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Georgia Adobe Carbon -0- Self Sustainable Buildings

 




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Start Your Project Contact Georgia Adobe's World Headquarters :


Georgia Adobe Rammed Earth & Renewable Energy
231 Harris Lord Cemetery Road,
Commerce, GA. 30530 
706-363-6453

Georgia Adobe Brochure

 

Georgia Adobe Brochure 
YOU CAN PRINT THIS BROCHURE AND PASS OUT COPIES TO FRIENDS THAT NEED A GEORGIA ADOBE HOME  HELP US SAVE THE WORLD ONE FAMILY AT A TIME ! Be Sure & Read The Q & A With Our Founder & Project Hope Info Too !
The Below Brochure Images Should Be Printable On 8.5 x 11 Paper

Page 1:
A Georgia Adobe Carbon -0- Independent Self Sustainable Off Grid Home .



Page 2 :
Elements Of A Georgia Adobe Home.



Page 3 :
A Combination Of Materials And Building Methods Are Used As Required.



PAGE 4 :
Georgia Adobe's Are Designed To Operate Off Grid Through Reuse Of All Materials. Below Is An Example Of The Enviro-System , A Georgia Adobe Uses.

 

PAGE 5:
During The Fall / Winter Season, The Sun Is Low In The Sky Thus It Can Enter As Far As The Back Wall.


Page 6
During The Spring / Summer Season The Sun Is High Is The Sky & Only Comes In As Far As  The Winter Garden.



Page 7
Conventional Home & Energy Losses


Page 8
A Guide To Understanding Energy Conservation &
Why A Georgia Adobe Home
Is Made Of Thermal Mass Materials:



Page 9
In Addition To Conventional Roofs For Above Ground Buildings There Are Other Possible Roof Designs. For Example: A Dome Roof Has 20 Times The Strength Of A Conventional Roof.



PAGE 10:

PAGE 11


Need More Info ?
Ready To Start Your Georgia Adobe Home ?
We Are Here To Help You !

CONTACT US:
Georgia Adobe
Commerce Georgia , 30530
706-363-6453
sales@georgiaadobe.com       

 NOTE:
All Experimental Architectural Plans Are Drafted Individually For Building Projects & Cost Range 
For A Single Family Single Story Design & Construction Plan & Include A General Materials List, Front Elevation Drawing, Plumbing & Electricial Drawing , With Roof, Wall & Foundation Section Drawings  - 3 Copies Included Total . All Plans Are Drawn Per Standard Building Code And Any Extra Engineering Or Drawings Will Be Billed Extra  Per Hour Plus Any Outside Assistance, As May Become Required Per Customer Requirements. Please Contact Us For All Further Details As Every Project Is Different & Non Residential Structures Such As Walls, Ponds, Pools, Landscapes, Fences, Defensive Elements, Or Commercial And Non Dwelling Structures May Be Very Different In Their Cost ( Up Or Down ) !

Errors, Omissions and References :

Georgia Adobe (TM) (SM.) strives to make these pages as accurate and understandable as possible. Of course, everything is subject to change , without notice of any kind and postings my not be accurate,  due to our best efforts becoming delayed from those changes. If anything is unclear to you or you have some questions, please email us as we make all effort to reply to those who contact us when we can and ASAP. We hope that's fast enough.

Please note that in some cases the names, dates and locations we speak about, have been changed to protect the innocent, and/or the guilty alike. Sorry , we don't give work references, we don't remember, nor do we show pictures of our other jobs , tell of there locations & we never ever kiss and tell either, well at least not past , what you may see here on these pages , from time to time. Sorry if that's a problem - please and with our best wishes for your every success, fee free to hire other professionals, who will jump through those kinds of hoops for your needs and or mental comfort .

Legal Disclaimer:

Nothing here is a recommendation to you , Our designs are Experimental and even after completion such structures may often require changes to make them operate as designed. Nor is the information presented considered professional advice for your actions. These are merely our reports of what we've seen and found useful in other situations. Your use of good sense and confirmation of everything, with your own research, is very much required as Georgia Adobe LP assumes no liability for your actions.



JOIN US ONLINE FOR A DISCUSSION ABOUT YOUR
GEORGIA ADOBE FUTURE HOME:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Georgia-Adobe-Joe-Woodall/115808091907

& AT :

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/home.php?sk=group_114169765334209&ap=1

Consultations are a great place to start !




Consultations Are A Great Place To Start Your Plans





If you have spent as much as 5 minutes reading the Georgia Adobe (G/A) web site, you most likely gathered that we design and build a very unique structure, one that takes care of the occupants, that heats & cools itself, grows food, captures fresh water from the atmosphere and  reuses that water multiple times &  we build a custom structure that makes mostly, all its own required utilities on the building site !  However, just how that is done or where you will start  so that you will arrive at your goal, of a totally self sufficient home is often, a bit intimidating. That's where a consultation session comes in handy !

Let us state from the beginning that, we work under a hand shake confidentiality agreement with all parties thus, we do not give work references, nor share photos of our other building projects, with other clients. This is done to protect us, the owner/builders and any others who might have been involved with our projects. One might say it protects both the innocent and the guilty party's equally. We keep no records naming locations, nor are client names kept on file, so as to eliminate the possibility of our divulging projects in court ordered prying thus, there will never be a possibility of our revealing our clients details. Additionally 99% of the time ( YOU ) the client will be the general contractor on your project & ( WE ) the Rogue Eco-Architects will be just a consultant to your project - regardless of our involvement . This allows the builder to more freely control the situation and limits our liability for your choices. It's a good thing as we can detail further for you if you are still interested in working with Georgia Adobe but, If this type of secrecy or so called "cloak and dagger operation of business",  is in anyway a problem for you ,  Please & with our best wishes for your every success ,   reference your local telephone book directory, for other professionals , who might wish to serve you.  

Fear Not, any project  ( regardless of  complications or size ) can be done well and Georgia Adobe is just the firm to break this process down for you, into easily understood step by step instructional & or  narratives if required, of just how your likely best,  to proceed.  Together with our clients, we will explore your projects needs & possibilities  and detail for you the elements of the Georgia Adobe building model, with relation to your every need.  Then, when your comfortable & ready to proceed, Georgia Adobe will  make your design plan come to life,  just as you wanted ! Your final plan will encompass the building materials list and a comprehensive set of  building plans, (soup to nuts) with detailed drawings of each critical step so, you will be able to build your Georgia Adobe Home yourself ( without professional assistance if needed ) , if  that's what you desire.

Building codes very all over the United States & through out the World too, even though the International Building Code (IBC) is supposedly the basic guide ,for the planet  ( PER UN RESOLUTION & ADOPTED BY MEMBER STATES ) .

Most of our construction planning today is therefore, based upon this guide as that a structure built from Earth is detailed in the IBC , under the Unfired clay masonry sections.  We can augment your construction plans to adhere to IBC and the local code additions of your area, should the need arise but remember, Concrete instead of Earth means additional cost.  Like so, does outside engineering inputs or extra drawings to revise original plans to what might be imposed upon you. 


Normally, the more concrete one adds means a far less "Green" structure is the result, certainly less green than our preferred methods of & materials selection construction details and as always, we stress your project to be developed at the least complicated location, so as to ease your cost & our headaches too .

        No Mortgage Payment !   And, No Utility Bills !

This is what we design to achieve and as such, most of the buildings we design, are modeled as "Off Grid" structures. It normally cost initially less , going into a project, to design it for the grid & with major utility connections as what one will use as that to build & maintain ones own infrastructure is expensive initially. 

One receives the benefits a little later as initial cost are recouped. Add to this, around us all a rise in the public utility's cost of operations will pass on to all using those services across the planet, for any of their increasing cost in the futures.


For example:  reference the UN's stated population increases coming to the world by 2030 and the needed infrastructure cost that are then related. This cost will be passed on to us all as the worlds public utilities have at present only 1.4 trillion dollars in their net worth of infrastructure.  It has taken them 100 or so years, to accomplish this yet,  In the next 20 years , just to keep up with population increases and the utilities need to build new infrastructure to accommodate all the new people , means the public utilities must add 1.5 trillion dollars of equipment & infrastructure cost to their top line , to meet mandates.

What this really means is for their clients will most likely be , rolling black outs , rationing of all utilities and that every person on the planet,  that chooses to buy utilities, will be paying for this new expense .   Utilities of all types , will likely be 10  times more expensive as today, at a minimum,  within 20 years of 2012.  Now if that's a possible problem for you well - you might then consider becoming completely "Off Grid", as your new approach to life as not so costly, after all !

We specialize in the development of personal infrastructures & the redevelopment of existing structures or businesses to allow for these changes and also we provide designing & construction services new modern self sustainable buildings that can survive this " future shock " & still fit anywhere you need them, plus we can augment your construction plan,  to work where it must go,  even if that's not the perfect place for that type of structure.  

Remember the old adage about: "when you try to fit a square peg in a round hole, you have a hard time" ? Well you also make for lots of undesired &/or related additional cost too so, be prepared for that when you choose less than desirable locations to build  into !

Here's 1 more new adage for everyone to also remember:  " Government regulations , cost you money" !

Georgia Adobe can also assist you with selection of the construction site location if you need help in finding a better place to build on, plus with your materials selections & their location near your site, which may make an alternative construction plan,  possible .  

Georgia Adobe also offers lectures and group seminars too, about the Georgia Adobe Building Process and it as the definitive answer to the worlds housing problems "looming in our future".  Custom creation of the needed educational materials for these events, along with expert guidance toward getting your group ready to build a self sustainable structure, be it ay single family, multi-family, a new subdivision & yes - governmental owned municipal projects too,  including projects from libraries & commercial structures to Permaculture farming operations, with the design and building of alternative energy systems to run all these buildings & equipment, is also what we can do.

"The Money" is what most people ask about first so, here's listing of some of those cost detailed for you & all is subject to review or change, without notice. If something that you need to know is not listed PLEASE Just give us a call, for personal attention, on your project !

Design Work &/Or Initial Work Cost :

Initial Phone Conversation Free - Then Afterwards:
Email Or Telephone Consultation, Hourly Charges $300. &/Or $75 per 15 min. ( billing & payment is through PAYPAL )
Plan Overview or development Of your Projects: Minimum Charge $ 600. + $300 Hr After 2 Hrs of Wk
Drafting, Drawing, Planing & Thinking about your job or its work $300. Per Hour W/ 2 Hour Minimum
Outside of Georgia Adobe for any additional Vendor Services Required On Your Project Including Engineering, Stamping Or other Consultations required are Billed & must be paid in advance, while figured at the front of works start at the foreseen actual cost + 10% for our expediting services And/or any additional expenses as may be incurred all paid in advance of these expenses.

Out Of Our Offices - Educational Lectures &/or Distant Construction Site Visit Cost :
$3,000 per day for each day. This is a daily expense which includes travel time starting at our office and ending when we return to our office unless we are proceeding directly to our next job where your expense would end as the next jobs transportation begins.   
All Travel related &/or Air Expenses billed @ Business Class or Business Class Airfare Price paid by host in advance
+ Round trip ground transportation to & from our offices to the Atlanta GA. airport (averages $400) paid by host in advance
+ Host will provide a driver for any ground transportation in the host's city including airport pick up
 + Local accommodations to be provided by the host as well as to & from job site to these accommodations as may be required by Georgia Adobe personal at anytime as specified by our personnel.
+ Any required generation of printed or virtual materials cost & their transportation to educational site, will be figured per educational seminar at additional cost to be announced and paid 30 days in advance of event by host
A 50% deposit for all known cost is REQUIRED, to reserve these services for the host, with the balance due & payable 30 days prior to our departure for the event.  Sorry, no refunds on deposits and request for changes in event scheduling , must be made by either host in writing 30 days prior to engagement, in order to be considered for potential rescheduling. Georgia Adobe will notify host within 15 days of event of any changes if required.
Plans Example : A custom drawn Basic 1 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom , 1-Kitchen-Living Room combo plans cost , normally starts in the $3000 range and any prices for our work may or will go up with any complication to the job as per our notice daily. Call and lets talk about what you need for free on the first conversation  or email us your full name and telephone number Plus written a description of what you have in mind, ( so we can have a minute or two to look that over ) and if you wish we will contact you at your preferred time.
All Information is Subject To Change Or Withdrawal Without Notice ! All work and/or plans of Georgia Adobe is presented &/or drawn without Georgia Adobe's guarantee or warrantee in any way nor any knowledge upon our behalf  that any proposed or presented structure , can actually be built on any particular site selected. This is due to many circumstances including but not limited to, planning zoning, building codes, covenants, ground conditions, and other reasons not named yet, Etc.


Contact Info:

Georgia Adobe

Joe Woodall , Rogue Eco-Architect

231 Harris Lord Cemetery Road

Commerce Georgia 30530 USA

706-363-6453

sales@georgiaadobe.com

Georgia Adobe Cool Building Ideas Blog

 

Georgia Adobe Cool Building Ideas Blog


Welcome To Our Newest Section Of Georgia Adobe's Web Site !
Here Upon This Page We Will Feature Your Questions & Our Own  Helpful Ideas That We Hope Will Inspire You To Build The Georgia Adobe Way ! Join Us For New Cool Building Ideas & Be Sure And Write Us With Your Ideas In The Comment Section Or By Email At Blog@georgiaadobe.com   Perhaps We Will Feature Your Idea, As The Georgia Adobe Cool Building Idea Of The Day !

LINK TO US POST US TO YOUR FACEBOOK & TWITTER TWEETS ! 

Catch Up On All That's New In Alternative Construction At :
The Georgia Adobe Cool Building Blog http://georgiaadobe.com/2011/10/26/links.aspx 

 




Wednesday Dec 08 2011

Thermal Mass, Insulation & Ventilation Are A Buildings Best Friend !

When we design &/or build a Georgia Adobe, we prefer to do so in a manner that mimics natures flows, this way the buildings design, works for the occupants, as opposed to against them. For example: In passive solar building designs, the structure is probably going to be most effective in air flows and the thermal mass will then complement the occupants of the structure easily. It is always possible , to build a non passive solar structure and create a building dependent upon conventional conditioned air systems in a sealed envelop but, that's not normally best for the occupants and the cost is always higher when natures way , is not allowed to flow at will. Let me elaborate a bit more below, on the 3 named elements, of this article..

Thermal Mass ( your building material ) must be protected from outside moisture and fully insulated in order to function properly. While that almost says , in one sentence - the thrust of this article , thermal mass must also be, positively charged to be effective.  Be that heat , it normally takes at least 28 day for a mass of 24" thickness and longer for greater mass storage.  Coolness happens, at a greater rate of speed than charging & happening as heat loss but, it does take a little time. Thermal Mass is a real live "energy battery" and you must recharge that battery in order to maintain that battery, with it's energy, if you want to be able draw from that energy supply, when may be required.  Heat seeks cool and when charged the mass will pass warmth back to the cool interior ( when needed for example in Winter at night or the reverse in Summer ) .

When practical, a buildings interior walls, should also be constructed, from thermal mass too, ( as opposed to light weight materials ), with the Insulation ALWAYS outside , that thermal mass & ALWAYS protected by a great moisture barrier. If your building is Earth Sheltered , you can also add additional mass, out past your permanent exterior wall forms and locate your insulation just inside the moisture barrier then backfill ( example 4 ft. ) and then tamp the fill between the two surfaces in order to properly fill the space .

( Note To Self Choose The Polyisocyanurare insulation as it's water tight ! )

For above ground construction ( non-earth sheltered ) yet built of solid earth mixes, Insulation should be placed within that mass but, in the outer 1/2 section, leaving sufficient protective earth wall outside that insulation, to safeguard your insulation and of course, completely seal the walls exterior surface, so as not to allow a wicking of moisture into your thermal mass. The builder must tie that insulation to the earth on either side of itself and caution should be taken to not allow the ties to cause damage to the earthen mixes when completed. For example steel rebar will move at a different frequency that earth in a earthquake . Therefore one would not want steel inside a earth mix wall and other suitable ties must be employed .

Interiors also MUST BE Ventilated on a regular schedule ( Read In Here: Cooling Tubes ) This is the same for both above ground and Earth Sheltered structures so as to no have interiors that contain moisture nor other undesirable air contaminants ( think radon gas etc. that might build up in a tightly sealed environment ) That said, you will want to perhaps, on clear days open the roof ventilation as early as is practical and may not be able to due so on moist ( rainy ) days . With cool air coming in from the Northern walls of your structure , your ventilation will ideally pass through the entire building, and across the thermal mass surface ( properly exit upward ) , on the Southern most roof section
( think of a passive solar building, with the sun's heat, drawing warm moist air upward & out . Like so, Ventilation should be above all "Winter Gardens" as well, so as to remove any moisture from the growing area as well as in the rest of the structure.

In closing , one should be aware that when a properly maintained, protected & charged thermal mass is employed, through out the structures interior & at levels conducive to energy collection , the building will become much more independent of conventional conditioned air systems ( think 99 & 44/100% , except as pertains to perhaps any overt humidity gained  in the Southeast USA in Summer ) . The interiors of a charged high thermal mass structure, will when closed up at night, return to the static temperature, of the thermal mass itself & in short order too. If properly sized , this insulated thermal mass battery system, will regulate the temperature of the building normally , within about 30 minutes, after the envelope is resealed up for the evening.

I hope this help your understanding of Thermal Mass, Insulation and Ventilation and if you like this sort of thing , please tell your friends about us, "LIKE" Us On Facebook @ ( Georgia Adobe Joe Woodall www.facebook.com/pages/Georgia-Adobe-Joe-Woodall/115808091907 ) and @ ( Georgia Adobe Rammed Earth & Renewable Energy www.facebook.com/groups/114169765334209/ ) Follow Us On Twitter twitter.com/#!/GeorgiaAdobe_HQ ( Or On Yahoo Groups groups.yahoo.com/group/GeorgiaAdobe/?yguid=336472111 ) and join us in the war against mortgages and conventional inefficient homes that don't work for the occupants !

Also, We Need Your Support ! If It's Affordable For You, Please Consider Making A Monetary Donation To Help Georgia Adobe Spread The Good Word About The Possibility Housing, That Can Operate Free Of The Public Grid Connections At Our Future School In Commerce Georgia. Be sure and submit your comments below on these blog postings or email us your ideas and perhaps your story can become a part of the next Georgia Adobe Cool Building Ideas Blog At Blog@georgiaadobe.com THANK YOU !

If you ever have any questions call me directly & Initial Project Conversations Are Always Free :

Joe Woodall, Rogue Eco-Architect

Georgia Adobe Rammed Earth & Renewable Energy

231 Harris Lord Cemetery Rd.

Commerce, Georgia 30530 USA

706-363-6453



Monday Dec 05, 2011

About Me, Joe Woodall: "How I Became "The Rogue Eco-Architect" &
 My Early Education From Granddad"  & A Short Resume

 For me, trying to live freely, has always been a big goal. Growing up watching the world around me, I could never imagine, being able to afford to pay all the bills my parents faced monthly ! From an early age, I thought that, I should have been born 3 maybe 400 years ago ( or more ) , as I enjoy farming & I wanted to build my own home and live alone in the wilderness ( but, in comfort ). It seemed to me then as a child, that things were more affordable long ago but, as an adult I can now see that today is the best time available, to us all to live freely, if we can only learn the skills required & our Government will stay out of our way !

"Garbage" is "trashy" stuff, right ? We all just throw it away everyday but, to me it's always been thought of as "MONEY" & a basic, free building material. You see, I am the Grandson of a real life "Garbage Man" . My Father and Grandfather together, once started & then my Grandfather ( a former college professor ) operated a garbage picked up service & a trash dump, from the early 1960's, forward for 26 or so years, in total. My Grandfather was a wise man upon many levels, including just how to grow at home, all the food your family ever needed (every year) & how to fix and or build most anything you needed and all that rubbed off on me through the years.

I became independent ( so I thought ) from about 1966 or so forward until the early 1970's , as I too received an income from that garbage business , because my Grandfather would save all the drink bottles his company picked up, ( Coke, Pepsi , Orange Crush & so on all year long ) & when I would come to stay the Summer's with my Grandparents he & I would haul the bottles to the grocery stores paying the most for our bottles & we would split the money ! What a great deal for me, to be with my favorite person in the whole world and get paid too !

My Grandfather also showed me, some strangely shaped bottles he wanted to keep, the square Heineken Beer Bottle called "The Brick". (  http://inhabitat.com/heineken-wobo-the-brick-that-holds-beer/   ) 


This bottle was designed by the beer manufacturer, to become a real life brick, for the house walls of the poor, I was told. We saved these bottles & later made a short little wall, in his side yard from them, using only mud, as the mortar. I was learning way back then, just what could be done for free - even with trash. Used tires were another item, that if he could find no other use for, he sent to "The Dump". I remember him telling me "these dumps will be mined someday, just for their basic resources" but, it just wasn't profitable back then. It sure seemed to both of us, that dumping tires was a tremendous waste of resources.

Granddad made a point to teach me, through day long discussions on the garbage route of just how fine new homes could be built from Rammed earth, from hand made bricks, even from the soup cans or drink bottles mortared together & yes, tires too. One day, while we were driving to the dump, he stopped the truck to show me, how used tires were employed by the Greenville County Roads Dept. on their landscaping projects, whereby an entire embankment was held in place, just by used tires filled with packed earth. These high tire walls were stepped back, at a 1/4 to 1/2 of a tire width rate, on each rise up the bank & they held back the force of the hill very well. The road & the bridge above, was over 25 years old then & still holding up quite well. The tires were open to the weather & I could see the tires turning gray & breaking down from the direct sun, even with grass all growing out of their tops. A house built this way but sealed with mud he said, "might just last forever ".




Later that summer, he showed me how to make hand made bricks, lay the bricks & bottles too. "Tires could become my wall building boulders" he said & if I wished, I could even build Castles from them, all I had to do, was plan the building around my materials. He showed me how, he had even hand dug his own basement, back in the late 1940's & he would sure up his walls, with a combination of hand made bricks & stucco too. With soft drink bottles, he taught me, a colored picture glass window could be hand crafted. To teach me more , later we made a window from drink bottles, stacked inside a 55 gallon barrel's lock ring, just to see how it would look. Through conversations about greenhouse gardening and construction, using free materials ( most he was paid to remove ) he was able to educate me, about self sustainability in the here & now. Free home construction, window & door building and even brick roofs and living roofs were possible all because of all this & so, in the early 1980's I began putting that knowledge to work and scavenging landfills again for building materials, for a 7,000 sq. ft. home. It was Granddad's guiding hand, that led me to complete that home & for only pennies on the dollar and yes, become such a "trashy" builder today.


I know now that , Anyone can afford to build their home, if they could just learn what to use, if they have the basic building materials available & and their Government, stays the heck out of their unconventional way !  Look around & I believe you may find, ( as I did from about the age of 7 forward ), that there's a great number of things you can build with,  from just what you have on hand.

My very partial resume in no special order:
I have built many homes, retail & commercial structures & I Still Do Today !
operated a commercial nursery & landscaping/design company for several decades, 
I own a tractor & backhoe for hire service,
own a towing service,  
I design & custom build renewable energy & fuel systems for both Residential & Commercial
I own a Christmas decorations manufacturing company specializing in large displays for cities,
owned &/or operated movie theaters since the 1970's,
acted a little as a kid ,
worked on movie sets,
built props and shot films myself on my own Indy projects and commercials.
I owned a couple of Advertising agencies,
Started & ran 2 magazines,
I have done pest control work in my family's P.C. business, ran my own pest control company and still sell do it yourself products online,
I've sold Insurance,
remodeled old buildings,
rebuilt old movie theaters, and built a few new theaters too,
I've built & owned a few car lots & a salvage building materials store too .
It was then that I actually started designing buildings professionally, for my materials clients. My skills are mostly self taught and came about directly, out of  my own needs of building a large but inexpensive home.
The very first house that I designed & built for myself was (mostly built it by myself too ) was a little over 7,000 sq. ft. ( with an unfinished basement of 3000 sq. ft. and the house was designed to eventually become a 50,000 sq. ft edifice ). It was also, about then perhaps due to me having the time to day dream a little alone, about how I might could build that monster, that I better remembered, my very early childhood education.

Years later, after my many personal & business projects & as the Governments of our world have started becoming a looming force upon us all then the foreclosure crisis of the 2000's hit , becoming a real pestilence upon most of the people of Earth, that I started "Georgia Adobe" to design & build with "alternative materials" completely independent self sustainable carbon -0- homes, that heat and cool themselves, make their own power and grow the food needed, for an entire family, designed so as to live freely and to also, teach these same skills to others .

If you like this sort of thing, more stories are yet to come and, Education is an old family tradition for us Woodall's so; Please don't forget to tell everyone were building a new school to train anyone interested in learning about the art of building the Georgia Adobe self sustainable way. And Please , tell your friends about Georgia Adobe's services !

 

Joe Woodall, Rogue Eco-Architect

Georgia Adobe Rammed Earth & Renewable Energy

Commerce Georgia 30530

706-363-6453

http://www.georgiaadobe.com




Sunday - December 4, 2011

Some NEWS For The New Year 2012 & A New Cool How To Blog Entry !

Since our last Blog entry, we have been very busy, on several new projects for some clients. Yea Team Georgia Adobe ! We really have the greatest help ! Funny how all that real work keeps the boss away from his computer ! Hopefully, I will be able to update this section more often.

Several people have emailed us to say, they wanted to stop in and visit with us in the last 2 months. :>) Thank You All So Much, For Your Interest In Georgia Adobe But, as of yet our offices are not yet open to the public. Money is as much a problem for us as is time but, I personally intend to make this drop in ability , become a reality by April. 2012.

In addition, we are still working on the initial landscaping, ( Cutting Roads Now ) for our Georgia Adobe Self Sustainability University's Class Location. Having to leave and work off property on projects, for our clients is our greatest dream come true but, it makes it difficult, to be here and elsewhere also. And of course our onsite tractor is broken down too so that will have to be fixed before much else is done ( estimates are about $1,500 to fix it ) 2 Rear Out-riggers need building & 1 front cyl. too.

 
And, we need to raise funds , for our road gravel and various system elements for the  1 room classroom project, ($25,000+ or so ) .
If you would like to make a donation to help us reach these initial goals I would so appreciate it ! Any Amount Will Help !


For those able to contribute at the $1000 Founders Level, in appreciation of your vast consideration, we will add your name to our Founders Party Night List ( Event to be held here on the opening session weekend ) & you will also receive special invites, to our other events here at the New School, at vastly discounted rates (as much as up to 20% off certain events) as a return on your Donation. You might also use this discount ( Given to Founders Level Donors ) to attend classes or to send someone to our Self Sustainability Classes !

I would like to think we will be able, to offer the first weekend class this coming spring, perhaps the first work shop could be in mid June of 2012. Please Stay Tuned ! With only 6 months to go, it will be a difficult job to be ready and Your Volunteer Help Is Most Welcome. We would like to hear from those of you that are interested in assisting us, here in Commerce GA 30530 on our grounds work and other sections too, in preparations for the class sessions. Please contact us by email at Volunteer@georgiaadobe.com to enter your name and receive further details from our offices.

Anytime you have a question for us, please don't hesitate to telephone our offices and I or someone qualified to answer your questions will get right back to you ASAP !  Also often, I will forward the office calls to my cell phone so hopefully we can  speak when I'm out of the office.

WINTER SPRING SUMMER & FALL
YOU CAN GROW YOUR OWN FOOD SUPPLIES INSIDE A GEORGIA ADOBE

And, We get a lot of questions about what house plants work best in the "Winter Garden" section of a Georgia Adobe and it's a good line of thought ~ I Think . All Plants in general fair well in our green space sections of the Georgia Adobe buildings. If you want your Georgia Adobe Home, to be as self sufficient as it can be, you will also want to grow your own oxygen !

Here below is a link to a "TED" talk, wherein the Researcher shows how adding just 3 common houseplants, in specific spots at home or at the office, can result in measurably cleaner indoor air and oxygen level rises.
 

http://www.ted.com/talks/kamal_meattle_on_how_to_grow_your_own_fresh_air.html

There's lots more we could write about this subject but, if your still interested, then check out our web page, read a little more and then get in touch with us to get your Georgia Adobe started today ! Join Us Each Day For A New Idea & Be Sure And Write To Us With Your Ideas, In The Comment Section Below Or By Email At Blog@georgiaadobe.com  And Perhaps We Will Select Your Idea As The Cool Building Idea Of The Day !


Contact Me Directly :
Joe Woodall ~ Rogue Eco-Architect
Georgia Adobe Headquarters
231 Harris Lord Cemetery Road.
Commerce, Georgia 30530
706-363-6453
sales@georgiaadobe.com  
http://www.georgiaadobe.com  

 


Monday Nov. 07, 2011

Rammed Earth

At Georgia Adobe we choose Rammed Earth As Our Personal Favorite Building Method. It's Simple, Clean And Fast  ! It's what the great wall of  China was built from and so many other wonderful structures too . It has been a building method, for over 10,000 years.



Soils for making Rammed Earth & Adobe are in virtually unlimited quantities world wide. Some soils are however ideal for the process to take shape and withstand the test of time. When the proper materials are available Rammed Earth is ideally comprised of 30 % Clay & 70% Sand. Some small gravel can make up a part of the sand and some silt can make up parts of the clay or Portland cement can substitute as part of the clay as well if a stabilized mix is needed.

The materials are packed into a form so, as to be restrained until the wall is built. The secret to knowing if you have rammed the materials well enough ? Compact until a ringing sound of sorts is heard as you strike the soils in your form.

 

Designing a form and building it is as simple or complex as you desire. So as to save money on form materials for a free standing wall that will be above ground , A slip form can be constructed from 2 inch lumber or even plywood . For simplicity sake herein we will describe a minimum of 2 feet long and 2 feet tall forms, with only 4 sides on it being open top and open bottom, so the form can be loosened after filled to the top and can be moved up then used again right after you finish ramming, the lower portion. This form can be taken off completely, at the time one reaches the top, of the wall and/or has moved on to the next location , or you could reuse the lumber to perhaps brace hidden areas of the house ,where wood is also required

When building Underground or as Earth Sheltered , more Permanent forms are required and are never are removed when the wall is completed . Here, used automotive Tires, can become your form material and filling and packing them, while stacking as one would running bond bricks, provides a steel belted brick wall, when all the ramming is completed.

Planning for the roof, involves a tying system from wall to roof. For the above ground constructed wall , add some rebar to the last 2 feet of rammed earth section and allow it to stick up enough, to tie into the roof. For earth sheltered wall forms, allow the last 2 tire sections to include your rebar & stick out as you ram it. Be sure to cover the tips with protective cover so that, if someone falls on them, they won't become impaled by the rebar. .

Different roofs require different attachments and we will leave roofing to future blog postings but, after your finished with your wall erection, your either ready to move on the roof or start weather sealing, through plastering or perhaps liquid sealing of yours wall to protect them.

That's a quick introduction to Rammed Earth construction and its history. I hope it helps you decide upon, just the way you wish to build your Georgia Adobe home ! There's lots more we could write about this subject but, if your still interested, then check out our web page, read a little more and then get in touch with us to get your Georgia Adobe started today ! Join Us Each Day For A New Idea & Be Sure And Write To Us With Your Ideas, In The Comment Section Below Or By Email At Blog@georgiaadobe.com And Perhaps We Will Select Your Idea As The Cool Building Idea Of The Day !

For Free Estimates On Georgia Adobe Homes & Services Contact:
Joe Woodall, Rogue Eco-Architect
Georgia Adobe Rammed Earth & Renewable Energy
Commerce, GA. 30530
706-363-6453
sales@georgiaadobe.com




Thursday Nov. 03, 2011 & Friday Nov. 04, 2011
This is a long one so we are posting it for 2 days of blog entries.

Let's Build An Adobe Wall !

OK & Just What Is An Adobe & How Do You Make Them & Build A Wall ?

While this story can't substitute for actual construction hands on experience, it may be just enough to get you started, in the right direction.

Adobe walls are ages old technology;  most of us can remember the bible stories of Moses, leading his people out of Egypt and their making bricks without straw. Yep, you guessed it , those were Adobe Bricks they were making, for good old "Pharaoh". Mud Bricks are also another name for them, basically it's just an "unfired" mixture of sand & clay.

Here in North America & in specifically in the state of Georgia, we know Clay like a fine wine, it's either red or white - clay that is. We also often call it, Georgia Concrete ! In fact it's the white that is found in Egyptian Geopolymer Concrete and inside all those lovely pyramids.- just think of some of them as really big Adobe's, of a sort, all formed in place.

Always, start your wall construction, on solid footers, ( even though they didn't always do so historically ). Do yourself a favor and start to build at least 6 inches above the high water level. This way, the seasonal rains won't weaken your walls, over time and you will keep your floors dry & finished at least this high too.

Concrete or rock foundations extending down below the frost line is great but, it cost a lot of money. Frank Lloyd Wright used the timeless rubble foundation on many of his buildings, with only a stem wall placed upon top of it. Just 6" high of solid ( non - organic ) material will work, in many situations, just as good as a solid concrete foundation will and at a much cheaper price.

Next , you will need some bricks so it's high time to learn to make them. In the Northern part of the state of Georgia, clay is abundant, mostly the red . And the White is found in middle to Southern part of this state. You will likely find clay somewhere all over the world perhaps, only in veins but, often it's the very soil, your walking upon.

For all you cat lovers, remember that white stuff your cat has, in their litter box to dig & bury in ? It's most likely "Kaolin Clay", which is dug in Middle Georgia ( to name one place ) ,it's a Kaolin clay used in everything from toothpaste, to high tech cements and it makes a fine brick too.

For Adobe brick manufacturing , Clay's are blended so as to be about 30% total clay content and 70% sand, mixed well, only with enough water to make it moist ( not wet ! ) and then pack that clay/sand mixture into a small box form, that you can handle, that has both an open top and bottom.

In this you will form an Adobe Brick. Set your brick form on level, perhaps grass or sand covered ground fill it, strike it off . Keep it covered and allow the brick to dry for about a week, then with a sharp flat edge shovel, turn the block on its edge and allow it to dry for the next 25 days, for a total of 30 days and you should have a hard building brick to lay. Do this a few hundred times an hour & your in the Adobe Brick Business !

Yes , I left out the straw addition and on purpose too ! If you must add it - it must be in limited thin quantities (not too much) - EXPERIMENT ! It does help a bit with the holding of the brick together, while your handling it but , straw has its place more in the fired brick,  as it will burn out in the firing process , leaving gallery's of hot air passing through the brick, during in the firing process. This heating process ( @ 1000 to 1500 degrees of steady heat for 24 or so hours ) hardens the brick greatly. It's not required in order to build and tamping the brick ( Read in Ramming HARD , would be a better word ! ) mud into the mold , as you fill it ,  will give you a very fine solid brick, that can be handled.

 

Laying Brick

 

LOL, And you thought the hard work was done, back when you made mud, for your brick molds ! Now's the time to gather all those bricks from the field, haul them to the construction site and build that wall, 1 brick at a time.

Mortar joints for Adobe walls, are not required to be laid, nearly as perfectly , as the joints one finds in say in a Brick veneer job but, some consistency to your work, should be exercised . Just keep the walls construction in good form, as you go. Keep a level on your work
( brick to brick ) and check your work with a string line, tap down the bricks as you go and pack the mortar joints into the bricks - just don’t drag your mortar out of them ! This process makes for a tighter mortar joint and a better wall. 

The running bond pattern, with a half joint falling upon the center of the brick below it, makes for an attractive veneer brick job & strong one too but here, we are after ( Thermal Mass ) so, lay the bricks with the small side facing outside. This gives you a perhaps 16" thick brick wall ( to start ) and then lay one long ways ( either outside  or ) inside the wall, that can brace your wall as you go. Occasionally, tying the two walls into one another is a great idea too, do so with a staggered brick laid from the inside outwardly & a half brick laid to veneer along your small brick side (outside perhaps )   so all your brick work matches.

How High To Build The Wall ?

 

 

Ever heard the Term "Aspect Ratio" (A/R ) ? Herein it is used to refer to the width to height ratio, allowed for unfired clay Adobe buildings.
 
For an Adobe brick / block structure , that number has been long established, perhaps since even before the books of the bible were written. The maximum A/R is historically said to be 1 ft high per 10 inches of the walls thickness or a 1/10 A/R.  Brick construction specifications, are still widely available on most western building code requirements in use today and most follow this same A/R, when or if relating to either fired, or unfired clay masonry. The "standard building codes" also specify that, only specific brick sizes, are suitable for one to two story walled buildings.

All over the Middle East, Adobe buildings are still in fashion, in fact it's the traditional way most commonly build their homes still today.
The skills of Earthen construction have been passed down through out the centuries, from the elders to their young.

We in the USA also have many Adobe structures in North America, though that's not as widely known. Through out the America's including South America, Adobe is found,  also in Europe, Russia, Scandinavian & Asia too; the world over still uses Earthen mixes to build their homes. I always suspected they would have some natural bricks hand made in the Arctic too but, they just couldn’t find the solid ground , with all that ice & snow pack !

Perhaps, The tallest existing known "Adobe" brick buildings, on the face of the Earth still standing, are in the country of Yemen - South Yemen. To be exact.

You Remember that's the little area of the world, we have been told the US. is launching several of our fancy new "Kinetic Military Actions" into.  So far, there's never been any public accounting, of just how many Earthen structures have been decimated by NATO's forces in the middle East but, from 1991 in Iraq to 2011 in Afghanistan & Yemen too soldiers returning say that Iraq for 1 country, was basically decimated and in Yemen, the air to ground assaults all but, destroy most buildings, in mer seconds.

Ah, But Fear Not & Chin Up - NATO is rebuilding them in their likeness , with good old American Waferboard and 2 x 4's ! Thumbs Up Boys - that should last about a week, compared to the original masonry construction - Sure it will !

 

Many of the finest buildings in Yemen, are seven to eleven stories high ! (A Story is normally equal to 10 ft ). Local lore has it, that the "Tower of Babel" may actually have been more than double these little 11 story modern structures. With the aspect ratio of 1/10, the "Towers" wall heights, must have been wide. It could have needed 220 inches or 18.33+ feet - WOW ! To go two-hundred feet high, the wall at the base should be 20 feet thick at the bottom and would then have been tapered down to only ten or twenty-inches thick, way up at the very top of those walls. Now, that's a lot of high tech engineering, for what we like to think of today, as very "primitive builders".

When building their round towers, the total diameter of a tower ( A total Left To Right Measurement At Its Widest Point ) would also have been considered in the basic calculations, for the aspect ratio calculations and the individual walls, would correspondingly have to be thinner ( by about half I suspect ) at the bottom of the round wall to  allow for elements such as, an internal stair or ladder to climb &/or some useful other areas as well.

Most building codes in the USA, including those in more Adobe progressive areas of the USA such as New Mexico ,specify their building codes limit Adobe construction today, to only two stories high. Imagine what grand educations have been lost, over the years.

Finish Work

 

Stucco or plaster over your finished walls ( Inside And Outside ) is the traditional method, first with a earth plaster then perhaps with a lime/sand additions, for the last 2 coats.

The process is Progressively more lime is added to your 3 stucco coats, with the final coat being just lime & fine sand. This makes a very smooth and very white, wall !  I personally like just the Earth tones and a clear or satin sealer sprayed onto the walls but , most of all I always want to add some insulation to the outside of my walls so, as it keeps the Thermal Mass ( my big ole heat sync ) a benefit to my buildings, without any rapid heat losses, as may occur from weather changes.

If one added 4 inches of closed cell foam insulation ( Sheets Or Sprayed On ) to the outside of your wall and tied it by way of the mortar joints using some brick ties or rebar ties, then fold the outer excess down flat against the outside of the wall the stucco will hid it well and protect it too.  In this way,  walls can be Stuccoed over, perhaps with only 2 thin coats,  of lime/sand stucco and keep your new building, in tip top shape, for long periods of time.

On top of the wall before the stucco is applied, I always add a bond beam , of concrete at least 8 inches thick, with rebar tied into the beam so it will hold the entire wall, as one and create a location to tie my roof into the walls - again forming 1 unit when finished.

This is easily accomplished with a series of rebar rods ( 12" spacing ) extending from the upper 2 feet of the wall into the bond beam and then run through a 2 x10 sill plate . The rebar is Bent over flush, on to the 2 x 10 after the concrete dries and a wooden roof can be attached to this wooden sill plate. If your roof is to be fabricated of concrete, the rebar should extend a minimum of 18 inches , so as to tied to the roof & the walls in concrete .

 

That's a quick introduction to Adobe construction and its history. I hope it helps you decide upon, just the way you wish to build your Georgia Adobe home !  There's lots more we could write about this subject but, if your still interested, then check out our web page, read a little more and then get in touch with us to get your Georgia Adobe started today ! Join Us Each Day For A New Idea & Be Sure And Write To Us With Your Ideas, In The Comment Section Below Or By Email At Blog@georgiaadobe.com And Perhaps We Will Select Your Idea As The Cool Building Idea Of The Day !

For Free Estimates On Georgia Adobe Homes & Services Contact:
Joe Woodall, Rogue Eco-Architect
Georgia Adobe Rammed Earth & Renewable Energy
Commerce, GA. 30530
706-363-6453
sales@georgiaadobe.com

 



Wed. Nov. 02, 2011

 

So You Think You Might Want'a Build ?

We get lots of calls each week from individuals wanting to build, in major cities and large established communities too. For many people the government will be right in your way when you start to build anything. One thing you should always remember is, large communities are already established and have a set of strict rules , often called planning & zoning and building codes, which control where and what you can build , on your own property.

For example residences can not normally be built in highway commercial districts, and so on. Often the land the individual buys, comes with a set of restrictions or covenants and a homeowners association that may also have rules & the owners are bound to these, when they were sold that land. Even the county government will set additional conditions, past the international building code ( IBC ) that regulate what size or even the style of structure , that is allowed into a certain area. For example historic districts won't allow you to build a modern building or perhaps if you allowed to build somewhere , you can only build a certain size structure, perhaps 1400 sq. ft. or larger to meet their code. This ensures tax revenues will be high and they can then force a larger amount of money from you , due to your buildings size being large. Awe, Nothing like income security is there ?

That might not fit your idea, of free building area and it doesn't fit ours either. To us, all this says move away - NOW ! Find some sleepy little community, without a building inspection department that won't require you to prove your structure before you build, red line your construction plans and require you to redraw the plans, perhaps numerous times, all before you can actually break ground.

Project Hope.

 

 

Project Hope is about finding and mapping for everyone's use, the places perhaps someone might want to build. These are locations without inspection departments and the very areas we or others felt, were places you won't have too many problems building, just whatever you want to build . Sometimes it's a city limits location, without local inspections even though it's within a county that does have an inspection department. The time frame to build , may also be short, while other times, one might find locations, that just don't have any local inspections at all past the state health department and septic tank inspection.

How do you learn what your area has ?

ASK !

Call your county government offices and ask them is there a building inspection department ?

Sometimes you will get a No Inspections for that size building or perhaps no Building Permits Required But, Septic Tanks Permits & Percolation Test Are Required By the State Government And That There Are Guidelines for setbacks of buildings from the property line to be (X) or all structures that are built in size ( X ) or within some sq. footage amount or because of the # of bathrooms or bedrooms, that can go on a certain size lot & septic tank, is their answer. Take down that information, & Ask more Questions Too :

 

Is there a plumbing Inspection ?

Is there a Electrical or Wiring Inspection ?

Is there A Framing Inspection ?

Is There A Finish Inspection ?

Do you issue a Certificate of occupancy ( C/O ) ?

What are their policies on building basements ?

Ask if a set of plans is required, to be submitted before building & what depth of drawings & To Which Depts. ?

Ask if a State Licensed Engineer’s Stamped, is required for your plans or if you can just draw a floor plan ?

Ask, What’s the minimum house size allowed by code To Be Permitted ?

Ask, Who reports your construction to other government agencies Within The County, such as Property Tax Dept. ?

Eventually you will get the feel for that area and if you find a location where nothing is required, consider yourself lucky ! These are the areas we want to build in as that we don't want to stop and explain over and over again, just what were building, or if our selected materials will really work and so on . End of the story is: Build in Builder Friendly Area !

There's lots more I could write about this subject but, if your still interested, then check out our web page, read a little more if you like and then get in touch with us, to get your Georgia Adobe Home started today ! Join Us Each Day For A New Ideas & Be Sure And Write To Us With Your Ideas, In The Comment Section Below Or By Email At Blog@georgiaadobe.com And Perhaps We Will Select Your Idea As The Next Cool Building Idea Of The Day !

For Free Estimates On Georgia Adobe Homes & Services Contact:
Joe Woodall, Rogue Eco-Architect
Georgia Adobe Rammed Earth & Renewable Energy
Commerce, GA. 30530
706-363-6453
sales@georgiaadobe.com


Tuesday Nov . 1 2011

Home, Home On The Range & We Need 12 ( Or More ) Disciples

For you all in a hurry, Today's Georgia Adobe Cool Building Idea can be summed up in a one line quotation , found at the bottom of this section but, there's some good reasons to read on, as it's all so simple today - if changes can come. The entire world is still scratching their heads while watching the ‘Occupy’ Wall Street protestors & their now being joined by Armed citizen militia groups. Is trouble brewing on a larger scale than the news media is reporting ?

Some of us are old enough to remember the riots in 60's and what that brought. The protestors today are being called everything from hippies, to Barry's Kids, to Total Idiots, or Stupid College Kids & worse but, is there a solid message, in what seems their misguided following, the bullhorn speaker sessions ? Yes, things are wrong & someone needs to present a Solution , they and the rest of us who see the problems can live with ! Perhaps with some good direction passed on to these young men and women, the world could be in a better position after this protest ends . I personally believe that, if only the message can be gotten out and changes made, we may can solve many of the "occupiers demands " & our own future problems too. Here's where the Disciples come in !

 

We presently live in a world of about 7 Billion People, If the UN estimates are on target , these numbers are projected to swell to 14 Billion People by 2050. Today, we just have a little financial problem to handle, if we add another 7 Billion people to the Earth , It's projected that massive water, food, electricity & housing shortages will result to levels that can't be handled. Well, if we can't handle the needs of 7 Billion people, due to a simple economic depression, how can we expect to provide for 14 billion mouths, without a fundamental change in the ways we do things in our future ?

The past few years, we've seen governments fail, but after they allowed millions of families at gun point to be foreclosed upon & pushed into the streets. All the while those same Governments were giving bankers, trillions of dollars world wide, to supposedly save the economy yet, nothing worked. Nothing is even trickling down to the common man on the street, since the banks have simply kept the money, locked in their vaults and a second deepening of the crisis is said to set in this Winter. Oil prices are rising again today, near $100 levels per barrel. Just a few more middle east rumors of war, is all that is required to really cause a price spike; yet the masses are not rallying to produce their own fuel at home & those not protesting are just waiting upon a solution to arrive from government !



In the 1976 Movie "Network" the character Howard Beale was maddened by these same problems from during the Carter era recession. He Screamed To His Viewers on TV: "I'm As Mad As Hell & I'm Not Gonna Take This Any More" while encouraging the viewers to do the same out their windows. Shortly There After, Someone Enlightened Him As To The Way, The Big Boys Up Stairs Wanted It All To Go, Whereupon Howard Changed His Tune To Reality.



Not long there afterwards, the fictional MR. Biel, became the first TV Talk show host to be assassinated on live TV, just for his bad ratings, as he was then preaching about the way things really were, where he offered the world no hope in his broadcasts.

 

I'd personally like to believe There Are No Problems , Only Solutions We Haven't Discovered Yet. And, I truly do have at least 1 solution, to some of today's ‘Occupy’ protestor problems and the world coming shortages as well !

 

Jobless men, foreclosed upon may feel they have nothing left to loose , as they are left out in the cold, to fend for themselves. No bail outs for them await, perhaps no more unemployment compensation either, will be available & some that were self - employed don’t even qualify for the first penny. With no income to buy food with & a benefits squeeze, from social services agencies, makes even charity a difficult thing to find if their not too proud to ask for it. Add to that, still after what is now several years, no homes to go to, at a days end for their families and the current set of internationally building codes & most local zoning departments working to stop any alternative or experimental construction projects, without a burdensome over engineering cost keeps most from building that replacement home. A home could help millions feel safer and It really doesn’t take much to go over the mental safety edge, when your walking so close to it . Cold , hunger & no affordable housing, may just be the straw that breaks the camels back in this Winter of " Depression ".

Now, add to that, those college kids realizing that after years of what passes for their studies & higher learning, they after borrowing thousands of dollars to educate themselves, can't find a job after graduation, has brought them onto the lawns of most large city parks into protest mode ! Most also now see they may never be in a financial position to pay back their college loans or afford a home on their own & If they don't pay back the loans, they know they face a default judgement that will most certainly bring a long time of court awarded garnishments, against any of their meager future potential earnings or assets.

What if there was available a way - perhaps a safe harbor to take shelter in - something in the form of a new home - that could take care of 90% of the families needs and was affordable too, even with today's diminished incomes ?


That answer is available today in The Georgia Adobe, Self Sustainable, carbon -0-, independent home !

 

 



These amazing structures, can blend into most neighborhoods unnoticed, after their completion or through passive solar energy designs and ventilation, will primarily heat & cools themselves; they are designed to meet the needs of the owners, Built from Rammed Earth & Recycled Materials & the Georgia Adobe even grows its owners fresh vegetables, fish- chicken & more on site; captures fresh water from the sky, it then recycles that water many times so, there's plenty enough - from 1 gallon, to do the work of 4 gallons, a building that makes its own power, from solar energy and has on site a power plant powered by fuel also made there plus enough extra fuel for the homeowners transportation needs too. Along with providing for the occupants, with very a defendable home, against potential intruders and containing the ability, to run all the modern conveniences they may have become used to in 2011, all the while costing as little to build perhaps as low as 10 percent of a conventional structure, when only the envelop is built, due to being constructed from local materials, Earth & Recycled Materials. This is 1 very big answer to the Occupy Wall Streeters and the rest of our problems as that these fantastic new Georgia Adobe Self Sustainable Homes, Can Be Afforded By Most Everyone, No Matter What The Future May Bring !

My Idea today, could therefore be summed up in one line :

Disciples : Tell Your Friends About, Georgia Adobe Independent Self Sustainable Homes !

 

There's lots more I could write about this subject but, if your still interested, then check out our web page, read a little more if you like and then get in touch with us, to get your Georgia Adobe Home started today ! Join Us Each Day For A New Ideas & Be Sure And Write To Us With Your Ideas, In The Comment Section Below Or By Email At Blog@georgiaadobe.com And Perhaps We Will Select Your Idea As The Next Cool Building Idea Of The Day !

For Free Estimates On Georgia Adobe Homes & Services Contact:
Joe Woodall, Rogue Eco-Architect
Georgia Adobe Rammed Earth & Renewable Energy
Commerce, GA. 30530
706-363-6453
sales@georgiaadobe.com


HAPPY HALLOWEEN
OCT. 31, 2011


I hope you all enjoyed your weekend and welcome back to another week full of Cool Building Ideas. Todays Blog, Comes From A Conversation I Have Often And Again Had This Weekend.
Enjoy !

Today's Topic:

Why Earth ?

Building a thermal mass intensive structure & making the walls, floors and ceilings of thick heavy materials is in our humble opinion, at Georgia Adobe, the best construction method , one can choose to build with.

While concrete is a known factor to inspectors, Earth is not often a known commodity. Concrete does bring many benefits to the builder and we use some of it but, with limits and we have found that for Thermal Mass to be affordable for the average project, it's not feasible to use all concrete.

Other than costs, weathering in the open and the sheer maximum strength levels, one receives from concrete, it really doesn’t make it a better material to build with, for many reasons. The open working time or set time, the handling & manufacture plus forming, must be generally considered as initially beyond the student builder's skills and the general cost issues of forming an entire wall , for the student builder plus the environment cost of making all that Portland Cement is we feel, too much as well.

A Rammed Earth wall can be formed, free standing totally upon the surface of the foundation or built as an Earth sheltered wall and the builder,  must choose a forming material.  For above ground free standing wall forms, plywood is inexpensively chosen, then stripped off carefully and reused, to build another wall minutes later. After completion, these same forms, can perhaps be used for other construction needs, so they may be recycled.

For sub-surface or Earth sheltered construction, the form must stay in place for the life of the structure, when Earth is the building material.
 
What kind of form material is normally chosen ? We Like Free Recycled Materials so, used automobile tires are our choice and when finished the builder is left with, a 300 pound steel belted brick !

By pounding the Earth into the tire, all while its in its proper place upon the wall, one never again moves the tire/brick and the wall construction process is mostly completed as you go, with the exception of any applied stucco finishes inside, to beautify the walls.

Inside the building and for non load bearing walls, cans or bottles can become brick too and the walls, could also be mortared with the same Earthen material as your Rammed Earth or Adobe Brick. We prefer a plywood formed Rammed Earth wall inside, as that it can be stripped and the Earth work then displayed as an Art form, with the colors from stratified pigments shown, as all have been sprinkled into our Earth Materials as we pounded that wall. Either way, the finishing can be Stuccoed with the same soil mixes we built with originally and perhaps finally, some addition of lime plasters or washes to complete it for any needed white washed wall or ceilings. In the end if more Rammed Earth is used you get more Thermal Mass to help control the temperature inside and this is the best reason to use Thermal Mass to build with - control without extra cost.

In Winter passive solar can charge a Thermal Mass Wall in about 28 days and the building, will then maintain it comfort level for more than a week afterwards, without much additional creature comfort heating at all. In Summer the reverse happens and the coolness of the Thermal Mass works to cool the interior. Add insulation to this building and the comfort last even longer !

Often times we receive information request, for other reasons past the obvious financial ones, that a builder might wish to choose Earth as a construction material. It is often also presented with the statement that their ( wife, child, friend or some other person such as the building inspector ) has said "Earth or soils make a poor quality building materials" , if compared to Portland cement concrete, for the building of a house or my favorite: " Only The Poor Build With Earth ". LOL !

Another very persuasive argument can be made, for the use of Earthen construction materials, past the cost factors being so much lower, is that example brought to light from the power of latent heat vaporization, also know as evaporative cooling.

Test have shown that Earth walls performed better than concrete walls for the occupants comfort levels, as the Earth wall buildings interior, stayed as much as 20 degrees cooler in Summer Heat, than a concrete walled building did, under the same conditions. In Winter the same building stayed equally warmer if it was insulated. Therefore the over all expense, to heat and cool the building, will cost less to operate for an Earthen structure choice, in the years to come ( Perhaps )  keeping the owner more wealthy from far less heating & cooling expenses !

There's lots more we could write about this subject but, if your still interested, then check out our web page, read a little more and then get in touch with us to get your Georgia Adobe started today ! Join Us Each Day For A New Idea & Be Sure And Write To Us With Your Ideas, In The Comment Section Below Or By Email At Blog@georgiaadobe.com And Perhaps We Will Select Your Idea As The Cool Building Idea Of The Day !

For Free Estimates On Georgia Adobe Homes & Services Contact:
Joe Woodall, Rogue Eco-Architect
Georgia Adobe Rammed Earth & Renewable Energy
Commerce, GA. 30530
706-363-6453
sales@georgiaadobe.com


Oct. 28, 2011
3rd GEORGIA ADOBE COOL BUILDING IDEAS BLOG ENTRY

Cisterns and Metal Roofing Cost Tackled !

Old Washing Machines and other metal appliances make a great source of metal to make roofing shingles from and a rain water capture cistern collector , all at an affordable price too. Since many can be gathered for free at landfills and/or at the street curb before the garbage man collects them , it does not take too long to find enough salvage ready materials to roof your collection area .



Here's The Process To Make The Metal Useful :

*Cut them into large square sheets with a sawsall or sheet metal scissors.

*Fashion a metal roof by starting at the bottom of your collection area and work upward to the top ( horizontally ) allowing the overlap of the bottom of your top metal shingle, to seal over your top edge of the lower run of shingles, just as in the way other roofing is done. This covers the nail heads and a bead of food grade caulking, can go between each "shingle" to seal them well.

*Direct that runoff water, into your underground cistern for later use.

*Then, Pump your water to your needs and filter as maybe required.

While this is an over simplified description of the process, I think those with a little construction knowledge, will grasp the process as it's not unlike regular roofing yet, it's stronger materials and bigger shingle sections that will out last regular shingles and not be an oil based roof material , that could pollute your collected water supply. This is important as that , if you filter and drink rain water you don't want it in contact with any unsafe materials and metal roofing, is one of the best choices !

According To UNICEF :
"Every 3.6 seconds someone dies of hunger
Every year 15 million children die of hunger &
Presently 660,000+ Americans are permanently homeless "

 

Fixing that problem is a big Job but, we have a few thoughts:

On Your Own Personal Level, Think about the choices you have.
 
So long as you have a large enough income to last you and that money itself still has value, one could perhaps remain dependent upon the present infrastructure to provide you with a steady supply of food, electricity & gas to drive on or constantly heat or cool a conventional structure . Keeping yourself comfortable, while still being affordable is the constant task with conventional structures, and dependence upon a utility for power in a outage can be problematic.

Chemically laced drinking water has always a concern and you can always buy your purified drinking water or filter your water but, the supply from the tap can always be cut , polluted or limited by the suppliers and if your buying fuel - at whatever the price is today, that the oil & gas companies choose to charge - you must really just hope to be in a position to continue to afford your supply !

OR

You could live in a Independent Carbon -0- Self Sustainable Off Grid Georgia Adobe Home ! 

There are always things you can do to make your independent home choice a safe one and here's something everyone should do :  
Pay For & Own Your Land "Before"
You Build ANYTHING & Demand An Allodial Title - In Addition To The Fee Simple Title, That The Lawyers, Will Attempt To Issue You.  If You Don't Get An Allodial Title , Anyone Can Attach A Lien To Your Home & Sell The Property To Satisfy The Lien, At A Public Auction, Thus Putting You Back On The Streets Again !

Note: Check & See If Allodial Land Titles Are Legal Under Your States Real Estate Laws  & If Not Start DEMANDING that Your State Government - Change The Laws To Allow It !

About Georgia Adobe Independent Self Sustainable Homes :
Georgia Adobe's are built from natural and locally available materials including Free Earth & Recycled Materials Local To The Construction Site - all of which are stable long lasting items, that are affordable by most everyone building a home. A Georgia Adobe collects its water from the rains and snow melts , then stores that water in cisterns along the side of the structure, for safe and easy access. It heats and cools itself too, by way of Free passive and/or active solar energy.

A Georgia Adobe makes its own power & gas on site too , It is also very defendable from invasion , It makes its own transportation fuels too, methane, alcohol and Woodgas too all of which can run Appliances, generators , automobiles and more. It even grows inside the building its own food ( fruits, vegetables and fish too ) and a Georgia Adobe reuses all that captured water - many times - in order to do all these listed things affordably.

There's lots more but, if your still interested, then check out our web page, read a little more and then get in touch with us to get your Georgia Adobe started today !

Join Us Each Day For A New Idea & Be Sure And Write To Us With Your Ideas, In The Comment Section Below Or By Email At Blog@georgiaadobe.com And Perhaps We Will Select Your Idea As The Cool Building Idea Of The Day !

For Free  Estimates On Georgia Adobe Homes & Services Contact:
Joe Woodall, Rogue Eco-Architect
Georgia Adobe Rammed Earth & Renewable Energy
Commerce, GA. 30530
706-363-6453
sales@georgiaadobe.com


Oct 27, 2011

2ND GEORGIA ADOBE COOL BUILDING IDEAS BLOG ENTRY

LET THERE BE LIGHT !
Have An Older Storage Building With, -0- Power & You Just Can't See Inside The Darn Thing ?

Well, Here's A Simple Answer :
 Plastic Soda Pop Bottles !



Yes, I Wrote That Right, You Know - Those 2 Liter Drink Bottles We Find In The Geo. Stores Filled With So Many Flavors Of Carbonated Drinks ?
 
Here's What You Can Do - If You Have A Thin Metal Roof Or A Wall Section On The Sunny Side Of The Storage Shed.

*Measure The Bottle, From Side To Side ( At Its Widest Point ) .

*Draw That Circle On The Metal Roof Or Wall Where You Have No Other Lumber In Your Way Of Cutting A Hole.

*Then, Cut A Hole & Just Wide Enough To Accommodate That Bottle.

* Attach Waterbulb into a hole in an extra sheet of metal roofing that is at least 6" wider than your bottle size thus so your waterbulb can be located in the middle of this metal sheet  & later screwed to the roof or wall . Caulk can be spread on the underside of that metal and between the wall or roof before installation of your Waterbulb / metal sheet.

*Next, Remove The Label From The Bottle Wash It & Fill Bottle With Fresh Water.

*Add A "Little Clorox"  (maybe a cap or 2 full) To The Waterbulb
 ( Keeps It Clear ) And Cap It Off Tightly.

*Insert The Bottle Into The Hole And Caulk The Bottle Hole & Then Caulk & Screw The Metal Sheet & Waterbulb In Place.

The Water Acts A Prism , Reflecting Sunlight Into The Water & Inside Your Building Thus Giving You About 50 Watts - Of Day Lighting,  Inside Your Building.

The Bottle Will Last A Couple Of Years In The Sun , On Your Building And When It Starts Looking A Little Fragile, Just Replace It With A New Water Bulb !

Join Us Each Day For A New Idea & Be Sure And Write us With Your Ideas In The Comment Section  Or By Email At Blog@georgiaadobe.com And Perhaps We Will Select Your Idea As The Cool Building Idea Of The Day !

For Free  Estimates On Georgia Adobe Homes & Services Contact:
Joe Woodall, Rogue Eco-Architect
Georgia Adobe Rammed Earth & Renewable Energy
Commerce, GA. 30530
706-363-6453
sales@georgiaadobe.com


Oct. 26, 2001
1ST GEORGIA ADOBE COOL BUILDING IDEAS BLOG ENTRY !

We Are All Now Just 2 House Payments From Christmas. What A World Wind Year It Has Been Here At Georgia Adobe . This Summer It Was Just Too Hot To Build Past About noon And We & Many Of Our Projects Suffered The Heat And Drove Forward To Complete The Homes & Businesses We Helped With. Thank You All For Your Support And Choice Of Georgia Adobe As Your Building Method ! We look Forward To Working With All Of You In The Near Future !

Well If You Still Have A Home  To Go To In This Economy This Christmas , That's Great And If You Don't - Well We Think It's High Time We Worked For You To Get You Back In Your Own Home & This Time -  All Paid For The Very Day You Move Into It !

Can Farmers - Businesses And Individuals Can Benefit From Garbage ?

YOU BET YOU CAN !

Can Homes Be Built From Earth & Recycled Materials !

Farms Saved By Using The Waste Streams & Making Money From It !
& Businesses Can Be More Efficient - We Know Many Way To Help You !

Yes, It Really Is Possible , To Build A New Home ( YES, EVEN IF YOU WERE JUST FORECLOSED UPON ) & Build It - All Paid For Before You Move In, All Constructed From Up To 80% Natural & Locally Available Materials & Often These Are " FREE " & Recycled Materials.

Yes, We Said It :
FREE MATERIALS !
RECYCLED MATERIALS !
AND YES, USING REAL EARTH TO BUILD WITH !

When We Say Earth We Are Speaking Of Rammed Earth.

Think The Great Wall Of China !
Or Some Of The Most Lovely Houses In All Of Europe That Have Been Over The Centuries (And Still Are Being Built Today) From Rammed Earth ! And Your Home Or Business Building Can Be Built From This Same Free Material Too !

And What About Recycled Materials ? 
Just What Are These Recycled Materials & Just How Can Someone Use "Garbage " To Build With ?

Well For Example :
Tires Become Forms For Preferment Load Bearing Walls ,
Bottles & Cans, Become Non Load Bearing Walls,
Recycled Windows & Window Sashes Can Be Used Again,
Old Bricks & Blocks Can Be Cleaned & Reused,
Older Lighting Fixtures, Plumbing Fixtures Can Be Cleaned & Reused,
Newsprint & Paper Products Recycled Into Papercrete Or Homemade Cellulose Insulation,
Metal Fence Line Post, Barbwire & More Can Be Reused As Rebar, Tire Irons Can Become Tie Down Anchors,
Washing Machines, Cloths Dryers, Refrigerators Etc. Can Become Flashing Material And Roofing Shingles,
Old Wire Can Be Attached To Tires Inside The Structure And Stuccoed Over To Provide A Finished Surface.
And The List Goes On !!!!!!!


This Is What We Do Every Day & We Can Find Ways To Use Your Manufacturing Waste Products Farm Waste Products And Consumer Waste " Garbage " Etc. To Build With And Create Value Added Products That Make Your Business Operations More Efficient As Well As Give You Revenue Streams.

We Also Know How To Design A Structure To Use Up To 80 % Free &/or Recycled Materials & We Can Work For You, With You - Build The Entire Structure Or Just Teach You How To Do It Yourself ! It's Always , Your Choice.

Some Of Our Services Include:
*Architectural Design Of Ecologically Correct, Independent, Carbon -0-, Self-Sustainable Homes
*Passive Solar Structures
*Methods To Heat Your Home & Cool It Naturally
*Design & Install Systems To Make Your Own Fuel
*Specify & Install Complete Off Grid Or Grid Interactive Energy Systems - SOLAR - WIND - METHANE & MORE
*Winter Gardens & Green Houses Built
*Safe Rain Capture Systems So You Can Use That Water In Place Of Wells Or Public Utility Water Supplies
*Space To Raise Your Own Food In & Safe From Environmental Damages
*Both New Buildings Built & Remodeling Work Done
*Storm Shelters, Fall Out Shelters, Food Storage Cellars & More
*GREEN & LIVING ROOFS
*Underground & Earth Sheltered Buildings
*Earthen Materials Fences , Motes - Bally's - Passive Defensive Elements
*Ornamental Iron Designs, Gates & Passive Security Devices
*Even The Landscaping, Backhoe & Tractor Work etc. Designed & Installed On Our Buildings .
*& Much - Much More !

That's All For Today's Georgia Adobe Cool Building Ideas Blog So Stay Tuned & Get In Touch With Us With Your Comments & We Will Keep Posting Ideas Free For You ! Write To The Blog At:
Blog@georgiaadobe.com

For Free  Estimates On Georgia Adobe Homes & Services Contact:
Joe Woodall, Rogue Eco-Architect
Georgia Adobe Rammed Earth & Renewable Energy
Commerce, GA. 30530
706-363-6453
sales@georgiaadobe.com

Interview W/ GA Adobe Founder, Project Hope & Education Program

  

We Get Questions !

Here are the answers from a recent interview with

Rogue Eco-Architect & Georgia Adobe Founder ,

Joe Woodall

  Nothing Like A Georgia Drivers License Dept. Picture To Make A Man Look Good !

Georgia Adobe Materials, Construction And Methodology

The ability of a structure to be comfortable inside and stable too with a rapid assembly and low specific skill requirements, all managed by a watchful eye to the finish detail, has long been the requirements of modern construction.

Building Codes have been developed around specific industries and select product manufacturers ability, to make a profitable product group, that can be transported across great distances and still be handled easily at most all stages of product deployment. Sealed tight and with little fresh air movement through the building , these modern structures harbor chemicals from the manufacturing process within themselves, that continuously leach lethal toxins into the breathable air spaces for decades to come, making for a truly unhealthy living situation for the occupants.

Wood is an organic material , that rots over time; thus while allowing moisture to come inside it due to its porous nature it becomes biodegradable . In order for it to be available in our future it must be constantly harvested, from young quick growth tree stock, that can be chemically glued together into a useable state, such as in sheet lumber products. These conditions all make it a poor choice as a structural building material, on so many levels not to even mention the environment. Other exterior factors work on a buildings materials too; including for example earthquakes and winds
( Shaking) with their horizontal movements streamed across a structures envelope, weaken a structure even further than comes from natural use. Light weight stick built type construction hasn't a natural ability either , to withstand rapid temperature changes very well, further complicating a builders materials selection.

While stronger and more thermally efficient , insulated concrete will crack or fracture, requiring the builder to add internal steel fasteners, just to hold it all together or perhaps select a less ridged building material, with the capacity to move and then return to a useful resting place. Everything has its cost and though concrete answers many of the above requirements, it comes at too high an environmental price.

Better environmentally would be the use of local materials, perhaps even sourced at the construction site. Nothing could be easier found than raw Earth itself and it would be an ideal structural material, with the many of the positive and flexible abilities required , if only we could construct the building, from independent and small units, though all tied together but, still with a rubbery quality, allowing structure movements, to become absorbed without massive failures.

This is where Georgia Adobe's Rammed Earth Process becomes the obvious answer to us. With a rapid assembly, Earth is literally rammed into and permanently encased , into small forms. With the building, earth sheltered and insulated too from any rapid outside temperature swings, the occupants are seldom effected by the weather. It won't rot, as organic materials do, it doesn't off gas any harmful chemicals, and it's structurally sound in compaction, just like concrete is but, without the cost associated with massive Portland cement uses. Add all this to a building designed to heat and cool itself , grow its own food, capture water and reuse that water as many as 4 times plus a structure that makes its own power and fuels too brings modern construction a step forward to true self-sustainability - independence & Freedom , while being built from nearly carbon -0- materials.

The only thing left to do today , is find locations to build the Georgia Adobe at and within codified areas, all the while the big money boys in the building materials business will be watching their profits bleed away , and the bankers will find out you don't require a loan any longer, to build a family home, as you can build a Georgia Adobe with up to as much as 80% free or recycled materials. Then you have created a home that can take care of you for the next century or so - instead of the other way around !

 



Question

* Why do you use Rammed Earth, Adobe Blocks and ( bottles, soda cans, used tires, Etc. ) instead of cement blocks, as the main material for most underground buildings?

Joe :

Well, their free, for 1 really good reason. Those same materials are easily handled by most any person of average strength so, no strained backs ( including mine ) due to lifting 75+ pound cement blocks. There in the way in landfills and by using Free Earth & Sand mixtures for example in Adobe Mixes , there is the ability to not use anymore Portland Cement than is mandatory.

Question

* How can " I " learn to build with these materials affordably ?

Joe :

Come on down to Georgia ! Sign up to be a volunteer on a Georgia Adobe Construction Project and develop your hands on building skills,

Attend a paid for Georgia Adobe college level Training Session , ( WERE BUILDING A SCHOOL JUST FOR THAT )  , or today Have  Georgia Adobe Put On A Special Training Seminar - Just For Your Group, Follow us on our public forum Georgia Adobe Facebook page & Yahoo Group Page ( Links Below )  then Ask Questions. You can also, build small test structure too. 


Facebook      Yahoo 



Question
:

*What problems with regards to building codes do you find when trying to build a Georgia Adobe ?

Joe:

Not a lot but we choose carefully where we will spend our time building for other people. The world at large , has adopted the International Building Codes, by UN. treaty, so this is the level, your going to be asked to prove your building plans at, when or if, you wish to get a building permit. Some areas don't require a permit or perhaps they do but, they don't have inspections for residential structures, so you should always check the codes locally before buying land, and then seek the least path of resistance, to your building,  as a first rule. That said, one can not always build, in just perfect locations. If you are in an area, that has strict codes and inspections you can work within their codes but, it will cost you more to prove your structure meets their codes due to the cost of extra engineering stamp on plans , (  plus concrete placement in place of earth work ) and also extra Architectural re-drawings, that will most likely be required , upon any builder.

Remember that experimental structures , can often receive a code variance so, don't overlook that as a possibility to become the first family to plant the Georgia Adobe Flag, in your neighborhood ! Advancements in water reuse, are often a plus in many communities ,where drought conditions and water quality issues, are at hand and your building of a structure, that uses less water than conventional structures , reuses its water many times and a structure, that can collect its water from the sky and atmosphere, can certainly be a attention getter and a plus in your favor,  and the friendly building inspections department will be showing their office ro the world in a favorable light, should you care to notify the newspapers and TV crews.

Question

* What is the basic principal, of the Georgia Adobe Design Process and how does this influence a building ?

Joe :

In a word - Nature.

Georgia Adobe designs, all our buildings, to blend with nature. We start with your needs and work, to blend the basic elements of all nature, into the structure. We recycle your buildings energies through thermal mass and water recycling so that you receive the most for the least and we build with recycled materials mostly too such as old Tires, Old Drink Cans and Glass and Plastic Bottles plus always as much Free Earth & Sand to create a carbon -0- structure !

Question

* What can nature teach us about any buildings design elements ?

 

Joe :

Well, In Nature one commonly finds the sphere, a dome, even the arch as naturally occurring design elements, throughout all creation. Hold a egg & feel its strength, its sheer power in your own hands. Interlace your fingers around that egg, placing it between your palms & make an attempt to crush it. Only then will you will gain the knowledge, of natures true strength.


Georgia Adobe buildings also mimic nature, with elements including their placement of the structure in the landscape, to reusing again and again, the required natural resources; thus nothing is normally ever required, that the structure cannot develop. This creates a true self sustainable structure.

Forming Earth, Water, Air & Fire with Compound Arches & Compression , with proper reuse of all materials in a cycle were the tools that God used in crafting our planet and like so, we attempt to use these same tools at Georgia Adobe Rammed Earth & Renewable Energy, to craft your carbon -0- building. I think God would approve, of how we craft shelters for his people, within the planet - rather than just upon it and the way we reuse and preserve his gifts, to us all. Earth was perhaps, his greatest gift to man !

Question

* In what level , Can Georgia Adobe Benefit Our Commercial Project ?

Joe :

Project Plans Can Be Drafted To Any Depth Required. Landscape plans also. All who design & build a Georgia Adobe Structure are trained building professionals in Earthen Construction. No Matter what stage of development you require, emergency structures too - we can be there for you, Consult, design, break ground, to construction, water & sewage systems and ensure your home is a success. We can also work world wide as your contractor , building any size project required.

 

Question

* What Quick & Easy Additions can Georgia Adobe provide so we can see sustainable buildings here on our site soon ?

Joe :

Homes don't take too long depending upon the size of course.

Disaster emergency shelters can be built  for foreclosure victims and others alike quickly.


We do Project Consultations online & in person  if required inexpensively

Were Building Carbon -0- Structures Ground Up

Greywater Disposal Systems Can Be Designed Into Existing Sewage Disposal Systems & Built A New Always

Green Remodeling Of Existing Structures Is Quick , This Cuts Your Monthly Energy Expenses Down To Nearly Nothing.

Methane & Woodgas Gas Plants Designed & Built For Those With A Need.

Alcohol Fuels Plants Designed , Permitting Assistance & Built turn key

On Site Construction Offices Built and delivered too

Scale Houses, Guard & Gate Keeper "Shacks" Built  and delivered too

Restroom Facilities Built and delivered too

Crowd & Vehicle Control Dividers Built with Earth !

Storage Buildings Built Underground & Above also delivered complete.

Chemical Containment & Fireproof Structures Built for businesses that must have them.

Storm Shelters Built

Bus Shelters Built

Columns , Porticos & Archways Built

Green Roof Additions To Existing Structures Amd So Much More .  Interested parties should call me personally to discuss their needs.

 

Question

*Can Underground Construction Be Built, So That It Won't Be Easily Found ?

Joe :

Ah', The answer is yes and I will stop right there, with the written details - call us to discuss this matter further.

 

Question

*We need a wine cellar 20 feet deep for a commercial winery. Can Rammed Earth Structures Be The Answer To Our Cost & Temperature Problems ?

Joe:

Yes, U shapes such as in other underground construction, cut into and along a slope will provide the caves required for your storage depth and tires can be the walls. Some additional buttressing, may also be required as comes from dome construction due to heights . The shell wall extending to the roof makes all stronger if constructed in round shapes. Domes are 20 times as strong as flat roofs !


Question

*Where is the best location to build; high on a hill , on flat lands or in a low spot in the landscape ?

Joe :

High up on a hill and digging out a cove, to construct into, is ok. Flat land and the common subdivision lots, that are pre-graded are fine too, as long as they were properly compacted and drain right. After all , your building something, that weighs much more than conventional structures and you would not want, a sinking foundation to develop. that might collect moisture due to a site problem. Due to moisture collecting in this way , stay away from these low land spots . They will perhaps, be better areas for ponds & gardens .

Question

* Our business needs a loading dock. Can you build us one with Rammed Earth ?

Joe :

Yes, Tires could be used to retain your soil and a concrete slab can be slightly counter levered to protect the sides and provide bumper guarding areas.

Question

* What About Retaining Walls, and swimming pools Can They Be Constructed Of Rammed Earth ?

Joe :

Yes, you bet they can, for pools & loading docks , tires make up your walls , they can be smoothed , finished , plastered and made water resistant through proper drainage and shielding of the wall. Everyone Please Feel Free To Submit Your Questions On Alternatives In Construction Or Renewable Energy & Georgia Adobe Will Post Our Answers !

 

Question :

* How will the latest Georgia Law changes as regards location of a mobile home, effect the construction of new Georgia Adobe Homes & or any other alternative construction ?

Joe :

You are referring to the older Mobile Home Law Changes ? I think it may open the State Of Georgia back up to Freedom To Build !

First off, Georgia Adobe also builds emergency shelters that are designed to be towed behind a truck so we can build a ultra small dwelling on wheels that a family can use in an emergency to live in while they are building a Proper Georgia Adobe Home.

Mobile homes can also now be of any age & the counties can't stop you from bringing them into that county. This means new or old, any & perhaps more affordable trailer homes, could be located at the construction site quickly, as the price for older mobile homes are at rock bottom. Then after the county inspections have been finished on the trailer , for your electricial, sewage, water etc. the homeowners could perhaps build on, with Georgia Adobe techniques, as they could afford to .

This will mean a great deal to those, who were just foreclosed upon and later perhaps they might would only be charged taxes on a mobile home, instead of a house, after the build on's were completed. That could bring a many thousand dollar advantage to future residents of Georgia and open up the entire state, as a building area for our company !


PROJECT HOPE

The U.S. CENSUS BUREAU Lists 3,140 counties or county-equivalent administrative units in the country. There are on average 62 counties per state. From data received in the year 2000 Census, the average U.S. county population is about 100,000 , all somewhat regulated as to how we may live & build. Still even today, within some states in North America, we have counties that don't require any building permits , don't have any county rules or even building inspection departments at all. That's Good News ! Help us mark Free Building Counties in Green, Identify Each Free Area


While these locations are not in the majority of North American & they are not in downtown areas ; they are typically in more rural areas but, they still are often within the modern driving range, to most metropolitan work areas. Thus the job you "may" still have, ( or wish to get later ) , can still be, gotten to.

All locations currently, do have some building codes you must face, just from the state level at least since all states have adopted the International Building Code. The Updated Version Of That Code Is Found At
http://www.dca.state.ga.us/development/constructioncodes/programs/codes2.asp
This code includes construction of Adobe & Rammed Earth Construction into it also & You Can Find Earthen Construction guidelines in the International Building Code Section , on " Un-Fired Clay Masonry" Structures. Also, out in the Western parts of North America , many local counties building codes today, include Adobe & Rammed Earth into their local building practices guidelines.

You may be able to use this existing code (yes, even from another state) as part of your " legal argument ", ( if you must ) to your local inspectors office, to allow your use of these materials , in your chosen area.

Each County ( for example in GA ) decides on their own how they will enforce the IBC. Below is a map of of the State Of GA's Enforcement info :
Georgia Code Enforcement Map


Also, A.S.T.M., has just released ( in 2010 ) a study of the required soil mixtures, to get to a load bearing strength of ( X ), when building with certain Earthen Construction mixes , that may be of help to you as well. They charge about $38. for their report and you must purchase this directly from ASTM . Search For :
ASTM Earthen Construction Minimum Standards 2010.



YOUR HELP IS NEEDED & THIS WILL BENEFIT ALL ALTERNATIVE STRUCTURE BUILDERS,
Volunteer Your States Info
send updated info to:
volunteer@georgiaadobe.com

While we would love to build for everyone and handle everything too, we are a small company and simply can't construct all Alternative projects that we would like to. We also , would like to be in the position to provide some information to everyone, about areas you might look to, that allow your use of Georgia Adobe Alternative Earthen Structures.

Also, while responding to phone & email inquiries about this subject, we realized pretty quickly that it wouldn’t be very difficult to locate and perhaps map the lenient areas of the entire nation, if several volunteers worked together. One possibility is for each volunteer , to telephone the county office where they live, try the permitting - planning & zoning depts , county commissioners offices or public development offices, in your county and then report your findings back to us, so that info can be posted for all to have available.
This is what we call project hope.

Most counties in this day & age have a web site and a phone number listed also, by checking at your States main web site, you may find the details & contact info of the persons at the county level to call. More Highly developed areas would perhaps be a waste of the volunteers time to call for Example, the City Govt. Of Atlanta GA. is about as worthless a Govt. agency to ask a question of, as calling the US. federal government for tax advice - so we would forget them and others & plan on building elsewhere.

What do you ask ?
Sometimes you will get a No Building Permits Required But, Septic Tanks Permits & Percolation Test Are Normally Required By State Government And That There Are Guidelines
for all structures built in size ( X ) or some sq. footage amount or
the # of bathrooms or bedrooms that can go on a certain size lot & septic tank,
as their answer. When & If So, take down that info also.

Some Questions You Might Ask Of The County Govt. Offices :

Do they require a building permit ?

Do they require inspections ?

Inspections of what at what stages ?

Grading & Clearing Inspections ?

Foundation & Footings Inspections ?

Is there a plumbing Inspection ?

Is there a Wiring Inspection ?

Is there A Framing Inspection ?

Is There A Finish Inspection ?

What are their policies on building Underground Structures ?

Is Building with Masonry Mixes, Such As Rammed Earth Permitted ?

Is Building With Solid Masonry Adobe Blocks, Permitted ?

Is Building a Concrete Dome Permitted ?

Ask if a set of plans is required, to be submitted before building & what depth of drawings & To Which Depts. ?

Ask if a State Licensed Engineer’s Stamped plan is required to build All Structures ?

Ask, What’s the minimum house size allowed by code To Be Permitted ?

Ask, Who reports your construction to other government agencies Within The County, such as Property Tax Dept. ?


UPDATE AREA :

August 2010
The Georgia General Assembly passed Senate Bill 384, which requires that placement of a mobile home onto property may not be based off of the age of the home.

1 Additional After-thought Might Be :
This Now Means That After One Places Their Small Mobile Home On The Site They Could
, Build A
Georgia Adobe Onto It , Very Soon After Final Approval Of The Mobile Home As You Will Already Have The Electrical, Water & Gas Connected & Permitted Already Approved !

Email Us At :

sales@georgiaadobe.com 

 

NOTE:
All Experimental Architectural Plans Are Drafted Individually For Building Projects & Cost Range 
For A Single Family Single Story Design & Construction Plan & Include A General Materials List, Front Elevation Drawing, Plumbing & Electricial Drawing , With Roof, Wall & Foundation Section Drawings  - 3 Copies Included Total . All Plans Are Drawn Per Standard Building Code And Any Extra Engineering Or Drawings Will Be Billed Extra  Per Hour Plus Any Outside Assistance, As May Become Required Per Customer Requirements. Please Contact Us For All Further Details As Every Project Is Different & Non Residential Structures Such As Walls, Ponds, Pools, Landscapes, Fences, Defensive Elements, Or Commercial And Non Dwelling Structures May Be Very Different In Their Cost ( Up Or Down ) !

Errors, Omissions and References :

Georgia Adobe (TM) (SM.) strives to make these pages as accurate and understandable as possible. Of course, everything is subject to change , without notice of any kind and postings my not be accurate,  due to our best efforts becoming delayed from those changes. If anything is unclear to you or you have some questions, please email us as we make all effort to reply to those who contact us when we can and ASAP. We hope that's fast enough.

Please note that in some cases the names, dates and locations we speak about, have been changed to protect the innocent, and/or the guilty alike. Sorry , we don't give work references, we don't remember, nor do we show pictures of our other jobs , tell of there locations & we never ever kiss and tell either, well at least not past , what you may see here on these pages , from time to time. Sorry if that's a problem - please and with our best wishes for your every success, fee free to hire other professionals, who will jump through those kinds of hoops for your needs and or mental comfort .

Legal Disclaimer:

Nothing here is a recommendation to you , Our designs are Experimental and even after completion such structures may often require changes to make them operate as designed. Nor is the information presented considered professional advice for your actions. These are merely our reports of what we've seen and found useful in other situations. Your use of good sense and confirmation of everything, with your own research, is very much required as Georgia Adobe LP assumes no liability for your actions.

40 Great Reasons To Build A Georgia Adobe Home

 

 

What Are The Reasons To Build A
GEORGIA ADOBE
EARTH SHELTERED CASTLE ?
Well, Here's 40 Good Reasons -
Plus Some In The Introduction !

(c) 2010-2011 Joe Woodall
Architect & Managing Partner - Georgia Adobe LP

 

The List:



1) No Foundations Required To Start Your Construction

2) Far Less Labor Involved Than With Above Ground Structures

3) Far Less Building Materials To Assemble Than Above Ground Buildings Have

4) Underground Done Right, Is Less Expensive Construction Than Above Ground Methods Are

5) Underground Buildings, Are Very Aesthetically Pleasing

6) Underground Temperature Control, Stays Constantly About The Same Degree Year Round

7) Underground Structures, Can Have Built In Green Houses As Part Of The Main Body

8) Some Materials Are Free As , The Earth Is Gods Greatest Gift To Man

9) The Construction Skills Required Are So Few, That Children Can Build Underground Buildings, With Accuracy

10) Underground, Is Rapid Construction And Has The Ability To Be An Emergency Replacement Shelter From Local Materials, Often Thrown Away Or On The land Where Construction Takes Place

11) Underground Buildings, Are Almost Fireproof

12) Your Pipes May Never Freeze Again, Inside The Underground Structure

13 ) Safety Is Heightened, As Underground Is A Highly Hidden And Defendable Position.

14) Underground Can Be, A Bio-Safety Location & A Radiation Fall Out Shelter Combined Into 1

15) Underground Is Storm Safe, As That A Storm Shelters Basic Element , Is Its Cover Of Earth.

16 ) Sturdy Floors Are Always Available, Without Much Cost

17) Underground Structures Life, Is Measured In The Centuries, Rather Than Single Years

18) Underground Buildings, Have Far Less Maintenance Requirements, Than Above Ground Structures

19) From Building Underground, One Receives Greater Land Use, As The Area Above The Structure, Is Still Open Ground, To Be Planted & Enjoyed.

20) Underground Homes, Are Normally Built To Be Independent Of Public Utilities, So They Are Less Expensive To Operate .

21 ) Wine, Food, Root & Storage Cellars Incorporated Into The Structure, Are Safer From Predators, Than Stand Alone Buildings Are

22) Underground Structures, Are Able To Have Closet Space In , Any Earth Walled Room

23) Underground Structures, Are Easily Expandable

24) Underground Structures, Are Carbon -0- Buildings, When Built Properly

25) Underground Buildings, Are Less Scene By The World At Large, Thus One Can Potentially Avoid Being Taxed Upon Them, At All.

26) There Is An Ease Of Concealment, Inherent To Underground Structures So, They Make Great Hunting Cabins, Permanent Residential Dwellings Or They Can Become Landmark Commercial - Retail - Multifamily Structures As Well

27) Underground Structures, Are Basically Soundproof Inside

28) Underground Structures, Are Well Lighted When Designed Properly

29) Underground Structures Are Well Ventilated When Designed Properly

30) An Underground Building, Will Cost Far Less To Operate, Than Most Other Structure Can

31) Underground Structures, Can Be Built Code Compliant When Required

32) Underground Structures, Can Be Passive Or Active Solar Buildings

33) Small Underground Structures, Can Often Be Built With Nothing But, Simple Hand Tools

34) An Underground Building, Can Have Private Or Sweeping Entrances And Views Of The Area Too

35) An Underground Building, Blends With Nature, Rather Than Distracting From, Its Beauty

36) Any Heating Or Cooling Equipment, In Use Underground, can be of the smaller single phase type, thus costing less

37) Large Structures, Or Small Structures, Can Both Be, Built Underground

38) FEMA The Federal Emergency Management Agency, Often Approves Underground Community Emergency Disaster Shelters, Enabling The Builder To Qualify Perhaps For, Federal Funding And Grants For Public Structures

39) Bank Financing, Is Often Available, When The Benefits Of These Structures Is Understood

40) Insurance Coverage Cost, Is Often Greatly Reduced, As Correctly Built Underground Structures, Are Virtually Fire, Flood And Disaster Proof

A Proper Feasibility Plan Is Often The Wisest First Step. Start Your Underground Project The Right Way By Contacting Georgia Adobe, Rammed Earth & Renewable Energy at:
sales@georgiaadobe.com .



NOTE:
All Experimental Architectural Plans Are Drafted Individually For Building Projects & Cost Range 
For A Single Family Single Story Design & Construction Plan & Include A General Materials List, Front Elevation Drawing, Plumbing & Electricial Drawing , With Roof, Wall & Foundation Section Drawings  - 3 Copies Included Total . All Plans Are Drawn Per Standard Building Code And Any Extra Engineering Or Drawings Will Be Billed Extra  Per Hour Plus Any Outside Assistance, As May Become Required Per Customer Requirements. Please Contact Us For All Further Details As Every Project Is Different & Non Residential Structures Such As Walls, Ponds, Pools, Landscapes, Fences, Defensive Elements, Or Commercial And Non Dwelling Structures May Be Very Different In Their Cost ( Up Or Down ) !

Errors, Omissions and References :

Georgia Adobe (TM) (SM.) strives to make these pages as accurate and understandable as possible. Of course, everything is subject to change , without notice of any kind and postings my not be accurate,  due to our best efforts becoming delayed from those changes. If anything is unclear to you or you have some questions, please email us as we make all effort to reply to those who contact us when we can and ASAP. We hope that's fast enough.

Please note that in some cases the names, dates and locations we speak about, have been changed to protect the innocent, and/or the guilty alike. Sorry , we don't give work references, we don't remember, nor do we show pictures of our other jobs , tell of there locations & we never ever kiss and tell either, well at least not past , what you may see here on these pages , from time to time. Sorry if that's a problem - please and with our best wishes for your every success, fee free to hire other professionals, who will jump through those kinds of hoops for your needs and or mental comfort .

Legal Disclaimer:

Nothing here is a recommendation to you , Our designs are Experimental and even after completion such structures may often require changes to make them operate as designed. Nor is the information presented considered professional advice for your actions. These are merely our reports of what we've seen and found useful in other situations. Your use of good sense and confirmation of everything, with your own research, is very much required as Georgia Adobe LP assumes no liability for your actions.


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ALSO:
Here's An Interesting Computer Application A Rainwater Catchment Tool Calculator.
View It At:  http://www.save-the-rain.com/world-bank/

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