What does it cost to build an adobe or rammed earth home?
There are many factors in the cost of a home. The cost to build in Las Cruces, New Mexico will be different than the costs in Austin, Texas. The material costs (are there adobes available locally?)
as well as the labor costs vary (are you building it yourself or is a contractor building it?). We build custom homes. The cost of a rammed earth home is comparable to other types of custom homes. Costs vary depending on things like: site preparations, plumbing fixtures, ceiling finishes, appliances, flooring, utility connections, doors, cabinets, etc. The actual wall system is typically only 8-10% of the home cost. It is not realistic to quote prices without a design. Home size is only one aspect of cost in homes, which is why cost per square foot estimates do not give you a realistic picture.
Do you know of an earth builder in “my” part of the country?
Earth builders are few and far between. The best source at this time is Adobe Builder Magazine www.adobebuilder.com. They have for years, made extraordinary efforts to encourage and promote earth building networking/promotion. For those builders and suppliers who have chosen to participate through advertising, the publication is an excellent resource. The magazine is always packed full of articles, pictures, plans, and resources. They also conduct classes; Southwest Solar Adobe School for those of you who tend toward being an owner/builder or want to learn more about the whole process.
Will you build outside of Las Cruces, New Mexico?
Because we promote ourselves on the world wide web it may seem like we will build anywhere. We don’t. Typically our range is within a 50 mile radius of Las Cruces. Occasionally, we go outside of that radius.
Do you have plans available for earth homes?
Each home we design is a custom home. We do not sell stock plans.
If we are interested in building in the Las Cruces area do you have plans we can choose from?
We are a custom design/builder. This means each home is unique to each client and their lot. It is important that your home is designed for your site. Does it catch the views? Is it possible to get a solar orientation to your home? Can the garage doors be “hidden”? We have a nine page questionnaire that we ask you to fill out when you have contracted with us to design your home. It asks you many questions which will help us design your home to fit your needs and your budget!
Do you have a model home we can look at?
No, we do not build model homes. We build pre-sold custom homes. However, it is almost a guarantee that we will have a home in the Las Cruces Home Builders Association “Showcase of Homes” every year. It is usually held on the last weekend of April and the first weekend in May. Please contact us for exact dates and times. It is an excellent time to visit Las Cruces. When you decide to pursue the possibility of building with us, we can set up an appointment with one of our past clients to see their home. Frequently, we have a home under construction so you can even get a glimpse of the Soledad Canyon process.
Where else can I find more information on building with earth-adobe or rammed earth?
- Adobebuilder Magazine & Southwest Adobe School P.O. Box 153 Bosque, NM 87006 www.adobebuilder.com
- The Rammed Earth House by David Easton His company is Rammed Earth Works located in California www.rammedearthworks.com
- Historic Rammed Earth. “Researching historic rammed earth structures, and using these pages to foster interest and spread knowledge of the rammed earth technique.” historicrammedearth.wordpress.com