Frequently Asked Questions

We construct SRE walls using a quality road base material (soil and gravel mixture), stabilised with cement. Want to learn more? Check out the blog we wrote!

The colour of your rammed earth will depend on the colour of the soil and cement used in the wall construction.

We generally source the earth from local quarries. If suitable soil and quantities are available onsite; we can use them. However, we typically need to use materials sourced from local quarries.

External walls are at least 300mm in thickness. This enables them to be load bearing.

Internal walls are also generally 300mm thick. Their thickness can be reduced to 200mm, however this means they are no longer load bearing.

Insulated rammed earth walls are thicker, starting at 400mm. However, the thickness will depend on the level of insulation and design requirements.

Load bearing rammed earth walls can support roof structures as well as second storey floors.

Their load bearing abilities eliminate the need for structural timber or metal posts. It also reduces the building time and cost.

Yes! We are happy to work with builders, designers and architect’s plans. We build walls for registered builders, owner builders and commercial builders. If you are looking for a designer/architect, please give us a call as we may know someone working in your area!

SRE walls are constructed using specialised formwork.

An earth mixture is hand shovelled in 150mm layers into the formwork and compacted. This process is repeated until we reach the desired wall height.

Want to learn more? Check out the blog we wrote!

The sheer mass of rammed earth walls (on average 800kg /m2) makes them extremely stable.

Rammed Earth walls can be built easily in 300mm increments of height. They can also be constructed with raked or curved tops that vary in height.
As the formwork is generally 300mm or 600mm in height, flat finishing heights should always be in 300mm increments. This could include your window sills, above windows and doors, or roof top plate heights.

The length of rammed earth walls is dependant on the materials and design. Wall sections can be longer than the 2400mm formwork panels as forms can be joined.

The wall length of any one section of rammed earth is restricted by the lineal shrinkage of the soil. This is due to the Plastic Index (PI) of the material.

Being an off form finish, a panel can develop cracks if it is too long. The length and height of any panel must be also be considered, low panels can’t extend as long as full height panels.

We use articulation joints to allow for lineal shrinkage, expansion, contraction and movement in the foundations. They ensure any movement has a point to shift and doesn’t cause cracks.

All plumbing and electrical points are placed within the walls as they are being built.

The walls are an ‘off form’ finish. This means once we remove the formwork after construction, the wall is ‘finished’. The natural earth tones are visible and compaction layers produce the unique character of your walls.

We also treat our walls with a clear acrylic polymer sealer. This sealer is dust proof, and seals the walls from water penetration. It also eliminates the need for rendering or painting of the wall surface.

As the walls are not rendered, and don’t need to be painted, maintenance is minimal.

Climate conditions will determine how often your walls will need sealer reapplied. Typically your external walls should not need reapplication before 15 years. Internal walls should never need to be re-sealed.

Yes! Shelves can be easily fixed to rammed earth walls with masonry fasteners.

You can hang pictures wherever you would like, using an ordinary nail. You won’t need to find that elusive wall stud to hammer into!

Yes! Rammed Earth is a neutral medium that will go with any decor. From rustic to modern; the design and architecture of your home will mean it can suit your personal style.

When paired with solar passive principals, the rammed earth walls high thermal mass naturally stores energy. This creates a stable internal temperature of your home, keeping it warm in winter and cool in summer.

Most other modern building materials have low thermal mass. This means they need artificial heating and cooling to stabilise internal temperatures. These homes uses more energy and costs more to live in.

An energy rating is not essential to build a rammed earth home. Having a great solar passive design utilising high thermal mass mediums is what helps create a sustainable home.

We would love to discuss this further with you over the phone or in person by appointment, please contact us to find out more!

Stabilised Rammed Earth walls are a great medium for high fire risk, BAL 40 and BAL Flame Zone (FZ) properties. Rammed Earth is a non-combustible medium and has a high fire rating (4 hours). This makes it incredibly suitable if you’re looking to build in a high fire risk area.

It will depend on the design of your home. However, most sites are suitable for Rammed Earth Wall construction!

Due to the materials and construction method, SRE walls are deemed ‘termite resistant’ under the Building Code of Australia.

When built on a concrete slab, termite protection is only required where the slab is being penetrated. Usually this is only around pipe work. This means the cost of termite proofing your home is greatly reduced.

Rammed Earth walls are comparable in price to double brick walls.

However, due to the energy efficiency of rammed earth homes, the ongoing living costs will be greatly reduced. This will mean you save money every year for the lifetime of your home.

Rammed Earth will also outlast many conventional building materials. They are an investment for your home and the environment.

To learn more, check out the blogpost we have written about the cost of a rammed earth house.

Having rammed earth walls will not restrict the roofing materials you can use. We attach the roof structure to the rammed earth walls via metal tie-down rods. The rods are embedded 600mm into the walls. The mass of the walls ensure an excellent fixing tie-down system.

Generally we build rammed earth above windows and doors. But design, aesthetic and budget can determine whether it is used above openings. A minimum height of 300mm above the opening is required if rammed earth is to be used.

Rain will not damage high quality rammed earth walls.

You will need to ensure that the base of the walls remain at least 100mm above finished ground level. This means that you can’t build garden beds up against your rammed earth walls.

There is no need to have verandas on your home to protect your rammed earth walls.

Yes, give us a call to discuss this.

No, standard council planning and building permits apply.

If you are purchasing land, make sure there are no caveats attached to the title. They may restrict the construction mediums you are able to use for your home.

How long it takes to build your rammed earth walls will depend on the design and complexity of your home. Keep in mind that Rammed Earth walls replace studs, plaster, painting, and external cladding – all saving time.

Please contact us to discuss your project and timelines.

You could well be part of an interesting archaeological dig! Rammed earth buildings date back 6,000 years and pre-date mud brick as a building medium.