Comparison of Natural Building Techniques

a partial list of wall systems by Michael G. Smith

 Technique Materials Structural Thermal Best Advantages Disadvantages
needed properties properties applications

Straw bale Straw bales, Load- Excellent Exterior walls in Goes up relatively Very susceptible to
sticks or bearing or insulation; most climates; quickly. Fairly easy moisture damage;
bamboo for in ll; good low themal quick, temporary to permit. bales must be stored
pinnng; earthquake mass structures Increasing pool of carefully; un nished
baling twine resistance experienced building must be
or wire designers/builders. protected from rain.

Cob Clay soil, Load- Good Exterior walls in Highly sculptural; Labor intensive;
sand, straw bearing or thermal moderate or sunny enormous design goes up slowly,
in ll; mass; low climates; interior exibility. especially in cool,
moderate insulation walls; ovens and Combines well moist conditions.
earthquake hearths; benches; with other Permitting may take
resistance garden walls; materials. persistence.
greenhouses; oors

Adobe Clay soil, Load- Good Exterior walls in Adobe blocks can Making and storing
sand, straw or bearing or thermal moderate or sunny be made in one adobe blocks takes a
other ber in ll; poor mass; low climates; interior place and lot of space and dry
earthquake insulation walls; ovens and transported. When weather. Prone to
resistance hearths; domes and blocks are made, earthquake damage.
vaults in dry, non- wall goes up fast.
earthquake regions. Many pros in SW.

Rammed Clay soil with Load- Very good Exterior walls in Contractors, Ver labor or machine
earth high content bearing; thermal moderate or sunny engineers and intensive. Requires
of sand; often good mass; low climates; benches permits available in forms.
stabilized earthquake insulation and garden walls. CA and elsewhere. Professionally built
with cement resistance RE can be expensive
& reinforced and uses non-natural
with steel materials

Earthbags Woven Load- Very good Foundations for Relatively quick Poly bags very
polypropylen bearing; thermal cob, straw bale, earth building susceptible to UV
e feed sacks foundations mass; low etc.; exterior walls techique. Allows damage; must be
lled with for other insulation in moderate or for use of wide protected from
clay soil, wall (unless lled sunny climates; range of ll direct sun; long-term
sandy soil, systems; with a light benches and garden materials. durability unknown.
sand, or good ll like walls; domes and
gravel earthquake pumice or vaults in dry, non-
resistance scoria) earthquake regions.

Technique Materials Structural Thermal Best Advantages Disadvantages

needed properties properties applications
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 Stone Stones; may Load- Very good Foundations, Very durable, even Very labor intensive.
be dry- bearing; thermal basements, in wet conditions
stacked or foundations; mass; very retaining walls; and in contact with
mortared with poor low replaces and ground.
a mixture of earthquake insulation hearths; oors and
sand, cement, resistance patios; exterior
lime and/or unless walls in non-
clay reinforced earthquake regions
with mild climates.

Straw Straw (or In ll Insulation, Remodels; exterior Walls can be any Requires forms, so
light-clay wood chips, thermal mass and interior walls thickness. walls generally
or hemp hurds, vary with in many climates. Combines well straight. Prone to
slipstraw or other mix; with standard stud water damage.
suitable insulation framing or timber Wood requied for
material); can be high framing. frame and forms.
clay slip per thickness

Wattle and Straight, In ll Poor Interior walls; Walls can be very Requires lots of
daub exible sticks insulation; unheated structures thin. Uncovered straight exible
(or bamboo); low themal such as outdoor wattle is very sticks which can be
clay soil; mass (thick showers, sheds, decorative. diffcult to nd.
chopped plaster etc.; exterior walls Labor intensive.
straw and/or increases in hot tropics Prone to water
manure mass) damage.

Clay wattle Clay soil; In ll Poor Interior walls; Walls can be very New, little-known
long straw; insulation; unheated structures thin, curved and tecnique. Requires
sticks low thermal such as outdoor sculptural. long straw. Prone to
mass unless showers, sheds, water damage.
wall is quite etc.; exterior walls
thick in hot tropics

Cordwood Wood cut into In ll or Good Exterior and Decorative. Easy to Wood must be very
masonry short lengths; load-bearing insulation; interior walls attach wooden dry. Tendency for
mortar may (round moderate framing and wood to expand and
include structures thermal mass furniture. contract, cracking
cement, lime, only); poor mortar and creating
clay, sand, earthquake drafts.
sawdust; resistance
lime/sawdust
insulation

Papercrete, Recycled In ll or Good Exterior and Very versatile New technique.

Fibrous paper pulp; load-bearing insulation; interior walls; techniques. Walls Requires a
cement sand; cement thermal mass oors; plasters easily modi ed. specialized mixer.
Fidobe or or clay soil varies with Questionable water
Hybrid mix resistance.
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