Low Tech Ferrocement Roof Building System

Low tech ferrocement roof in the Philippines
Low tech ferrocement roof in the Philippines

“Total roof size 360sqm approx
1 inch wire mesh 22 gauge
Days worked so far: 34 working days till last layer on last section laid.
Total cost so far $2800 not including patio post rebuild. Also waterproofing and painting not included but whole roof is covered.

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Bermuda Roofs

Traditional Bermuda stone roofs have been the preferred roofing system in Bermuda (a hurricane region) for nearly 400 years.
Traditional Bermuda stone roofs have been the preferred roofing system in Bermuda (a hurricane region) for nearly 400 years.

“The archetypical Bermuda house is a low, squared building with a stepped, white roof and pastel-painted walls, both of which are made out of stone. The roofs are designed to catch water, of which there is no fresh supply in Bermuda apart from rain. The walls are designed to restrict damage from hurricanes and are required by law to be able to withstand windspeeds of over 100 mph (160 km/h).”

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Best Building System for Florida

Email question: “We are in the process of relocating to NE Florida, and would like to build a home with alternative building materials. It would seem that straw bale homes are not the best solution for Zone 9 [ed: due to risk of moisture damage]. What is your recommendation for the best building material, based on climate/humidity in the NE Florida coast? Is earthbag the best?”

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Sukup SafeT Home Videos

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1do9_g6PoY&w=560&h=315] [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKAB3bhawz0&w=560&h=315] These homes are looking better and better. The second video shows the construction of 11 SafeT homes in a Haitian village that were built in just one week. In addition to the advantages mentioned in our previous blog post about these Grain Bin Homes, the homes are engineered, include screened soffit … Read more

Cylindrical Earthbag Shelters

Here’s a great shelter design by Delani that was posted at Core 77 as part of a recent shelter competition. Sometimes the best ideas are the simplest, and this design is exquisite because of its simplicity. That means it’s inexpensive and easy to build. And no doubt about it, it will work structurally. (However, it … Read more

Roofing Hold-downs

Here’s a simple way to help prevent metal roofing from being blown away. Roofs are typically quite vulnerable to uplift in windy areas. There are commercially available roof hold-downs that bolt trusses and rafters to walls, but I’ve never seen the system described here. It was inspired by hearing all the stories about metal roofing … Read more