforcement:

VIDEO COMING OF: USING REBAR FOR REINFORCEMENT

SEE OUR HOW TO HELP AND/OR CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN PAGE TO HELP CREATE ALL THE TUTORIAL VIDEOS FASTER 

 

Video coming: Changing the compass setting:

VIDEO COMING OF: HOW TO CHANGE YOUR COMPASS SETTING

SEE OUR HOW TO HELP AND/OR CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN PAGE TO HELP CREATE ALL THE TUTORIAL VIDEOS FASTER 

 

Video coming: Earthbag offset and peak closure specifics:

VIDEO COMING OF: EARTHBAG OFFSET AND PEAK CLOSURE SPECIFICS

SEE OUR HOW TO HELP AND/OR CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN PAGE TO HELP CREATE ALL THE TUTORIAL VIDEOS FASTER 

 

LOFT CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICS

LOFT CONSTRUCTION—The loft is sized to the diameter of the structure at whatever height is desired; the ends of each joist will extend about ⦝-¾ of the way across the earthbags and additional rows above that will overlap bags as below the loft. A removable hatch is built-in to allow summer heat to escape and keep winter heat in the lower level. Videos:

 

Video coming: Layout of 2 X 8’s (for loft framing [16″ O.C.] and hatch on earthbags at height of loft:

VIDEO COMING OF: INITIAL LOFT FRAMING SETUP

SEE OUR HOW TO HELP AND/OR CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN PAGE TO HELP CREATE ALL THE TUTORIAL VIDEOS FASTER 

 

Video coming: Using wood scraps to level your 2 x 8’s:

VIDEO COMING OF: HOW TO LEVEL YOUR LOFT

SEE OUR HOW TO HELP AND/OR CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN PAGE TO HELP CREATE ALL THE TUTORIAL VIDEOS FASTER

 

Video coming: Offset blocking and hatch construction (to tie in rafters, forming a single unit):

VIDEO COMING OF: HOW TO ADD OFFSET BLOCKS AND CONSTRUCT YOUR HATCH

SEE OUR HOW TO HELP AND/OR CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN PAGE TO HELP CREATE ALL THE TUTORIAL VIDEOS FASTER

 

Video coming: Underside plywood attachment. Note:if plywood is attached on the ground, then the entire unit will be raised into place at that time:

VIDEO COMING OF: HOW TO ATTACH YOUR UNDERSIDE PLYWOOD

SEE OUR HOW TO HELP AND/OR CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN PAGE TO HELP CREATE ALL THE TUTORIAL VIDEOS FASTER

 

Video coming: Optional electrical installation for light or fan:

VIDEO COMING OF: HOW TO INSTALL ELECTRICAL FOR A LIGHT OR FAN

SEE OUR HOW TO HELP AND/OR CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN PAGE TO HELP CREATE ALL THE TUTORIAL VIDEOS FASTER 

 

Video coming: Loft rafter insulation (aircrete or [cellulose 3.5 x 7.5″ = R-26]):

VIDEO COMING OF: HOW TO INSULATE YOUR LOFT

SEE OUR HOW TO HELP AND/OR CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN PAGE TO HELP CREATE ALL THE TUTORIAL VIDEOS FASTER 

 

Video coming: Earthbag placement between joists:

VIDEO COMING OF: HOW TO PLACE EARTHBAGS WHEN WORKING BETWEEN JOISTS

SEE OUR HOW TO HELP AND/OR CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN PAGE TO HELP CREATE ALL THE TUTORIAL VIDEOS FASTER

 

Video coming: Upper-side plywood attachment:

VIDEO COMING OF: ATTACHING YOUR UPPER-SIDE LOFT PLYWOOD

SEE OUR HOW TO HELP AND/OR CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN PAGE TO HELP CREATE ALL THE TUTORIAL VIDEOS FASTER

 

Video coming: Earthbag placement over joists (demonstrating continued earthbag offsets):

VIDEO COMING OF: PLACING EARTHBAGS OVER JOISTS

SEE OUR HOW TO HELP AND/OR CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN PAGE TO HELP CREATE ALL THE TUTORIAL VIDEOS FASTER

 

 MORE COMING

CLICK THESE ICONS TO JOIN US THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA

HERE ARE LINKS TO WHO WE ARE AS AN ORGANIZATION (click icons for complete pages)

VISIT THESE DETAILED PAGES FOR MORE ON THE COMPLETE VILLAGE PLANS (click icons)

WAYS TO CONTRIBUTE TO EVOLVING THIS SUSTAINABILITY COMPONENT WITH US

SUGGESTIONS     â”    Â CONSULTING     â”    Â MEMBERSHIP     â”    Â OTHER OPTIONS