What is rammed earth?

Rammed Earth (pise) is a natural building method that is thousands of

years old, and has been used in all of earth’s continents. Rammed Earth

buildings have many favorable qualities. They are low-tech construction

process and economical to build. They need low maintenance and they

are suitable for the cold and hot climate.

Rammed earth walls are extremely low maintenance. Once they are built and sealed, they shouldn't
need any further attention for 10-20 years.

When was rammed earth first used?

As evidence suggests, rammed earth was first used during the Neolithic period in China. Some
archaeological sites of Chinese cultures that date back to 5000 BCE have structures built with rammed
earth—this is perhaps what made this ancient technique a common one in China later on.

After that, rammed earth gained popularity in the United States during the 1800s because of the book
Rural Economy by S.W. Jonson. Several buildings in the US were constructed using this technique,
driving scientific research to give it some attention, hence more experiments and rammed earth
buildings.
CONSTRUCTION

rammed earth, building material made by compacting certain soils, used by

many civilizations.
The most durable of the earth-building forms, rammed earth may be used for
making building blocks or for constructing whole walls in place, layer by layer.
In making building blocks, the soil is rammed into a box-shaped mold. In
building up whole walls, two wooden planks separated by a spacer bolt are
used as a form, and the earth is rammed into this in layers; when the form is
filled, it is removed and superimposed on the top of the wall and more earth is
rammed in until the desired height is reached.
Ironheaded rammers, roller-mounted forms, pneumatic rammers, and
hydraulic, mass-production block presses have been used.
The soil used must be high in sand and low in clay, 70 percent and 30 percent
being the usual proportions. About 10 percent water is added in modern
practice. Good compressive strength is characteristic of rammed earth.
Wall thicknesses are usually at least 12 inches (30 cm), a mass that results in a
high thermal capacity, keeping the internal conditions uniform in climates
having large variations in temperature from day to night. To give it increased
resistance to weather, the wall surface is often treated with plaster, bitumen,
or linseed oil. Stabilizers may be added to the soil to increase weather
resistance and strength; portland cement and bitumen are commonly used.