Earthbound Builder's Collective

01/14/2024

Howdy y’all!

04/08/2017

Tadelakt polishing stones patiently awaiting their time to shine. We should have some finished pics to share next week. There are a couple of interesting details on this shower where the new Tadelakt wall meets old stone wall. Always something new/interesting!

01/12/2017

Fine Homebuilding is launching a campaign to help close the skills gap.

01/02/2017

Met with David Mosser from Truehome Design Build to discuss our clay and lime plaster services. Hope we work together soon. https://www.facebook.com/aaron.ralls.5/posts/10208811461229279

12/16/2016

Prepping for Tadelakt Shower wall. The backer board is going to have to span the wood framing and the uneven sections of limestone next to it. The limestone wall on the right will meet the Tadelakt at the inside corner of the shower. This is going to be a fun inside corner to stone and wax!

11/30/2016

We are doing our first Tadelakt shower wall soon! The Tadelakt needs to match the mortar of the limestone walls in the bathroom. The chunk in the middle is the mortar. I think the sample on the left is the winner. What do you think?

11/29/2016

A little closer look at the textures, and details of the Light Clay Straw wall section we made. The roofing felt/tar paper and the burlap covering the wood studs work together to keep the plaster from cracking when the wood expands, and contracts with moisture changes.

11/28/2016

Light Clay Straw wall section we made for an exhibit at the University of Texas' Materials Lab. The darker plaster layers are locally sourced clay plasters depicting the interior wall, and the lighter plasters are showing how to treat the exterior of a wall system like this.

11/02/2016

Base coat of lime plaster protecting beautifully!

11/01/2016

Brad, and Sara doing their lime paster thang! These Compressed Earth Block walls, and their owner, are going to be so much happier with their new skin!

10/30/2016

It's amazing that this wet mixture of lime and sand started off as limestone in the ground beneath our feet, and will essentially become a thin layer of limestone protecting the earthen walls behind it.

10/30/2016

Wheelbarrow of creamy lime plaster ready to be applied to the earth block wall repair project in central Austin, TX.

10/27/2016

Brad and Sara applying the base coat of lime plaster to the Compressed Earth Block home we've been repairing.

10/27/2016

Base coat of clay plaster done! Burlene was up to shade us from the sun, and in preparation for the layer of lime plaster that was being applied next.

10/27/2016

Brad testing adhesion of the base coat of lime plaster to the Compressed Earth Blocks. It was decided to add a layer of a more stable clay plaster before applying the lime base coat.

10/25/2016

A view of the 20 yr. old Compressed Earth Block (C.E.B.) home with some of the cement stucco removed, and a few of the larger problem areas filled with cob. Preparing to do a base coat of clay plaster to provide a more stable substrate for the lime plaster to adhere/bond to.

10/24/2016

Part way through patching up this 20 yr. old compressed earth block (C.E.B.) home. We started by removing the cement stucco, and then removed the crumbling bits of block. We then filled holes large, and small with a more stable cob mixture to firm up the substrate. You don't want to apply lime plaster to an unstable substrate.

10/23/2016

This is what happens when cement stucco is applied to an earthen wall. Cement stucco cracks, water gets in, water erodes earthen wall, you don't see the extent of the damage because the cement stucco might look fine (besides some cracks), and then years later you have major repairs to do. Please apply lime plasters on the exterior of earthen buildings.

10/23/2016

This clay plaster is known as Rosanky Red. Named for the town it originates from, the clay is naturally this rich rusty red. No pigments needed!

10/23/2016

One amazing thing about clay plaster is that you can scrap it off, and re-use the material. This repair is due to driving rain getting into the large screened porch. We will add a stabilizer over the plaster to make it more weather resistant. A trick our Canadian builder friends shared with us.

10/08/2016

We're teaching a free clay plaster workshop Tues., Oct. 11th., 5 - 8 pm. RSVP is required, so please read the details below. Hope to see you there!

09/20/2016

Such an inspirational presentation. This is the reason we pour our blood. sweat, and tears into building the way we do at Earthbound Builders. In hopes of healing ourselves, our communities, and our environment. I would love for Earthbound to help build the monument in Montgomery, Alabama.

Architecture is more than a clever arrangement of bricks. In this eloquent talk, Michael Murphy shows how he and his team look far beyond the blueprint when they're designing. Considering factors from airflow to light, theirs is a holistic approach that produces community as well as (beautiful) buil...

08/15/2016

The original bathroom pictured here was built by Reclaimed Spaces. It was beautiful, but did not meet A.D.A. Standards for Accessibility in a commercial space. Earthbound was called in to help execute the A.D.A. compliant design created by our clients architect. We really enjoyed the challenge of making the space more user friendly for all, because it's not if you will be disabled it's when, and how.

08/11/2016

For more Earthbound good-ness, follow us on Instagram! Earthbound_Builders

07/12/2016

Earthbound Builders Co-op will be attending, and tabling at this event. Come check out how Democracy in the workplace can make a difference. There are volunteer opportunities, and some fun tours that kick off the event. Hope to see you there!

Register Today! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/worker-cooperative-national-conference-2016-tickets-21320036804

06/13/2016

Some beautiful views from around the Net Zero, 5 Star Energy Rated home we were a part of building. It was so nice chatting with the wide variety of folks expressing their interest in building more energy efficient, and environmentally responsible homes. Earthbound thanks all those that helped make this event possible. We are humbled by the opportunity to work along side people that are dedicating their lives studying, promoting, and educating people about these building options. We are excited about the future of straw bale and earthen building, and how Earthbound Builders Co-Op can help keep it going in Central Texas.

06/13/2016

The 2016 Austin Green Energy Cool House Tour was a success!

06/09/2016

Materials of our trade. Building durable, beautiful, and environmentally responsible homes/spaces in Austin, TX.

06/09/2016

Materials of our trade. Building durable, beautiful, and environmentally responsible homes/spaces in Austin, TX.

06/08/2016

This looks really cool!

Architecture / Design / Matière(s)