What do you all think of a Rammed Earth Home?
Having a house with 2-3 ft. thick walls might be an advantage from a security standpoint.. My family had access to an old ranch home for vacations when I was growing up, and it was 3 ft. adobe. Even though it occasionally got warm outside(central CA), the house wasn't.
I have some property in NE AZ and am considering building one up there.
What about erosion due to rain?
From: Paul Fontaine, Structural & Civil Engr.
State of California 650-637-8306
Rammed earth homes are pretty good as far as cost and climate control. Takes a long time to get the temperature up if you let it get cold. A lot of work to build. Mother Earth News had a good article about them in the 1970's. Erosion is probably not a problem in AZ but for some added assurance, use a soil cement mixture for the last 6 inches.