“Underground homes have several advantages over homes built above the ground.
Underground homes, or earthen homes, have extreme benefits over above ground housing across the entire board. Some of these beneficial qualities include their ability to save space above ground, their extreme insulative properties which make them highly energy efficient, and their extremely durable structures.
“Dear Owen & Kelly,
We believe it is no mere coincidence that we have stumbled upon your guide to build a ‘dirt-cheap’ shelter using dirt at Instructables.com just a while ago. We are a young couple from Malaysia just starting our new life with our 1-year old baby boy.
Many of those in need of housing have access to small-diameter trees in nearby forests. These trees can be used to produce materials that are ideal for building affordable homes. If used in conjunction with energy-efficient straw bale construction and other natural materials, small-diameter wood can be used to create a better home than most building systems, at lower cost.
“Whenever I drive past a new building on the edge of every town, I wonder — why aren’t they building straw bale? But the word is spreading, and staw bale buildings are becoming a more common sight around the world. Want to take a little tour?”
Decorative glass block adds light to bathrooms while maintaining privacy. It’s easy to set glass block in earthbag walls and other thick walls made of strawbale, cob, stone, adobe, etc. Here’s how I added glass blocks to our Earthbag Roundhouse Studio.
Question: What are some good natural material options for tiny trailer homes?
Owen: Good options include cellulose or wool insulation (especially in the roof), straw/clay wall insulation with wood siding or paneling on both sides. Exterior grade vertical groove plywood siding is a popular choice (T-111). On top of this you could add trim boards to create a more pleasing batt and board appearance.