The ULTIMATE GUIDE to Hyperadobe Earthbags: Pros, Cons, & Cost Savings

After 4 years of experimenting, here's everything we know about hyperadobe earthbag building - these UV treated raschel mesh tubes present exciting new opportunities, safer build sites, and huge cost savings for those of us building with soil.
HELP //
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SUPPORT//
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VIDEOS//
Hyperadobe Earthbag Solar Shed Office: • Family Builds Incredib...
Chicken Garden: • Earthbag Chicken Coop ...
Hyperadobe Earthbag Composting Outhouse: • Eco-friendly Toilet Bu...
Hyperadobe Earthbag Outdoor Shower: • Family Creates MAGICAL...
Superadobe Dome: • Superadobe Dome Home B...
Hyperadobe Roundhouse: • Family Builds their ow...
SECTIONS//
00:00 - Intro
1:10 - A Brief History of Earthbags
2:53 - Benefits of Earthbag Buildings
5:55 - Basic Techniques
9:12 - Tools You'll Need
13:54 - Hyperadobe vs Superadobe
17:07 - Step by Step How to Build with Hyperadobe
23:36 - Advanced Techniques
26:52 - Doors & Windows
29:15 - Roofing & Plastering
31:08 - How We Can Help
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#earthbag #offgrid #dailyvlog #family #desert #offgridhomestead #naturalbuilding #alternativebuild #hyperadobe #superadobe

[@TinyShinyHome]

We hope you enjoyed this hyperadobe earthbag guide! If you need additional help check out these resources: WORKSHOPS: tinyshinyhome.com/meetup BULK ORDER: tinyshinyhome.com/hyperadobe COACHING: tinyshinyhome.com/coaching

[@kathyhennigan7807]

This is the classic video for anyone wishing to use this building method. Great information in an easily understandable format. I hope it gets millions of views for you!

[@gracierose3076]

My Ancestors were building somewhat the same thing years ago when they crossed the prairie in schooners. They settled in the West in Custer County Nebraska in the1800s and had only sod to stack for homes. I have a picture that was taken by Solomon Butcher who traveled to all the homesteads In Custer County and had them stand out in front of their Soddy and he would take their picture. Not quite as modern but they did the trick for a while. I remember my grandma talking about living in one as a child. The Indians would look in the windows and her mother would give them bread. Some were built better than others.

[@TinyShinyHome]

That is SO COOL I love it!

[@cynthiadugan858]

There is a sod house museum in northern Oklahoma near where I grew up. They built a metal building over a sod house to preserve it and you can go there, see the house and even go inside. It’s very cool. It’s difficult to imagine a sod house if you have never actually seen one.

[@sarahstrahm3072]

I'm from Nebraska too.❤ There are stories of cattle grazing on the roof of some of the sod houses and occasionally a foot would pop through. 😁 (But these type of sod houses were usually the type where they dug into the side of a hill and then the front made of sod.

[@dottier3145]

My great grandma also welcomed everyone who came by including Indians with bread, or whatever she had to eat.

[@reglindiseckhardt9777]

I am a retired teacher in northern Canada. The information you have shared is amazing and very clear. I wish you well.

[@TinyShinyHome]

Thank you!

[@alexisleon23]

You should be in teaching. You have so much talent, apart from the builder+architect talent !!! Greetings from Greece 🇬🇷. Best wishes for all

[@totherarf]

I think they Are ...... just not in a "traditional" classroom!

[@gracierose3076]

I'm sure someday that land will bloom and be green. I would love the quiet and the sunsets, listening to the Cayotes howling at night with the full moon above.

[@cvzphotography]

I spent the weekend making a extension on my driveway with compacted chat and did all the tamping by hand. It gave me soooooo much more respect for everything you're doing and how hard you all work!

[@hopeherring1567]

😮❤

[@Homested_Retirement]

I enjoy seeing your hyperadobe guide here but I'm fascinated and in awe of how the land itself has been developed.

[@MC-qb1jg]

I have learned so much from ya'll. I've been following you since you started the chicken garden. Along the way ya'll have shared the ups and downs, the do's and the don't.

[@AdobeDregsCoffee]

Awesome Sauce! Thank you! I just ordered the 12" bags for my outdoor shower build! I can't wait! I will rewatch the shower build for my design, and yes Ashley it is going to be circular in design, not the square I was thinking before we spoke about it at the Building conference in Rodeo, NM.

[@TinyShinyHome]

Whooo!!!!

[@stephenkennedy7931]

Amazing video and so informative I really enjoy watching your videos I'm 72 and a retired general contractor I don't think I will be building anything else but truly love watching you succeed. God Bless from your Canadian Friend.

[@lymmerik]

Fantastic, as usual. You all are a wealth of knowledge. You are a valuable asset to our community. I am very thankful that you chose Cochise County!

[@dianaj3139]

Thank you for the very complete description and comparisons. The buildings you have already completed are very cool! Hopefully your progress beats out the bad weather... Love the place you have built from the ground up.

[@LB-gr7gu]

Brilliant 👍 much Love !!

[@u2cancatchme]

I'm amazed at all the hard work, it's astounding. You make it look easy 😂 So happy for y'all it's exciting to see step by step 🎉❤

[@physina]

Great job! Thank you for sharing your hard earned knowledge with others! Build on -

[@RustyBobbins]

This is the best presentation of adobe building I’ve ever seen! Great job!

[@paulas_lens]

You guys are such good teachers. What a service you are providing! High Five!

[@debbralehrman5957]

Nice overview Guys👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@davidmorris2234]

I’m a 68 year old retired general contractor/building inspector/plans examiner/Chief Building Official & Director of Building and Safety, who wished I could have worked another decade or two, so that I could have worked on getting cities and counties to become more accepting of alternative construction methods and materials. I would love to build just one more house for myself, but I don’t know if I have the stamina or strength to do it. I would have loved trying this building method if only I were five or ten years younger.

[@aearthwise]

Fantastic video, what a wonderful guide, thank you 🧡💛🧡

[@grandmasmiles7955]

Wish we were 30 years younger. A family that works

[@MQ-cw9qx]

Thank you so much for doing all the work to put this video together---to say nothing of all the work you've done to have the video to put together. Well done!

[@nomorehate9176]

Great overview!! Not too shallow, not too deep but very comprehensive! Thanks!!

[@danielnelson6971]

New subscriber! You guys have beautiful warming smiles! I learned a ton and am sharing this to another community! Great Video!

[@AndIDressBetter2]

Have you considered trying a small lawn roller for tamping? Walking along the walls pushing a roller seems like it would have less impact on your back and shoulders and I'm curious if it would work.

[@TinyShinyHome]

No you have to actually compact it 👍🏼

[@katjames914]

There are mechanical tampers, compacting machinery that might help with that, but you would need ramps, and some muscle to “drive” it carefully so it didn’t fall off the sides.

[@TinyShinyHome]

Yeah it'd be helpful for lower layers but get sketchy up above 5' or so.

[@TheHavasu_77]

I love your informational videos! I also loved the way you pronounced tomato when saying Hayden likes the tomato cans. 😂 Have a great Sunday and I love you guys! 😊❤

[@donnataylor6129]

Thank you so much. I’ve been following you from Australia. I am building a dome home for myself and my son is building a small house for himself. Your video today help tremendously. I was wondering why you weren’t putting the barbed wire in, now I now. I think the hyperadobe will be much better for my son’s build, cheaper and easier. I shared your video to him so he could also take advantage of your extensive knowledge. Wonderful video, thank you for your help. It will make our build a lot better!!

[@Nancelot13]

Awesome video y'all 👍

[@monicawilson4767]

Wow guys……..I’ve watched you all along in your process, but this was so informative and cool to watch. You’ve started a wonderful community of interested people who appreciate alternate ways of building/living. Great video! So proud of your progress, looking forward to learning more as you continue. 🙏🏽😎

[@uncleericrocks]

Great 👍 job

[@sarahstrahm3072]

I absolutely love the chicken castle. 😊

[@hexfarmer2599]

Thank you

[@norellweiner3341]

I would love to hear your children's thoughts and experiences on this journey! Would you, and your children consider doing a video on their perspective and thoughts to what you are doing?

[@TinyShinyHome]

Our kids enjoy helping us build and having fun, but no they aren't really interested in discussing things at length on camera :)

[@Dave-jt3lp]

You guys work your ass off!

[@user-pb7ii2de1k]

You all are so awesome

[@gailasgreatdanesandmanes1042]

This is so incredibly helpful!

[@conniegarcia5626]

So informative. 😊

[@campfiregirl7744]

Great job, you two! Thank you! ❤

[@deborahberkey4294]

A nice educational and easy to understand video. 👍🏻👍🏻✌🏻❤️🙏🏻

[@user-no7lg7nz7h]

Great info thanks!

[@karenrogg6066]

Great video 👍

[@sassyh154]

Great information, thank you sharing...

[@chandrasutton4669]

Another great video!!!😊🎉❤

[@juanitakauffman6336]

Great video.

[@jeangurnee]

Would hyperadobe work in a climate other than yours? Say Pacific Northwest?

[@TinyShinyHome]

There's a YT channel that built hyperadobe up north: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jITWYnmiqbB8g6M

[@robyngrubb8413]

Great video.... Bravo and thank you :)

[@user-vy9ht4ok2h]

Great video

[@user-ni3me9dg3g]

Well done.

[@DerrickPerrin]

Keep up the good work team. Liked the video.

[@beckybox2596]

Ashley and Jonathan, have ever thought to taking the chicken coop and use that basic structure, modify, add to, roof, bathrooms etc. to turn into your home. The basic, hardest work has been done; add wall for bedrooms and the center for kitchen. It would take imagination, but it would safe you a lot of work. Chickens? Move them to the old goat pen. I just think of the amount of work you have ahead of you to create your home. Love you guys ❤

[@wilburkookmeyer5804]

Professional and congratulations!🤙🏻

[@AlsanPine]

Really guys, this is a great vid 🙂

[@islandwitt1]

👍🏻😁 You guys are awesome 😁👍🏻

[@telugupenguin]

Thanks for the Short lesson on this!

[@AbidAli-bv2gl]

Excellent video. lot to learns. I have watching since you stated permiting .

[@pennyleonard3496]

TY for the VIDEO 😊✌👍

[@commmander]

The barbed wire isn't only used to hold the bags together, it is acting as tension reinforcement, same as rebar in concrete. The bag itself fills that roll to a degree, though it still seems prudent to add more reinforcement when there arent vertical through supports.

[@57monoshock]

Impressive you'll didn't even need a teleprompter. 👀

[@TRINITY-ks6nw]

I love you guys This is an awesome video

[@ban9640]

2 thumbs up and a very big (perfect) to u this is a refferance episode and a huge teaching book thanx and greeting from saudi arabia

[@johnnynephrite6147]

You baggers rock!

[@venturingout4235]

Thank you.

[@user-ci3er3cp4l]

What a great video... Giut vorbereitet, strukturiert, informativ, übersichtlich. Super klasse. I realy like it. Great job. Amazing what you know 😍❤️😍❤️🥰

[@Jaantoenen]

Cheers!

[@freedomd4224]

Thank you for your great information...looking to build my home very soon, moving from the UK to Jamaica. I love this eco style of building. I will be in touch. Bless and keep moving Forward Naturally 😎

[@ericfallis6202]

The shape of your house looks like one of the ancient Pokémon letters Wonder with it is😊

[@nizarahdragon3973]

I’m still looking for a place to build but if I had a place to put the hyper adobe roll

[@paulflute]

brilliant..

[@SamuHell782]

Oh I forgot to give you a like. Let me fix that real quick!

[@juliamarsh2077]

This is an amazing video, that covers everything quickly and very clearly. Thank you for explaining how thermal mass works. I was wondering what % of buildings could be built using earth and whether it is OK to dig beyond the surface so you are not using valuable topsoil.

[@BonnieHaley]

Beautiful ❤ Hello 👋

[@sharonhaas8503]

💝 Thank you! ❇❇❇

[@unofficialobserver]

Cool seeing Rose and Jeff. Wonder if Canada has any Earthbag homes.

[@funnywolffarm]

I'm curious if adding very salty water to the bottles (sealing would be next thing to solve) would make them less of a thermal loss?

[@TinyShinyHome]

No you definitely don't want any liquid in the bottles. They need to be cut, cleaned, dried, taped end to end and then installed. Thermal loss isn't an issue unless you built like an entire wall of bottles. But at that point you'd probably be doing it on purpose to get heat during the winter.

[@SpockCycles]

Well Done 👍 This is Awesome Work. I Must Admit, i Would of Been Lazy Purchased Loads of Cement Bags and Hoped for Rain ☔😁🖖

[@Homested_Retirement]

I like hyperadobe however as a builder without a crew, I'm looking at compressed earth blocks.

[@elguapo2831]

Excellent video! Very impressive and inspirational. I've recently purchased 12" net tubing to get started. Was wondering if you guys have advice on using the 12"?

[@TinyShinyHome]

We haven't done much with the 12", but based on the width we'd only use it for smaller/shorter outdoor walls, and not for anything structural unless it was a very small shed. 12" would be very difficult to stand on, especially as your walls get taller, and the dolly won't fit on it even after reconfiguring the wheels to the inside. It's a great size to start experimenting with, though!

[@stoneinthefield1]

Would a cement foundation work?

[@TinyShinyHome]

We've talked extensively with a local gravel yard/concrete company and they brought up the good point that the sheer weight of the bags will almost certainly crack whatever concrete foundation you put down. You can pour a concrete floor inside the bags (using them as a form), but it's going to be so much more cost effective to use the bags as a footer which is the steps we explained in the foundation section 👍🏼

[@jt659]

Husband and I are about to start out superadobe cottage. Considering how long it has been since Nader Khalili introduced the technique, I'm surprised at how difficult it has been to find a US supplier of the roll material. CalEarth sells the 1000 yard rolls, but the industry standard seems to be 2000 yards, so I guess CalEarth divides the roll and resells. I've seen builds in Canada that used 24 inch wide superadobe rolls. Still on the lookout for those. Thanks for this video, it was great. J

[@TinyShinyHome]

The length of the roll doesn't really matter since you're just cutting to size. Superadobe bags are crazy heavy, though. That's probably a big part of the 1000yrd max. It would cost a fortune to ship and be difficult to carry anywhere. 24" bags are going to be super difficult to work with as well. I can't imagine the sheer weight of them trying to lay them and vortext them!

[@jt659]

@@TinyShinyHome I should have mentioned that it will be a 24'x48' bermed rectangle. Hence the beefy walls.

[@pattybragg9103]

I just had a hole dug for our home. We live in the Boston Mt range in Arkansas. I plan to build a hyperadobe home. The back wall will be 6 ft underground. Which is where our pantry will go. There will be a French drain. Possibly 6 mil plastic as well. The front is south facing for solar and thermal heating in winter. A reciprocal roof for collecting rain water because we don't have access to water. It hasn't been ran on our mountain. I'm ok without it. Have you ever seen an underground hyper Adobe? I have been looking for more resources. The forums and websites I looked at seemed to have fizzled out. Do you have any suggestions for active ones?

[@georgewhitehouse8630]

The works are a sign 🪧 of the commitment to the technical community?

[@TinyShinyHome]

?

[@marymedema6625]

Hi! I've been watching your channel for years and was wondering two things. The first concerns the wooden blocks between the layers...are those for support when hanging things instead of using the walls? Can those stick out into the structure and be used for shelfing and decoration? The second is the water catchment on the domes, and walls with no roof over them. Can you design the plaster, or bottle and cobb, to be channels for the water hitting the structure to be directed. The dome's surface is the roof, the whole thing. If you could channel it, in an artful manner, get it away from your building, and store it for future use, or water your berm and swale system, I would love to watch it! Good work y'all! Keep it up! This is a wonderful video!

[@TinyShinyHome]

Hi there, yep definitely recommend to use cleats wherever you want to mount things into the wall. They just get turned around so the 2x4 is to the inside so it's like you have a wide stud to mount to. You can add custom channels to domes to catch water, yes. Probably made out of the exterior plaster.

[@tamigoodsell6658]

if you lived and built in a area that gets a lot of snow in the winter what would you do differently and would you need to go a lot deeper on the foundation and use Portland cement on the whole thing?

[@EdtGervink]

kon dit maar in nederland . echt top wat jullie doen ben jaloers . zou graag 3 maanden jullie helpen met jullie huis

[@leifhietala8074]

@15:23 Ashley: "Size DOES matter." Jonathan: [8^[

[@ServiceTrek]

i suspect earthbag building works best in the desert environment. Have you heard of earthbag building in other environments that are relatively more wet?

[@TinyShinyHome]

Yes - the biggest issue is protecting them once they're built (and really while you're building, too) There's a YT channel that built hyperadobe up north: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jITWYnmiqbB8g6M

[@Tomcatt817]

I am a bit sad that you only go back 100 years. What is adobe, and why is it used in all of the names for some reason?

[@TinyShinyHome]

We cover all that in more in the "why is natural building important" video we mentioned (kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2O8onmKea10o5I). This is only about earthbag building.

[@hevchip741]

Leaning, sagging or blowouts.......sounds like my body.😂

[@isabelfarist221]

❤❤❤❤

[@TERRYPK]

😎

[@beckyhumble5549]

when are you starting on the house again???

[@TinyShinyHome]

When we get to it!

[@eyekona]

This was a good idea in 1980 and then Ytong came along. Super insulation, cheap and everbody can do it...

[@sharon8166]

❤

[@MadnomadM]

What’s the down side of using hemcrete instead? Most of what you’ve described as being great for hyperadobe, is the same for other natural builds. 🤷‍♀️

[@TinyShinyHome]

It's a totally different way of building. You need forms for each wall or you make your own bricks and stack so creating organic shapes is pretty difficult. Also hemp and concrete are crazy expensive.

[@haroldbrown1674]

Hyperadobe for mass and Hempcrete for insulation on the outside.

[@Mebeknob]

Very cool! Have you considered rammed earth?

[@TinyShinyHome]

We've considered it all ;)

[@Mebeknob]

@@TinyShinyHome I’d like to know what some of your reasons for not picking it! I thought it was helpful in this video comparing the different methods… I’d like to know the reasons compared to other methods too!

[@paulas_lens]

@Mebeknob one thing would be building rammed earth in a circle would be a nightmare. Doable, if you want to build complicated forms.

[@roseyrose9467]

💚

[@cynthiadugan858]

👍🏻❤️

[@carolcaruso245]

As an "older" woman, alone, weight is a concern. Have you any knowledge or experience with hempcrete? I was wondering whether hyperadobe principles would apply? Any thoughts?

[@TinyShinyHome]

It's a totally different way of building. You need forms for each wall or you make your own bricks and stack so creating organic shapes is pretty difficult. Also hemp and concrete are crazy expensive.

[@carolcaruso245]

Is is unreasonable to think the bags could serve as those forms just as they do in hyperadobe. It is my understanding that hempcrete consists of hemp and lime...with hemp being the main challenge to source. But potentially, couldn't it work?

[@seanbrondstetter2987]

have you tried using a cement truck to see if that could speed up the process ?

[@TinyShinyHome]

The mix you need for earthbags is much drier than cement so it would't really work the same. Also you'd need room for the large truck and some kind of big machinery to actually put the material in the mixer.