The home, an essential part of the American dream, has been beset by troubles since the beginning of the Great Recession in 2007. Whether from an unstable housing economy, ever-rising energy costs, or the environmental ruin of urban sprawl, the origin and variety of these assaults can be bewildering. Surprisingly, some of the answers to many of these modern-day troubles lie in some of humanity�s most ancient building techniques. Earth-sheltered building has existed since the heyday of Skara Brae in Scotland 5,000 years ago, and is used today by people around the world, from the Yaodong of northwest China to the subterranean residents of Coober Pedy, Australia, and even to converted missile silos in America.
If you have ever looked at your power bill in stunned disbelief, if you are interested in green building techniques, or if you want your home to stand out (or hide out), then this book is for you. Contrary to popular misconceptions of being cramped, dark, or dank domiciles, earth-sheltered homes come in a number of different styles, incorporating brilliant techniques designed to bring light and air into the home. With The Complete Guide to Building Affordable Earth-Sheltered Homes, you will learn about the many different types of earth-sheltered homes and their various advantages, including a life span that can be two to three times longer than that of conventional housing, inexpensive building materials, and reduced maintenance costs. Additionally, the energy costs of an earth-sheltered home can be as much as 80 percent lower than a conventional home�s power costs. The book will also examine the different environmental factors that you need to consider when selecting which style to build and how to begin, and carry out, your building process. Some of the factors discussed include the different types of soil and how to adjust to them, the level of precipitation and how to manage runoff, and how to maximize use of natural light sources.
Construction experts and earth-sheltered homebuilders have been interviewed and their expertise is included in this guide to help you learn how you can create your own underground home. Details of construction methods are found throughout the book, including tips and advice for planning, excavation, flooring, walls, framing, waterproofing, roofing, drainage, and insulation. You will also learn how to pour your own footings and floor, how to dry stack concrete block walls, how to use post and beam framing, and how to waterproof the membranes. With the information provided in this book, you can start planning and building your own earth-sheltered home in no time so that you, too, can benefit from the natural protection of the earth. If earth-sheltered building is good enough for Bill Gates� $136 million mansion, then it just might be good enough for you too.
Foreword 9
Introduction 13
Chapter 1 Earth Sheltered Housing: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly 17
The Benefits of Earth-Sheltered Housing 17
The Disadvantages of Earth-Sheltered Living 35
Summary 43
Chapter 2 The Oldest Abode - The History and Development of Earth-Sheltered Homes 45
Before You Build, Learn From The Past 45
In-Hill Shelter Homes 46
Bermed Construction 53
In-Ground Construction 55
Current Developments 63
Summary 66
Chapter 3 The Best Laid Plans: Design, Planning, and Preparation to Build an Earth-sheltered Home 67
Earth Shelter Designs 68
Adapting a Plan 69
Design Considerations 71
Window Walls 74
Construction Materials 76
Masonry Construction 81
Alternate Construction Materials 84
Structural Designs 93
Permits and Fees 96
Planning for Construction 98
Summary 107
Chapter 4: The Good Earth - Site Development for an Earth-Sheltered Home 109
Selecting Your Site 109
Excavation and Site Work 111
Making a Bad Lot Better 117
Summary 118
Chapter 5 On a Firm Foundation - Footing and Foundation Construction for an Earth-Sheltered Home 119
Concrete Construction 119
Footing Construction 121
Keyway Drawings 125
Footing Drawings 126
Foundation Construction 128
Flooring 134
Roof Structures 139
Summary 141
Chapter 6 Wired for Success - Installing Your Utilities 143
Home Utilities 143
Electrical Work 144
Rough Electrical Wiring 144
Plumbing Work 149
Rough Plumbing 151
Heating Work 161
Summary 168
Chapter 7 Home is where the Earth is…Erecting an Earth-Sheltered Home 169
Exterior Walls 170
Wood Framing 170
Precast or preformed panels 171
Framing 173
Building your roof with steel 176
Exotic roofs 177
Saving Money During the Erection Process 182
Picking out your Tools in Advance 183
The Art of Negotiating 185
Selecting your Materials from the Appropriate Places 187
Finding the Right Equipment 190
Building Problems 191
Encountering Other Problems 198
Making Things Fit 204
Summary 205
Chapter 8 Here Comes the Rain - Insulation, Waterproofing, and Ventilation 207
Waterproofing 209
Waterproofing Membranes 213
Save Money on Insulation 216
Insulation 218
Saving Money on Insulation 223
Ventilation 225
Managing Humidity 227
Saving Money on Ventilation 229
Summary 229
Chapter 9 The Icing on the Cake: Finishes and Amenities 231
Doors and Windows 232
Interior Wall Finishes 234
Ceiling finishes 235
Skylights and Light Tubes 235
Finished Flooring 236
Millwork 239
Other Considerations 242
Dealing with the Radon Monster 244
Other Health Threats - Mold and Mildew 246
Moisture 249
Home Pests 251
Summary 252
Chapter 10 Home Sweet Home - What to Expect Living in an Earth-sheltered Home 253
The Autonomous House 254
Where do we go from here? 257
A Word in Closing 258
Appendix A Sample Material List 261
Appendix B Typical Home Design Plan 263
Appendix C Sample Construction Contract 265
Glossary 275
Bibliography 281
Author Biography 285
Index 287
Savas
Posted March 14, 2012
The Energy costs of an earth-sheltered home can be as much as 80% lower than a conventional home's energy costs. Is this enough reason to read this book? I guess, Yes!! But there are much more such as: a life span that can be two to three times longer than the conventional housing, reducing the material cost of building and its maintenance. Benefits and disadvantages are discussed at the very first chapter so it gives an idea about how to start to consider to have an earth sheltered home in the future. History of these buildings, then the construction. The book is very practical and examplifies to help understand the manufacturing and maintaining of it. Lots of "small" pictures are provided so I am guessing the how would it be nicer to have this book in an appropriate sizes, not in this smaller size. I would like to see these improvements in the second edition , larger format and better indexing.
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Posted July 7, 2011
The Green Movement is one of the hottest trends today and as it continues to gain popularity, so do many alternatives to our traditional lifestyles. One such alternative is the use of earth-sheltered homes. While built for any number of reasons, the earth-sheltered home is mostly renowned for its ability to save an astonishing amount of energy. Author and fan, Robert McConkey looks to educate his readers on these amazing homes with his recently released book, "The Complete Guide to Building Affordable Earth-Sheltered Homes: Everything You Need to Know Explained Simply". "The Complete Guide to Building Affordable Earth-Sheltered Homes: Everything You Need to Know Explained Simply" is a comprehensive look at what exactly goes into the construction of an earth-sheltered home. From contemplating making the change to living closer to the earth to each of the pros and cons, McConkey lays it all out in an easy to understand format. He continues with a history of earth-shelters, discussing land considerations, types of building materials, waterproofing, lighting, energy saving practices, and much, much more. I was absolutely floored with the sheer amount of information he was able to cram in his book, all while keeping the subject light and interesting. For example, he walks you through the process of pouring concrete and framing the house step by step so even someone like me - with no experience beyond digging tunnels in a sandbox as a child - can comprehend and picture in my mind. Further, he has such passion about his subject that it easily sparked my own imagination on what it would be like to live in such a home. I'd never even considered an earth-sheltered house yet now I'm ready to get out there and build! The only negative aspect of the book that I saw was the quality of many of the pictures - they are blurry. Whether it was a picture of a historical earth-sheltered home or a new one under construction, the lack of clarity was frustrating. There were also a couple of pictures with words that were completely illegible. Page 139 shows a diagram but the words contained were unreadable. Page 188 introduces a picture by saying, "The following picture shows how grade stamps work" but the only legible portion of the picture is the large title at the top, 'Reading a Grade Stamp'. Everything else contained in the picture is too blurry to read, making the inclusion of this diagram useless. "The Complete Guide to Building Affordable Earth-Sheltered Homes: Everything You Need to Know Explained Simply" is THE how-to book on building your own earth-sheltered house. An absolute must read for the 'green' fan and those interested in an affordable, sustainable way of living. Reviewed by Vicki Landes, author of "Europe for the Senses - A Photographic Journal"
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Overview
The home, an essential part of the American dream, has been beset by troubles since the beginning of the Great Recession in 2007. Whether from an unstable housing economy, ever-rising energy costs, or the environmental ruin of urban sprawl, the origin and variety of these assaults can be bewildering. Surprisingly, some of the answers to many of these modern-day troubles lie in some of humanity�s most ancient building techniques. Earth-sheltered building has existed since the heyday of Skara Brae in Scotland ...