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Rammed Earth
With sustainability becoming more and more popular in building, people are looking for ways to create environmentally friendly buildings that are as stable and good looking as those built using traditional methods. Rammed earth is a building material that has many benefits, both for the environment and the occupant. Read on to learn more.
What is Rammed Earth?
Rammed earth is a building method in which an earth mixture is compacted in layers between forms. Each individual layers is about 15cm deep. When each form is filled with earth mixture, another form is placed above it and the process is repeated until the desired wall height is achieved. Pneumatic rammers are used to compact the earth in between the forms.
For the best results, the earth mixture is a balance of clay, sand, and aggregate. You can use a wider range of soils if you add a small amount of cement to the mixture, and most rammed earth builders add cement. This is called stabilised rammed earth.
Benefits of Using Rammed Earth
There are several benefits to using rammed earth in construction. These include:
• Thermal Mass – rammed earth walls are 300mm thick. The thickness and density of the rammed earth means that heat and cold are very slow to reach the inside of the home, meaning that you are warmer in winter and cooler in summer.
• Noise Reduction – the thickness and density of the walls also provides excellent sound insulation. Unwanted noise such as traffic noise does not penetrate well into the home.
• Strength and Durability – rammed earth walls are extremely strong and durable and will last for many years once built.
• Low Maintenance – once built, rammed earth walls are virtually maintenance free. They do not need to be painted, wallpapered, tiled, rendered, or gyprocked. However, if you do require these finishes, they can be easily applied to rammed earth walls in the same way as you would other masonry.
• Fire Proof – a 250mm rammed earth wall has a 4 hour fire resistance rating. Earth doesn’t burn so it is an ideal material for bushfire prone areas.
• Load Bearing – rammed earth walls are load bearing so it is unlikely that you will need other structural framing for your home. This is environmentally sustainable, and also cuts building costs.
• Fast to Build – rammed earth walls are quick to build. The walls can be constructed and ready for the roof in as little as a week.
• Pest Resistant – termites and other pests are not interested in rammed earth walls so there is virtually no risk of a termite infestation.
• Healthy – it is non-polluting, non-toxic and breathes, making it safe for the occupants.
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