Ceilings – Page 36 – Natural Building Blog

Earthbag Houses in Ecuador

January 12, 2019 by Kelly Hart

I just got a nice update on what Ed Konderla has been up to in Ecuador, first building an earthbag house and then a guest house: The location is in the Andes Mountains, Southern Ecuador… very seismically active which necessitated a robust construction technique. The earthbag construction has been the way to go for me. … Read more

Lovely Tiny House with Reclaimed Materials

December 23, 2018 by Kelly Hart

Together Steph and Greg Parham designed and built their dream tiny home, the San Juan. They originally moved into together in a much smaller tiny home and quickly learned what worked and what didn’t. In their new build, they fixed the problem issues and combined their distinct rustic and French country styles. The result: a … Read more

Dan Phillips turns backyard scraps into whimsical Texan houses

November 1, 2018 by Kelly Hart

Dan Phillips’ company, Phoenix Commotion, turns trash into homes, employs “unskilled” workers and creates shelter for low-income families. Phillips is trying to show that there are many good reasons to reuse construction waste and provide a whimsical alternative to mobile homes or other affordable housing. With no formal training in architecture or construction, Phillips is … Read more

The Carriage House

October 16, 2018 by Kelly Hart

About 15 years ago I built the “Carriage House” using a prefabricated steel vault as a supporting structure for earthbags filled with scoria as insulation. It is a two story affair, with the lower one being a garage/shop and the upper one an office and storage space. I located a new 34′ X 16′ steel … Read more

Golden Bamboo Ceilings

June 3, 2022February 7, 2015 by Owen Geiger

Golden or yellow bamboo in the round makes a very attractive ceiling.

I posted a photo a while back about the new roofing tile on our earthbag roundhouse. The exterior looks great, and the roofing tile won’t take any maintenance for 20-30 years. But like I said in that blog post the ceiling is unfinished. The thatch roof that was on it before made a gorgeous ceiling, but the upkeep was too much since thatch here only lasts about three years. It occurred to me that bamboo would look really good on the ceiling. One option is golden or yellow bamboo as shown in these images.

Bamboo Mat Design Options

June 3, 2022October 11, 2014 by Owen Geiger

There are many different uses for bamboo mat such as wall treatments, ceilings, floor mats, placemats, furniture and cabinet door panels. The natural textures and hues add a special touch to a home. Millions of low cost homes in the tropics use bamboo mat as the main covering over lightweight wall framing. The image above shows just a few available designs. Check your local suppliers or order online.