[Greenbuilding] Wall assembly costs

[John Salmen]

Impossible to put costs to it as each technique influences the design and is
totally dependent on how the construction process is designed. Rammed earth
lends itself to machine work - cob doesn't, etc. Structure is typically
20-25% of total building cost but natural building techniques can easily be
50% of a total cost (adding min. 25% to cost). It is basically comparable to
the added cost of timberframe.
I tend to work backwards from a budget and figure out from that what
building process lends itself to overall goals of the building.

It is almost one of those areas where you say ' if you have to ask you can't
afford it'.

-----Original Message-----
From: Greenbuilding [mailto:greenbuilding-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org]
On Behalf Of RT
Sent: August-31-13 9:30 AM
To: Green Building
Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] Wall assembly costs

On Fri, 30 Aug 2013 15:28:57 -0400, Gennaro Brooks-Church - Eco Brooklyn
<info at ecobrooklyn.com> wrote:

> Does anyone know where I could get construction costs for different 
> wall assemblies? Straw, cob, rammed earth...

The three wall systems mentioned are all labour-intensive and labour costs
vary widely depending upon the region.

Further, I would imagine that the price of a bale of straw would be vastly
different in NYC environs than it would be in say, Upstate NY.

There is an active natural building community in the NE US. I'd suggest
getting in touch with members working in the neighbourhood in which you plan
to build.

                     http://www.nbne.org/

But generally-speaking, if it's a turnkey project, the cost will be
comparable to if not slightly higher (especially for personnel with no
experience with the natbuild systems) than conventional custom home
construction costs for that area.

Cost savings (over conventional) will be realised if there is a substantial
investment of owners' (and relatives' and friends')sweat equity.


--
=== * ===
Rob Tom					AOD257
Kanata, Ontario, Canada

< A r c h i L o g i c  at  Y a h o o  dot  c a  > (manually winnow the chaff
from my edress if you hit "reply")

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