Hi Jim, I reached out on email about a consultation last week but didn't hear back. Writing this for the off chance I ended up in your spam folder. I'm doing a ceb project and want to talk the nitty gritty on block.
As he has not yet answered you here, let me volunteer to help. The top soil contain organic matters which aren't good for fire protection. You'd need to use layer of soil that contains only: clay, sand & gravel. Another reason not to use top soil with organic matters is the life span of your structure. You want it to last longer than humanity... organic matters decay! Hope this helps! Thanks & good luck to anyone thinking about CSEBs for sustainable construction!
Another conveyance of good information yet some important details are missing. Obviously, the soil is screened to eliminate or reduce aggregates. What is that screen size? Does the soil for block construction have to meet a specific aggregate (screen) size? What is the chart that pertains to the soil sample box? How is it interpreted? And how can soils be adjusted based on these results? The camera person seems to not understand what makes an effective video. Stop waving the camera around! Focus in on the point of interest. The presenter does not need to be in every frame. Comments about using a "lab" were interesting but no specific numbers were mentioned. What determines if a soil is "suitable" for making earth blocks? Mr. Hallock never seems to answer any YT questions from viewers. Anyone have any thoughts on this?
@@leonardcaspers4933 No answers or response to the questions in my comment. While I think this concept of construction has merit for many reasons, the powers that control the building industries and codes in America will always be a roadblock. The other impediment is the high cost of a block making machine. It is unfortunate that house construction in America has taken the path of expensive proprietary materials and/or high dollar equipment needed for installation. Mr. Hallock provides good information in this video, but guess he only responds to consulting clients. If you find a way forward or get some answers, would appreciate a post to this comment.
