ROGERS RAMMED EARTH
Rammed Earth Techniques
Compressor-driven Tamper
 |
The compressor driven tamper shown
above is the usual contemporary tamping
device, but needs a bigger compressor.
Compressor air supply to mechanical tamper
must be a minimum 32KG. (70 LBS.) a minute.
The tamper takes a considerable concentration
to maneuver while it jumps
on your toes :-(
HAND tamping gives the BEST COMPACTION which is the CRUX of a lasting building!
Hand Ramming Tamper
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The alternative HAND tamping device
is easy to make and of course has no capital
outlay like its counterpart above.
The hand tamper should be at least five kilos
in weight (12 LBS) to give the "punch"
necessary to compact damp earth.
The base is made of heavy hardwood
300mm.x100mm. (12x4 inches).
The handle was not made of wood as in the
diagram above, but from a 1.5 metre length of
galvanised steel water pipe
about 30mm. diameter which gave a useful
heavier weight to the tamper.
I used this style
of hand tamper to build my house.
The steel
plate at the base (working face) is a very
necessary addition to
minimise any adherence of damp earth.
(see photo of my tamper on home page)
Rammed Earth Concrete Foundation detail
 |
A cross-section
of slab-on-ground construction. Damp course is
laid on the slab before earth walls are begun.
Notice the continuous rio-rod extending from the
footing of concrete slab and reaching through
the earth wall to the roof plate.
This makes for a very secure roof especially in
high or cyclonic wind.
Form End Shutter or
Key-Way
End Shutter or Key-Way is necessary to join on the adjoining earth section/form.
This gives strength and bonding to the walls overall length.
Imperative that the tamper foot fits both the negative & positive.
The wood stud down centre of back board has a slight chamfer
down each side to facilitate removal at tamping completion.
This shutter is 45cm wide for walls the same width.
Pouring Earth into Forms before Tamping.
When pouring loose earth into the forms prior
to tamping, make sure to pour along the form sides
NOT down the middle.
If earth is poured down
the middle forming a hill, the small gravel,
stones & clay
lumps will roll to the exterior face of your wall.
Lumps will visually be unsightly &
not homogeneous to overall wall.
Window Lintels
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Several methods
can be used to fill in areas above windows or
doorways.
Above is a unique method of incorporating arched
concrete lintels by Ramtec (see links).
I used heavy hardwood beams and also concrete
lintels with a brick facade to span the window
& door areas.
Contempory/commercial RE is made up of 'stone
henge panels' & is a cost cutting compromise
of simply filling in with windows & doors up
to the roof plate.
Above you can download a R.E.paper delivered in Western Australia by Stephen Dobson a Committee Member of the:
Joint Technical Committee of Standards Association of Australia and Standards New Zealand
for preparation of a Standard for Earth Building for Australia and New Zealand.
Rammed
Earth
- Great Wall China
Please ask first!
