Building with Tires

[AlanB]

Anyone on here have first hand experience with building with tires?

MEN has some info and have read through most of it.

My particular idea is to build our new mulch bunkers using old tires with rammed earth.

I am thinking of a wooden post through the front, something like a corner fence post, then using an overlaping pattern and doing the rammed earth, then thinking of doing a T Post or similar spike every couple to help stabilize it too the ground.

I was thinking of doing something like 3 layers of tires in the back wall, then reducing to 2 then 1 as it went up.

I picture the wall being about 4' high, maybe 3'

My thoughts are the tires and clay packing are plentifull and free, both attributes I like, and something I can "pick" at getting done. I think it will hold up well to an occasional bump from the tractor when loading mulch, and think it will never rot away.

Anyone done this or have experience or just thoughts on why this would be a bad idea?

Only downside I see is that if I ever have to clean off the property, it could be costly and a pain to get rid of the tires at that point. But current plans have me living there till I die, then it will be someone else's problem

Input would be appreciated.

 

[sparkus]

No first hand experience, but I did a quick google search and got some interesting sites.
Tire House Construction - Designing Earth-friendly Homes

Tire Bale House Project

amazon books


Always nice to see someone embracing some alternative building methods

 

[GaryM]

I remember seeing a program on TV sometime back about a rammed earth house. They had an air powered rammer to do the job.

I'd sure try to get hold of one of those.

 

[Egon]

Your idea seams very practical.

Think about filling with sand and using a vibrator. Add some Portland to the sand and it should really stand up.

 

[john_bud]

You may want to also bolt the tires together top to bottom (across rows) as well as side to side (same row height). Quick drilled hole, 2 big washers, bolt and nut. That will help hold it all together.


Having never done this, my worry is that that you would have a real hard time getting the dirt inside the tire solid. How does that work?

jb

 

[AlanB]

They talk about different rammers etc.

I thought about almost exactly what Egon was saying, making up a "light mix" concrete, and pouring and vibrating it in.

I also am thinking about buying one of these.

Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

Which I could use for several other jobs, add a balled foot to the base, they (the folks doing the earth homes) talk about something the size of a grapefruit to push the dirt sideways into the tires to pack it.

Also thought of a jumping jack, which I could also use, or at least my vibe plate compactor.

Right now I am digging a pond, and have a fair amount of clay to "dispose" of, and thought this would be good.

I was thinking of bolting them, but then thought about fooling with drilling and getting the bolts through etc. and that got me to thinking about anchoring with T-posts or with rebar.

My thought, (and often things don't quite work the way I think they should) is that we would pile up the clay next to where we would be building the wall, then let my son Drive Lil (the backhoe) and put a scoop into the tire that is in place, then with that electric jack hammer, I would tamp it in, then as it filled, Dean could add more clay, till it was full and tamped.

Then after a layer or two or three, drive T-posts (probably with the hammer) down through the space between the overlapping tires (I think it would fit)

Trying to think through the faults before I commit time, energy and money to making it happen.

 

[Youare]

I built a tire retaining wall over 15 years ago. Each tire was filled with sandy fill and each row was stepped back just a tad. The one thing I found out quickly was it is much easier to use tires that are of the same diameter. They make a strong wall.

Can you still used old tires to build with now?

Randy

 

[AlanB]

I built a tire retaining wall over 15 years ago. Each tire was filled with sandy fill and each row was stepped back just a tad. The one thing I found out quickly was it is much easier to use tires that are of the same diameter. They make a strong wall.

Can you still used old tires to build with now?

Randy

Did you anchor them too the ground with spikes, or stakes or anything or just use their weight?

Why could I not use them to build with? Currently they are laying all over my property in various piles from the previous owner.

I have read several places that using the same size tire makes it substantially easier, I am not sure how to adress that, as I want to use up the raft of tires I have laying about, but I may do one layer or line or something of one size, then another of a different. Something I have to think about.

 

[Youare]

I made a flat bottomed trench about half the depth of the tire width and layed in a row of tires then filled each one with sandy fill. I made sure that I got the whole inside of the tire full of dirt which was a little rough on the hands. One hand held the side wall up while the other packed in the dirt.

The wall when I was finished was about 8 feet at the highest point and pitched back about 3 feet. I filed in behind the wall as I built it up. On the top side I have a parking area along side the barn. I drive the truck and tractor along the top of the wall without any worry of it giving way.

I only ask about the legalities of using tires in this fashion because I thought I heard in New Hampshire that tires could not put in a landfill. I know of one place where a man used them along a river bank to create an inlet to make a rampp to launch his row boat, they made him remove the tires.

I don't understand why it is acceptable to have a pile of tires laying around and unacceptable to make a wall out of them. The tires will break down slowly over the years both ways. I know farmers that use tires to hold down the plastic that covers feed bunkers and that is alright.

Building a wall out of old tires seems like a good use of something that no one has a good way of recycling.

Randy