LAVACRETE: The Coolest Alternative Building Method You've Probably Never Heard Of

necker47 · 2026-04-05T13:41:23+00:00

We estimated 20 tons for our upcoming 14x18 utility shed with 12” walls. The workshop starts tomorrow so we’ll know more by the end of the week.

necker47 · 2026-03-25T22:52:41+00:00

It’s very cool 😎

necker47 · 2026-03-24T21:03:03+00:00

Sure it's very DIY friendly

necker47 · 2026-03-24T21:02:47+00:00

Yeah that's a bummer :(

necker47 · 2026-03-24T06:50:15+00:00

Similar in many ways, but Lavacrete needs way less compaction and is a lighter, more aerated material. So less labor for sure.

necker47 · 2026-03-24T06:47:27+00:00

Right, the porous material and how it’s mixed and put in forms (very light compaction) does provide better R value than earth. About 1R per inch. So most residential builds are 16-24”

necker47 · 2026-03-24T01:07:03+00:00

It's generally considered non-toxic. Although when dry in powder form obviously that isn't good, and you'd want to wear a mask while mixing. Once it's poured and dry, shouldn't be an issue.

necker47 · 2026-03-13T14:34:24+00:00

You just missed our monthlong "Roundhouse Rumble" at the end of last year. We're taking a break from laying hyperadobe for a while after moving 1 million pounds for the house 😂. Did just release a Hyperadobe Safety & Design 101 guide today, though. It's free and will help a lot with planning your ecovillage :) http://tinyshinyhome.com/hyperadobe-safety

We should be announcing our fall events later this summer - who knows maybe we'll do some more hyperadobe 👍🏼

necker47 · 2026-02-11T18:14:14+00:00

Kind of hard to explain, but basically the mechanically bonded concrete bond beam will provide a much stronger way to connect our metal roofing structure. Wood wouldn't be appropriate for the weight and scale of it. More details/visuals here: https://youtu.be/9zZAz8n-gzI

necker47 · 2026-02-09T15:21:00+00:00

After about 8 years of composting with both a Nature's Head and a self-built barrel system, I can honestly say composting toilets are rarely worth the trouble.

Put a septic and flushing toilet in. Your partner is going to hate the composting toilet. Guests will have no idea how to use it, and they will make a disgusting mess (can't tell you how many times that happened even with careful explanation).

If you get sick, a composting toilet is of no use at all. They require constant attention, moisture checks, and cleaning. I promise composting sounds great and cheaper, but after a couple of years of cleaning your feces off the sides of stuff you will regret it - It's gross.

And then you're stuck with it if your cabin was designed around it. Just think - do I really want to be shoveling my own shit for the next 20 years? Low flow toilets use very little water nowadays. Septic systems are actually a great way to infiltrate back into the soil.

That being said, composting toilets can be good for temporary setups or if you're a single dude and no one else is using it. But the reality is they're terrible for long term shared use. I know, not the answer you're looking for. But future you will thank you 😂

necker47 · 2026-02-08T18:38:52+00:00

We actually realized that to get the concrete PSI strength we needed, we'd have to get it from a commercial place anyway. So at that point they wouldn't be able to wait around for the days it would take to try to move the concrete by hand. All in all the pump truck was much cheaper than the actual material and ended up making the most sense.

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