Building a Tire Foundation

Blue Rock Station Style

by Jay Warmke

More that half of all the buildings on this planet are constructed using earth and straw.  Many have stood for hundreds of years without the “benefits” of modern construction techniques.

Why not take advantage of free materials and ancient (and not-so-ancient) building techniques to construct your next project.  A great start is utilizing discarded automobile tires to build a strong and versatile foundation.

Annie and Jay Warmke have pounded more tires than they care to recall in building their 2,200 sq ft Earthship - taking advantage of the thermal and structural capacity of these free building products.  

Along the way they also discovered that tires pounded full of earth also make great foundations for straw bale buildings as well as small timber frame projects.

This easy-to-read, light-hearted booklet contains step-by-step instructions on how to plan and build your own rammed earth foundation (using tires as the form, or container).

In addition, you will find a list of all the tools and supplies you need to build your masterpiece.

This 36-page illustrated book includes the following chapters:

• The Logic Behind Tire Foundations
• Site Preparation
• Obtaining and Selecting Your Tires
• Squaring Your Foundation
• Pounding Your Tires
• Creating Concrete “Half-Tires”
• Mixing Concrete
• Finishing and Leveling Your Tires
• Creating Multiple Layer Foundations
• Placing the Sill Plate
• Anchoring the Sill Plate to the Tires
• Waterproofing
• The French Drain
• Finishing the Floor

Many of our publications are now available in electronic format (PDF).  This saves on printing costs and more importantly - on shipping (and we pass those savings on to you).  Green living at its best.  

You can now get the information you need anywhere in the world (usually e-mailed to you the same day you order) - with no shipping costs and no trees necessary.  What a deal!

(More about our electronic books)

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