In December 2018, AECT was invited to build a CEB home for the TV show Building Off The Grid. Over the course of five months, with a small (3 members on an average day) crew, AECT built a beautiful 1,000 square foot CEB home using AECT compressed earth block machines!
You can watch the entire 40-minute episode on the DIY Network website here:
https://www.diynetwork.com/shows/building-off-the-grid-1/episodes/300/botg-earth-block-ranch
The team started by manufacturing the 9,500 CEBs needed to complete the build. The 6,500 exterior earth blocks were stabilized with approximately 8% portland cement…while the 3,000 interior earth blocks were un-stabilized.
The stabilized CEBs were laid on a rubble-trench foundation and kept plumb and level using story poles.
One last push of un-stabilized compressed earth blocks for the interior walls. These CEBs were made using an AECT Impact 2001A compressed earth block machine.
Ryan with a conveyor full of compressed earth blocks fresh out of the AECT 2001A Impact CEB machine
A scratch coat of earthen material was applied to the CEB walls and allowed to dry before applying the American Clay finish coat. This wall covering is all-natural, breathable, and beautiful!
