what we do
Using Stabilised Rammed Earth to produce aesthetically pleasing dwellings
MODERN HOMES
Modern comforts that we have come to expect in today’s housing are combined with the renowned qualities of stabilised rammed earth. Superior thermal mass, temperature and noise control, strength and durability, low maintenance, fireproofing, load bearing, pest deterrent, as well as beauty, and the satisfaction of building with natural and environmentally friendly materials, make it the perfect material to build with.
OFF GRID BUILDS
We wish to promote this independent lifestyle by providing consciously designed homes built with the end-user in mind. We can help you to achieve your dream to live off-grid with a modern and functional, aesthetically pleasing home, that you will love.
Constructed to use available natural resources: Energy from the sun, rainwater, self-contained sewage treatment, water recycling, and in-home organic food production capability.
FEATURE WALLS
Create a healthier environment and a more beautiful space by bringing natural materials into your workspace or home. Choose materials that reflect your concern for the environment in your home and workplace and enhance the beauty of your new build with a rammed earth feature wall.
RETAINING WALLS
Don’t settle for an ugly retaining wall, basically wherever you can use blocks you could have an eye-catching maintenance-free high strength rammed earth retaining wall.
FIREWALL
Why not install a rammed earth wall that doubles as a feature wall? Naturally, fire resistant, which doesn’t have to be strapped and lined.
LANDSCAPING AND ENTRANCEWAYS
The use of rammed earth makes a stunning entranceway. Being able to create natural shapes & colours leading into your residence or workplace makes a statement reflecting your desire for the use of natural materials.
OUTDOOR FIREPLACES
Create the ultimate space outside with a rammed earth fireplace
RAMMED EARTH
Rammed earth is an ancient building technique that has been dated back thousands of years, with historical buildings still performing today as originally intended, most notable would have to be parts of the Great Wall of China and the Alhambra Palace.
Stabilised rammed earth is a modern development on traditional rammed earth building material, continues to and offer a wide range of benefits; warm in winter, cool in summer, fireproof, soundproof, dry, and immune to rot and insect damage not to mention extremely durable, high thermal mass, locally sourced, and natural materials, to name a few.
Rammed earth behaves as heavyweight masonry with a high thermal mass. Thermal mass absorbs or slows down the passage of heat through a material and then releases that heat when the surrounding ambient temperature goes down.
Rammed earth buildings have relatively low material costs but high labour costs, so are comparable in price with conventional buildings; but they come into their own when you consider the health, environmental, thermal, and aesthetic benefits.
WHY CHOOSE HIGH STRENGTH RAMMED EARTH
Durability built to last generations! while requiring minimal maintenance. Stabilised rammed earth is known for its distinct appearance, use of local soils supporting sustainability practices, high thermal mass, reducing the need for heating and cooling, ability to create lots of different textures, styles, and colour tones. Health benefits, sandstone is a non-toxic material that leads to a healthier environment.
Rammed sandstone walls are typically 200mm to 400mm thick, made with local soils combined with cement with hidden insulation in the core of the wall. Though other forms have been used, the most common stabiliser is cement, which when added typically makes up between 6 or 7% (by volume) of the mix.
The addition of cement (high embodied energy), however, is seen by many to compromise the environmental credentials of rammed earth – though this might be balanced out when additional protection and maintenance of non-stabilised rammed earth is built into the equation. By using these distinctive high-strength walls, it eliminates having to use any sealants or drywalls while still producing a quality finish inside and out.
Photo Credit: Feldman Architecture
