The Recycled Alternative: Rammed Earth Tires by Nathan Trachimowicz

For virtually all of history, our ancestors lived in shelter fashioned from locally available materials, especially earth. Today, approximately half the world's people still inhabit dwellings made with soils harvested from the Earth's crust. Rammed Earth Tires is a construction system that combines recyclable materials (like tires and cardboard).

Americans discard nearly 250 million car tires each year

Rammed Tire Wall Sketch

How it works.. Using a pneumatic press or sledge hammer, dirt combined with a cement binder is packed into the tire. Tires are stacked, normally eight high making a wall. Walls are then covered with plaster then framed. Tires are not toxic products; they are covered with soil, plaster, and a sealant, thus they are not exposed to UV rays, and therefore don't outgas.

Advantages of Tire Homes Uses an abundant waste product and local resources. Tires and Dirt (Free) Rammed earth tire construction is cheap and requires little skilled labor. Just gets some friends and some beer. Most estimates put the $$/sq. ft between $30(owner built)-$65(contracted labor). Sturdy, strong walls

Disadvantages of Tire Homes It's hard work. Filled tires can weigh up to 300lbs. Somewhat restricted to warm dry climates. Tire homes tend to have an open design and can be noisy and less than private. Walls tend to gobble up living space. Walls need to be waterproofed.