I started building vaults to lower building costs. After a couple I got carried away with making vaults fancier and more complicated (groined vaults) and hence more expensive.
So for the past year (s) I have been dreaming how to make walls cheaper and decided i would try stone walls and rammed earth walls.
I need to fill in space where old gate was. I buy this stone for $55 per 5m(3) delivered. It is very hard and cuts badly but has a naturally mostly flat surfaces. I chose to build with cement/lime/sand mortar. We get a fair amount of positive comments.
I was thinking i better use cement as my neighbors all use it. Notice the mansion over the wall.
so on the other side of the gate along a garden I used claysoil/sand mortar.
I will eventually put a roof cap over the wall to keep the wall drier.
It looks good and is strong but it still is not "inexpensive"
for some years I have been reading about cob, rammed earth, and bagged earth. I chose to go with rammed earth and I think the choice is right for me. All i need to supply is sand. Soil i get from the foundation and quarrying on our land.
the forms.
Make them strong. the pressure is great.
I used marine plywood, ripped in half.
Then 4x2 down the lenght.
then another 3 4x2 upright and bolt holes through them.
Finished looks like this:
I builg a stone foundation, 5cm of cement plaster and then plastic sheeting.
I enlist neighbor boys.
Ramming 10cm to 3cm repeatedly to fill the 50 cm
Some places the rammed soil sticks to the formwork.
Imperfections, and different sand types
locking joint
Tried some decorations
Tried embedding stones and bricks and bottles
Starting to try smooth earth finishing, next tadelakt?
