Earth Building: Methods and Materials, Repair and Conservation

by Keefe; Laurence

• ISBN13: 9780415323222
• ISBN10: 0415323223
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2005-10-27
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Buildings with load-bearing earth walls were once widespread throughout Britain and many thousands still survive, including some dating from the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.Earth is the ultimate form of 'green' building construction, creating no environmental pollutions and consuming virtually no energy. Subsoil can be dug from or near the site to construct buildings that will meet modern needs and conform to the latest building regulations.This book describes all aspects of earth building, explaining how earth performs as a building material and providing guidance on how best to repair and conserve existing earth buildings.

Author Biography

Laurence Keefe is a founder member of the Devon Earth Building Association.

Table of Contents

List of illustrations	vii
Acknowledgements	xi
Preface	xii
Part I Earth construction: methods and materials	1	(124)
Introduction: earth as a 'green' building material	1	(6)
1 Earth building in Britain – international context and historical background	7	(23)
By R. Nother, with an introduction by L. Keefe
British earth building in an international context: a brief history	7	(3)
Earth buildings in Britain – types and distribution	10	(6)
The distribution of earth buildings in Britain	16	(14)
2 The raw material: soils for use in building	30	(21)
Earth as a construction material	30	(4)
Soil classification in detail: identification, analysis and testing	34	(9)
Clays and aggregates, including chalk	43	(8)
3 Earth construction 1: preparation and mixing	51	(20)
Constructing mass earth and earth block walls	51	(20)
4 Earth construction 2: the building process	71	(30)
By L. Keefe and R. Nother
Cob wall construction	71	(14)
Building with rammed earth	85	(9)
Building with earth blocks and clay lump	94	(2)
Earth-based finishes for earth walls	96	(5)
5 Standards and regulations	101	(24)
By R. Nother, with a note on Standards and Codes of Practice by L. Keefe
Introduction	101	(1)
Planning legislation, policies and guidance	102	(1)
Building Regulations	103	(1)
The Building Regulation Approved Documents	104	(1)
Approved Document to support Regulation 7 materials and workmanship	105	(2)
Approved Document A – structure	107	(2)
Approved Document B – fire safety	109	(2)
Approved Document C – site preparation and resistance to moisture	111	(2)
Approved Document E – resistance to the passage of sound	113	(1)
Approved Document L1 – conservation of fuel and power in dwellings	114	(1)
Approved Document L2 – conservation of fuel and power in buildings other than dwellings	114	(7)
Technical standards and codes of practice for earth-wall construction	121	(4)
Part II The conservation, repair and maintenance of earth buildings	125	(63)
Introduction	125	(2)
Why preserve earth buildings: the need for conservation?	127	(4)
6 The principal causes of failure in earth walls and how to recognise them	131	(27)
Inherent defects associated with original construction methods and materials	131	(5)
Problems arising from later alterations and interventions	136	(3)
The use of inappropriate materials and ineffective repair methods	139	(7)
Physical damage from external sources	146	(5)
Dampness in earth walls and associated building materials	151	(7)
7 The diagnostic survey and repair of earth buildings	158	(30)
A suggested diagnostic survey procedure for earth-walled buildings	158	(6)
The repair of earth buildings	164	(24)
Organisations	188	(2)
Bibliography	190	(3)
Index	193

Excerpts

"This book explains, in fairly simple terms, the engineering properties of earth as a construction material. It describes, evaluates and compares the various methods of earth construction and explains the failure mechanisms of mass earth walls and how to identify building defects. It also discusses, in some detail, how mass earth construction can achieve compliance with current building regulations and illustrates appropriate repair methods based upon case studies of actual building failures and major structural repairs." "Professionals such as architects, builders, surveyors and conservation officers should find this a good reference. It is also a methodically presented text for students and an authoritative guide for self-builders."--BOOK JACKET.