Masonry Magazine April 1993 Page. 39
Earth-House Construction Details
When sufficiently dry, the exterior receives two coats of elastomeric acrylic paint for protection against wind driven rain. This is the same special paint developed to protect concrete bridges. Sprayed on, it soaks into the mud-concrete, waterproofing the mix to a depth of several inches. The elastomeric acrylic passes water vapor, allowing the earth to breathe; with 300 to 400 percent elasticity, it can move with the stabilized earth. Because the earthern-house is a structure without corners, gutters, downspouts and flashing are omitted. Earth has been a favored building material since the beginning of time. In rural parts of Africa, South and Central America, China and the Middle East, much of the world's construction still employs earth. Mud is a material with great potential, but it has never before had a fair trial in cold-weather building. Combining age-old mud with modern technology, the earth-house is an ideal cold climate shelter.
Polystyrene Insulation
Polystyrene insulating boards are cut into trapezoidal panels, two feet high by four feet long, and glued together with gunned on polyurethane form. Result is a continuous tight, rigid curvilinear form, extending from the top of the dome to the foundation. The board has an insulating rating (R value) of 5 per inch, or about 40-R for 71/2 inches of the board combined with dead air space. The boards are lightweight, easily cut and handled by a single builder, but water resistant and rugged. With compressive strength of 15 psi they're rigid enough to support the wet earth mixture, yet yielding enough to flex with the finished structure.
The core is erected first in two foot stages, setting the actual shape and placement of the walls. The board is supplied in 2 x 8 foot flat sheets. The boards are laid together, two inches plus one 11/2 inch thick panel, to produce a 712 inch thickness of extruded polystyrene. They are then cut into trapezoidal panels, 2 feet high and nearly 4 foot long, and glued together with gunned-on polyurethane foam. The result is a continous, tight, quite rigid curvilinear form: a continuous insulation envelope extending from the top of the dome to the foundation.
Solar window glass is set directly into the earth walls continuous with the insulation; slots are formed in the foam sheets to receive the glass. The solar glass is double pane, soft coat, heat treated, argon filled low-E (that is, low-emissivity) glass, absorbing the sun's heat with minimal radiation. Argon gas between the double panes of glass further cuts down on conduction of heat out; a special coating mirrors escaping heat back in.
New from Weck®
Weck glass block has once again expanded the assortment of special shapes. The new Allbend blocks allow tight but graceful turns and angles in increments of 22° which previously could only be accomplished in wide arcs. Snaking effects can be created by reversing the Allbend and arcs widened by intermingling the Allbend with 4 x 8 or 8 x 8 blocks. 45° corners can be beautifully constructed with 2 pieces of Allbend.
The new Double End block when combined with the WeckEnd block permits partitions with open heads and jambs. Even step down construction without the use of other border materials is possible and only from WECK. WECK's new finished edge on the WeckEnd or Double End is the cleanest in the industry.
Glashaus Inc.
415 West Golf Road
Suite 13
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
708-640-6910
FAX #708-640-6955