Tools and Equipment for Open Source Construction

This page is the open source and free-shared Earthbag home and village construction tools and equipment needs page that will evolve with the open source project-launch blueprinting of the One Community Earthbag Village (Pod 1). The goal of this page is to provide precise tool and equipment needs for every component of the Earthbag Village.

We discuss these areas with the following sections:

• Earthbag Village Tool & Equipment Needs
• Tools and Equipment
  • Tool and Equipment Needs for Building 1 Dome or a 3-Dome Cluster
  • Tool and Equipment Needs for the Net-zero Bathroom
  • Tool and Equipment Needs for the Vermiculture Toilets
  • Tool and Equipment Needs for the Communal Eco-showers
  • Tool and Equipment Needs for the Tropical Atrium
  • Tool and Equipment Needs for the Complete Earthbag Village
• Tools
• Equipment
• Materials
• Resources
• Summary
• FAQ
  

This page will continue to evolve until building the Earthbag Village is complete and we can definitively say exactly what tools and equipment were used for every aspect of our build – and how different tools and equipment affected our build. After that, we will further evolve this page with the help and data from those around the world building additional Earthbag teacher/demonstration communities, villages, and cities using our blueprints.

RELATED PAGES

WAYS TO CONTRIBUTE TO EVOLVING THIS SUSTAINABILITY COMPONENT WITH US

SUGGESTIONS     ●     CONSULTING     ●     MEMBERSHIP     ●     OTHER OPTIONS

EARTHBAG VILLAGE
TOOLS & EQUIPMENT

This page is specifically for the tools and equipment details of the Earthbag Village. As part of our global transformation approach to Highest Good housing, our goal is to continuously update this page with resources to make earthbag construction tools and equipment sourcing and acquisition as easy as possible. For details on the other aspects of the Earthbag Village (building plans, materials lists and cost analysis, time investment, etc.) visit the complete list of links on the EARTHBAG VILLAGE OPEN SOURCE HUB.

We’re sharing here the equipment needs divided into sections and also for the complete village. This is because each component is meant to be replicable as either an individual component or as the village. As we build the complete village we’ll continuously update this page until we are 100% clear on every tool needed to construct each of the following areas discussed here:

• Tool and Equipment Needs for Building 1 Dome or a 3-Dome Cluster
• Tool and Equipment Needs for the Net-zero Bathroom
• Tool and Equipment Needs for the Vermiculture Toilets
• Tool and Equipment Needs for the Communal Eco-showers
• Tool and Equipment Needs for the Tropical Atrium
• Tool and Equipment Needs for the Complete Earthbag Village

Note: We are currently seeking companies that would like to partner with our 501(c)3 non-profit organization to provide direct and affordable consumer bulk tool and equipment purchases. Our goal is to reduce consumer prices while increasing the profit margin for companies because the orders will be large and direct. We feel this will make duplication of all 7 sustainable village models even easier. Visit our Win-Win-Win-Win page to understand our partnering philosophy and our Marketing and Promotional Engine Page for the specifics on additional ways we can support those interested in being a part of world change with One Community.

TOOL & EQUIPMENT NEEDS FOR
1 DOME OR A 3-DOME CLUSTER

Here are the equipment purchasing needs for a team of ten people purposed for maximum efficiency and preparedness when building a complete dome home or 3-dome cluster. For an individual home some of these items could be rented or borrowed to make building more cost effective.

Tool and Equipment Needs for a 1 or 3-Dome Build – Click for the open source spreadsheet with the most current data

TOOL & EQUIPMENT NEEDS FOR
THE NET-ZERO BATHROOM

Water Recycling Net-zero Bathroom

Tools & equipment needs and costs are still being determined for this component. Visit the Net-zero Bathroom open source hub for more information on this structure.

TOOL & EQUIPMENT NEEDS FOR
THE VERMICULTURE TOILET

Vermiculture Eco-toilet Design

Tools & equipment needs and costs are still being determined for this component. Visit the Vermiculture Toilet open source hub for more information on this structure.

TOOL & EQUIPMENT NEEDS FOR
THE COMMUNAL ECO-SHOWER

Earthbag Village Communal Eco-shower Designs

Tools & equipment needs and costs are still being determined for this component. Visit the Communal Eco-shower page for more information on this structure.

TOOL & EQUIPMENT NEEDS FOR
THE TROPICAL ATRIUM

Tropical Atrium Open Source Hub

Tools & equipment needs and costs are still being determined for this component. Visit the Tropical Atrium open source hub for more information on this structure.

TOOL & EQUIPMENT NEEDS FOR
BUILDING THE COMPLETE VILLAGE

Earthbag Village – One Community Pod 1

Here is the detailed inventory of all tools and equipment needed for four teams of 10 to build (click here for time investment projections) the entire Earthbag Village and all of its components. We will engage this list as an on-going process of updating and refining until the entire build is complete, inventorying every tool and piece of equipment needed for each component of the build, so that when we are complete we can give a definitive and final tools and equipment analysis and cost spreadsheet for each component and the whole build, along with where the best places were that we found for purchasing everything.

So far this list includes:

• All equipment (plus backup equipment) to build the 75 domes and patios

Tool and Equipment Needs for Constructing a Complete Earthbag Village – Click for the open source spreadsheet with the most current data

TOOLS

When undertaking a project and acquiring tools and equipment seek those that best fit your situation. Quality of tools generally correlates with price, but thorough research can save you money if you have the time. What works for us, may not necessarily work for you, but in many cases it will. We share our list here with the hope that it will act as a useful guide for saving you time, money, and frustration. If you find a better substitute, please let us know. To fully engage in this project you may require the following tools and equipment for this component of construction:

HERE ARE PICTURES AND DESCRIPTIONS TO HELP YOU

Images	Definition		Code	Component
	Aluminum Straight Edge — Used for screeding concrete.		ALUMINUM STRAIGHT EDGE	Dome Cluster
	Bolt Cutter — A bolt cutter, sometimes called bolt cropper, is a tool used for cutting bolts, chains, padlocks, rebar and wire mesh (like Welded Wire Fabric). It has long handles and short blades, with compound hinges to maximize leverage and cutting force.		BOLT CUTTER	Footers, Foundation, and Flooring
	Bristle Paint Brush — 4” bristle brush for concrete sealer “cut in” (that which cannot be accomplished with a roller).		BRISTLE PAINT BRUSH	Dome Cluster
	Carpenter’s Pencil — Used for marking cuts.		CARPENTER’S PENCIL	Window and Door Framing
	Carpenter Square — Used for designating cuts on dimensional lumber. Comes in many different variations, used to keep door/window frame sides perpendicular to each other and designating “cut” lines on lumber.		CARPENTER SQUARE	Dome Cluster
	Chainsaw Safety Chaps — Chaps are more than just some thick pants. They’re full of ballistic fibers that fly out if you start slicing into your leg and get caught by the chain to quickly stop the engine. The resulting jam can save you a good chunk of flesh, although we don’t recommend trying it out yourself.		CHAINSAW SAFETY CHAPS	Tropical Atrium
	Chainsaw Tool Kit — The tool kit consists of tools necessary for field maintenance and repair Another Chainsaw Tool Kit — This special purpose tool has the virtue of having all fittings in one unit. Plus the D-ring allows you to attach it to the body of your saw so you always have it available. It’s got a small and a large screwdriver, bar groove clean-out tool, T27 Torx, 4 mm Allen wrench, 13 mm (1/2) socket and a 19 mm deep socket.		CHAINSAW TOOL KIT	Tropical Atrium
	Chalk / Chalk Line — Chalk line and (chalk powder comes in different colors and quantities). Shown here in red and blue are 10.5 ounce containers, the other holds 2.5 pounds used for Marking.		CHALK / CHALK LINE	Dome Cluster
	Concrete Shovel — To transfer concrete from Mixer to the Lintel form.		CONCRETE SHOVEL	Window and Door Framing
	Coveralls — Coveralls are essentially a full body protection suit, generally worn over the top of personal clothing, and can protect workers against a number of hazards, including hazards of a chemical, mechanical, thermal or biological nature.		COVERALLS	Dome Cluster
	Cultivator and Loop Hoe — This tool is excellent for weeding, also great for cultivating.		CULTIVATOR AND LOOP HOE	Tropical Atrium
	Digging/Tamping Bar — A digging bar is a long, straight metal bar used as a post hole digger, to break up or loosen hard or compacted materials such as soil, rock, concrete and ice or as a lever to move objects		DIGGING TAMPING BAR	Tropical Atrium
	Dolmar — Used to store gas or liquid for future use.		DOLMAR	Dome Cluster
	Dolmar Fuel Can — The dolmar is a dual-sectioned fuel container with 2-cycle mixed fuel in the larger portion and bar oil in the smaller portion.		DOLMAR FUEL CAN	Tropical Atrium
	Dowel Bit — Used to make a hole on the marked position, be sure to drill slowly so as to not warp the plastic.		DOWEL BIT	Net-zero Bathroom
	Drill (with ¾” & ⅛” bits) — Used for making round holes or driving fasteners. Drill Guide — The ⅛” bit is used to drill the 10 guide holes in the slider and the ¾” bit is used to drill the hole for installing the ¾” threaded rod handle for slider removal.		DRILL / DRILL GUIDE	Dome Cluster
	Dust Mask — Used to protect from debris and airborne pathogens.		DUST MASK	Dome Cluster
	Extension Handle — Used mainly for nap rollers.		EXTENSION HANDLE	Dome Cluster
	Felco Pruner + Holster — This tool used for pruning in the vineyard, orchard, nursery or garden. It is strong enough to prune hard branches of trees and shrubs, sometimes up to two centimetres thick.		FELCO PRUNER HOLSTER	Tropical Atrium
	Garden Fork — This tool has flat tines and great for turning soil, lifting plants or bolbs and separating perenials, digging a rocky soil, aerating and relieving soil compaction.		GARDEN FORK	Tropical Atrium
	Garden Hose — Hose is a flexible tube used to convey water. Hoses are usually attached to a hose spigot or tap.		GARDEN HOSE	Tropical Atrium
	Garden Knife — The blade is razor sharp and is serrated for cutting through roots and tough soil. Functions include a knife, a saw, a digging tool, or as a measuring device for planting bulbs.		GARDEN KNIFE	Tropical Atrium
	Goggles — Goggles, or safety glasses, are forms of protective eyewear that usually enclose or protect the area surrounding the eye in order to prevent particulates, water or chemicals from striking the eyes.		GOGGLES	Dome Cluster
	Hacksaw/Rebar Cutter — Both used for cutting rebar to further stabilize earth bags near openings.		HACKSAW / REBAR CUTTER	Dome Cluster
	Hammer — Hammer for securing staples, building nailers and door/window forms.		HAMMER	Window and Door Framing
	Hand Cultivator — Used for multiple purposes like tilling, removing weeds, aerating the soil before sowing seeds, and similar gardening tasks. In addition, you can also mix fertilizers and shuffle the layers of soil for healthy plant growth.		HAND CULTIVATOR	Tropical Atrium
	Handsaw — Optional wood cutting.		HANDSAW	Dome Cluster
	Hard Hat — Hard hats are required when working in areas where there is a potential for injury to the head from falling objects. In addition, hard hats designed to reduce electrical shock are required when working near exposed electrical conductors that may contact the head.		HARD HAT	Dome Cluster
	Hay Fork — This tool has round tines and is useful for moving large amounts of large material such as compost, mulch, brush and hay.		HAY FORK	Tropical Atrium
	Hedge Shears — This tool is designed to make trimming (cutting, pruning) hedges or solitary shrubs (bushes).		HEDGE SHEARS	Tropical Atrium
	Helmet — This Forester Complete Forestry Helmet System includes a helmet with wire mesh face protection screen, earmuffs, and safety glasses. One size fits most. Helmet muffs protect your ears from chainsaw noise and other loud machinery		HELMET	Tropical Atrium
	Hori Hori Knife — The Hori-Hori has uses in gardening such as weeding, cutting roots, transplanting, removing plants, sod cutting, and splitting perennials.		HORI-HORI KNIFE	Tropical Atrium
	Jigsaw Blade — The blades come in different lengths, thicknesses, and teeth counts each with their own purpose. For the construction of the roof panels, a thin blade with a high teeth-count per-inch is used. This design is used for thin metal sheets with both durability and maneuverability.		JIGSAW BLADE	Net-zero Bathroom
	Ladder — Used throughout our project.		LADDER	Window and Door Framing
	Latex-coated cotton gloves — Ideal for assembly, construction, inspection, material handling, refuse handling, landscaping and gardening.		LATEX-COATED COTTON GLOVES	Tropical Atrium
	Leather Gloves — Use those leather gloves for home and industrial applications, they work best for messy or tough situations in havy-duty yard work.		LEATHER GLOVES	Tropical Atrium
	Leather Gloves — Leather work gloves are often used for construction, working with lumber and masonry as well as welding. Leather provides excellent resistance to abrasions and dissipates heat well. It also has good shock absorption and puncture resistance.		LEATHER GLOVES	Dome Cluster
	Leveler — Here is one of many variations of the common level, used for leveling the earth bag courses and making certain the walls are plumb.		LEVELER	Net-zero Bathroom
	Long Sleeve — Long sleeves (and pants when working with rockwool).		LONG SLEEVE	Footers, Foundation, and Flooring
	Lopper — This is essentially a bypass or anvil pruners with long handles for extra leverage. The biggest one can cut material up to 2″ in diameter.		LOPPER	Tropical Atrium
	McLeod — The McLeod is another wild-land firefighting tool and commonly used in trail restoration that can also be used to pull soil, gravel, and rock from one position to another, centralizing piles, and cutting roots.		MCLEOD	Dome Cluster
	Metal Barrel — Container made of metal, used for the transportation and storage of liquids and powders.		METAL BARREL	Tropical Atrium
	Metal Bucket — Convenient-sized bucket used to fill earthbags. The metal buckets might be preferable for handle durability.		METAL BUCKET	Footers, Foundation, and Flooring
	Mortar Hoe — This Bully Tools short handled mortar hoe works well for mixing concrete in a small mixer or wheelbarrow, used on smaller pours. The extended handled option is pictured in the upper left. Fiberglass handles and lifetime warranty. Bully Tools 92419 12-Gauge Short Mortar Hoe with Fiberglass Handle		MORTAR HOE	Dome Cluster
	Nozzle — Hose is ideal for use on any outdoor application. Spray patterns include: shower, mist, soaker, cone, angle, center, flat and jet. Attachment features a flow-control knob allowing the user to adjust the water pressure. A metal clip is also included for continuous spray function. The contoured finger grip is comfortable to hold and use.		NOZZLE	Tropical Atrium
	Nut Driver — Used for sinking finish nails. Use one with a narrow head so it can fit into the 7/16” slider slot.		NUT DRIVER	Dome Cluster
	Paint Roller Handle/ Nap Roller — Paint roller handle and ⅜” nap roller is used mainly for concrete sealer.		PAINT ROLLER HANDLE/ NAP ROLLER	Dome Cluster
	Paint Tray — Paint tray and liner for concrete sealer.		PAINT TRAY	Dome Cluster
	Plastic Barrel — Container made of plastic, used for the transportation and storage of liquids and powders.		PLASTIC BARREL	Tropical Atrium
	Plumber Wrench — Used to finish tightening.		PLUMBER WRENCH	Net-zero Bathroom
	Pole Pruner — This tool is used for overhead cuts when loopers will not reach. Pole pruners allows upper tier pruning without climbing ladder.		POLE PRUNER	Tropical Atrium
	Post Pounder/Driver — OR a sturdy mallet for pounding in rebar.		POST POUNDER/DRIVER	Window and Door Framing
	Prunning Saw — This works best when the work area is restricted. The saw cuts on the pull stroke for less akward work. The blades may be curved od straight.		PRUNNING SAW	Tropical Atrium
	Pulaski — The pulaski is an exceptional, versatile digging & cutting tool that is a great addition for any manual digging project. Highly regarded among wild-land firefighters, it is working its way into the construction labor force. As with this tool and other wooden handled tools, they are subject to breakage, therefore the fiberglass handled tools are increasingly selected due to their longevity. One end has a dual function with an axe blade and the other side a grubbing hoe. Once you learn how to properly use a pulaski, you will constantly rely on this tool for most any manual digging project.		PULASKI	Dome Cluster
	PVC Cutter — Used to cut a 2” piece of PVC.		PVC CUTTER	Net-zero Bathroom
	Rake — Both the leaf and garden rakes are used for maintaining the campsite and during rehabilitation of the site. They have fiberglass handles and steel heads.		RAKE	Dome Cluster
	Reversible Wrench — For securing ¾” threaded rod handle to slider.		REVERSIBLE WRENCH	Dome Cluster
	Rounded Shovel — This rounded shovel is a good overall digging shovel and for loosening the soil.		ROUNDED SHOVEL (SHOV2)	Dome Cluster
	Rubber Mallet — Is used for bending aluminum flashing (32 ounce).		RUBBER MALLET	Dome Cluster
	Sandpaper — Sandpaper is a versatile tool when material such as wood, plastic, or metal need to be cleaned, shortened, or debarred.		SANDPAPER	Dome Cluster
	Sawhorse — Used for cutting lumber and plywood, the plastic set on the left is durable and light while the homemade wooden version is less expensive but heavier. Sawhorses allow you to make cuts in a safe, upright, comfortable, standing position. Use link for DIY instructions “How to Make a Sawhorse” http://pioneersettler.com/make-sawhorse/		SAWHORSE	Window and Door Framing
	Scissors — Scissors are used for cutting various thin materials, such as paper, cardboard, metal foil, cloth, rope, and wire. A large variety of scissors and shears all exist for specialized purposes.		SCISSORS	Dome Cluster
	Scrench — The scrench is used multiple times daily for servicing a chainsaw—adjusting the idle and tightening and loosening the chain.		SCRENCH	Tropical Atrium
	Screwdriver — A screwdriver is a tool, manual or powered, used for driving screws. A typical simple screwdriver has a handle and a shaft, ending in a tip the user puts into the screw head before turning the handle.		SCREWDRIVER	Dome Cluster
	Soil Thermometer — This durable thermometer has a 20 in. stainless steel probe and a 2 in. dial with a glass cover. It is the ideal tool for agricultural and gardening applications. Temperature can be accurately measured from 0 to 220°F. Soil temperature, along with last frost of the spring season, are the two key factors for determining when to plant tender vegetable varieties. Thermometer is very responsive and one gets a reading quickly at depths of up to two feet.		SOIL THERMOMETER	Tropical Atrium
	Spade Shovel — The spade is best suited for narrow trenches, slightly widening an existing trench, or digging small post-sized holes.		SPADE SHOVEL. (SHOV3)	Dome Cluster
	Spirit-Level — A spirit level, bubble level, or simply a level, is an instrument designed to indicate whether a surface is horizontal (level) or vertical (plumb). Different types of spirit levels may be used by carpenters, stonemasons, bricklayers, other building trades workers, surveyors, millwrights and other metalworkers, and in some photographic or videographic work.		SPIRIT LEVEL	Dome Cluster
	Spooled Trimmer Line — The Premium Cut Trimmer Line (5 lb. Pack / 1969 ft.) gives you the ability to effectively slice through weeds, brush and grass neatly.		SPOOLED TRIMMER LINE	Tropical Atrium
	Squared Off Shovel — The squared off shovel is best for cleaning out the trenches once the soil has been loosened by a pulaski, spade, or rounded shovel.		SQUARED SHOVEL (SHOV1)	Dome Cluster
	Stapler & Staples — Used to secure chicken wire on the sides of door/window frame.		STAPLER & STAPLES	Window and Door Framing
	Staples / Stapler — Staples are used for securing the stucco netting to the door and window openings		STAPLES / STAPLER	Dome Cluster
	Tamper — These tampers will see constant use for compacting and leveling of gravel, soil, and earthbags throughout your project. A gas or electric tamper can also be rented or purchased for larger projects.		TAMPER	Dome Cluster
	Tape Measure — This< will be used throughout the project, on the backside there is a clip that connects to your belt, keeping it close by. The metal casing is more durable than the colorful plastic encasements that are frequently sold to the novice. Attaching a bright colored ribbon or tape to the clip will help you identify it quicker if left sitting on the ground or elsewhere.		TAPE MEASURE	Dome Cluster
	Thorn Resistant Garden Gloves — These green gardening gloves are abrasion-resistant and make it easy to tackle rough and sharp foliage. They’ll keep your hands safe, so that all you’ll need to worry about is tending to your garden.		THORN RESISTANT GARDEN GLOVES	Tropical Atrium
	Tool Kit — The tool kit consists of tools necessary for field maintenance and repair, other tools are required for shop repair.		TOOL KIT	Dome Cluster
	Trowels — There are many different types of trowels and they all have specific purposes. Blades made of forged steel will last longer. Learning to hold the trowel correctly is important and will make the job easier. Gripping the handle with four fingers and putting the thumb on top of the metal band (ferrule) of the handle is how most masons hold a trowel.		TROWELS	Dome Cluster
	Utility broom — Is used to apply a non-skid finish on a concrete floor.		UTILITY BROOM (UB)	Dome Cluster
	Utility Knife — A utility knife can be used for the funnel, though it is much less expensive, but more difficult and still completes the task.		UTILITY KNIFE	Dome Cluster
	Vise — “Fits in your pocket for easy access when your on the move Handy, goes anywhere. Vise’s forks drive into any stump Vise’s jaw locks the bar securely”		VISE	Tropical Atrium
	Warren Hoe — This tool is made more for planting than weeding. The V-shaped blade has a dual purpuse. The pointed end is used to dig furrows, the open top part can be used to close the furrows.		WARREN HOE	Tropical Atrium
	Washable Synthetic Gloves — These HANDS ON Multi-Purpose Gloves are ideal for Maintenance and repair, Construction, Gardening, Landscaping, Farming, HVAC, Plumbing, Equipment Operation, Towing and Transportation.		WASHABLE SYNTHETIC GLOVES	Tropical Atrium
	Wheelbarrows — Wheelbarrow is a valuable tools and equipment for use in garden for hauling things around.		WHEELBARROWS	Tropical Atrium
	Wrench — A wrench or spanner is a tool used to provide grip and mechanical advantage in applying torque to turn objects—usually rotary fasteners, such as nuts and bolts—or keep them from turning.		WRENCH	Dome Cluster
	Wire cutters — (fencing pliers/linesman pliers) are essential for cutting barbed wire.		WIRE CUTTERS	Window and Door Framing

EQUIPMENT

When undertaking a project and acquiring equipment seek those that best fit your situation. Quality of tools generally correlates with price, but thorough research can save you money if you have the time. What works for us, may not necessarily work for you, but in many cases it will. We share our list here with the hope that it will act as a useful guide for saving you time, money, and frustration. If you find a better substitute, please let us know. To fully engage in this project you may require the following tools and equipment for this component of construction:

HERE ARE PICTURES AND DESCRIPTIONS TO HELP YOU

Images	Definition		Code	Component
	Angle Grinder — Angle grinders are designed to cut, grind, sand, brush, sharpen, and debar sheet steel, metal roof cladding, and corrugated iron. You can use the angle grinder with concrete, wood, stone, brick, slate, tile and PVC pipes. Angle Wheel — Cutting wheels can be classified as all-purpose, or specified for a particular type of material and 4.5” is a standard wheel size. The above represents a few of many different types of grinding wheels. Let your vendor know the scope of what you are attempting and they can provide you with the best wheel for the purpose.		ANGLE GRINDER / ANGLE WHEEL	Dome Cluster
	Back Hoe — Backhoe loaders are very common and can be used for a wide variety of tasks: construction, small demolitions, light transportation of building materials, powering building equipment, digging holes/excavation, landscaping, breaking asphalt, and paving roads.		BACK HOE	Tropical Atrium
	Bobcat — A Bobcat is a small earth-moving machine that will allow us to prepare and soil around for proper grading of the build site. If necessary we will bring a small D-4 dozer, either of these would be short term rentals if required.		BOBCAT	Dome Cluster
	Brush Hog — A brush hog or “bush hog” is a type of rotary mower. Typically these mowers attach to the back of a farm tractor using the three-point hitch and are driven via the Power take-off (PTO). It has blades that are not rigidly attached to the drive like a lawnmower blade, but are on hinges so if the blade hits a rock or stump, it bounces backward and inward, and then centrifugal force makes it go outwards again.Especially designed for utility mowing operations including small ranches, estates and farms with applications that include mowing grass, weeds or small brush up to 1-1/2” in diameter.		BRUSH HOG	Tropical Atrium
	Cement Mixer — Used to prepare concrete for lintel.		CEMENT MIXER	Window and Door Framing
	Chainsaw — Chainsaw for removing brush and cutting up downfall—all brush will be cut to lay flat and then used in hugelkultur beds for creating soil.		CHAINSAW	Dome Cluster
	Circular Saw — A 7 1/4” circular saw is a power-saw using a toothed or abrasive disc or blade to cut different materials using a rotary motion spinning around an arbor. We will rely on this tool extensively for cutting dimensional lumber.		CIRCULAR SAW	Dome Cluster
	Compactor Plate — A large project would warrant the labor savings of a gas powered plate compactor and can be rented. These are very helpful if you have large areas of soil and/or gravel that require tamping, though some prefer the simpler manual version.		COMPACTOR PLATE	Dome Cluster
	Cordless Drill — Cordless drills serve multiple functions—this article will help you decide whether the standard drill/driver, impact driver, or hammer drill will suit your needs. Many cordless drill brands are available—purchase a 20 volt model. They are phasing out the 18 volt models. This drill is used for assembling the window and door bucks. A drill of this kind is used extensively in most any building project if you are using wood as any component of your project. Different brands and models are available.		CORDLESS DRILL	Window and Door Framing
	Cultivator/Tool Bar Attachment — Five Tyne Cultivator. Great for loosening up new or crusted ground. Fully adjustable for width (for inter-row work) and depth (with gauge wheel).		CULTIVATOR/TOOL BAR ATTACHMENT	Tropical Atrium
	Front Bucket — This toothbar is intended to be used for dirt, soft & loamy to dry, hard conditions, even with “Some” rock & gravel content. It is not intended to be used in frozen ground conditions, or in packed, hi-content rocky or graveled conditions!		FRONT BUCKET	Tropical Atrium
	Hammer Drill — A hammer drill, also known as a percussion drill or impact drill, is a power tool used chiefly for drilling in hard materials. It is a type of rotary drill with an impact mechanism that generates a hammering motion.		HAMMER DRILL	Dome Cluster
	Impact Driver — A tool that delivers a strong, sudden rotational force and forward thrust when struck on the back with a hammer. Often used by mechanics to loosen larger screws and nuts that are corrosively “frozen” or over-torqued.		IMPACT DRIVER	Net-zero Bathroom
	Jigsaw — This tool uses a reciprocating blade to cut irregular curves, such as stenciled designs, in wood, metal, or other materials. A 4-gallon bucket with the bottom cut out works well as a funnel in filling earthbags. If you have a jig saw, it is very easy to remove the bottom of a plastic bucket, converting it to a funnel for easily filling bags with gravel or soil.		JIGSAW	Dome Cluster
	Lawn Mower — A lawn mower (or lawnmower) is a machine that uses blades to cut a lawn.		LAWN MOWER	Tropical Atrium
	Nibbler — Paint roller handle and ⅜” nap roller is used mainly for concrete sealer.		NIBBLER	Dome Cluster
	Pneumatic Roller — Pneumatic rollers are also called rubber tire rollers. A pneumatic roller has multiple tires at the front and rear ends.		PNEUMATIC ROLLER	Dome Cluster
	Pole Saw — This tool prune and trim those hard-to-reach branches without a ladder quick and easy.		POLE SAW	Tropical Atrium
	Portable Concrete Mixer –This machine combines cement, aggregate ( sand and/or gravel), and water to form concrete. We will use this on small jobs where we require only a yard or two of cement. Various towing accessories are available depending on the mixer you purchase. Because they are light weight, they really don’t affect the towing vehicle.		PORTABLE CONCRETE MIXER	Dome Cluster
	Post Hole Digger — This tool has two pointed ends for especially hard ground breaking. Allows for fast post hole digging with convenient, safe operation .		POST HOLE DIGGER	Tropical Atrium
	Rammer –Rammer compactors are used for compacting small areas and providing impact load to soil. This equipment is lightweight and can be hand or machine operated.		RAMMER	Dome Cluster
	Reciprocating Saw — As well the reciprocating saw can create a funnel, but primarily they are used as a demolition tool.		RECIPROCATING SAW	Dome Cluster
	Router –7/16” router bit with a ¼” shank used for cutting ¼” recessed channel for nut driver.		ROUTER	Dome Cluster
	Scaffolding — Scaffolding, also called scaffold or staging, is a temporary structure used to support a work crew and materials to aid in the construction, maintenance and repair of buildings, bridges and all other structures. We may use scaffolding both inside and outside the domes for working off the ground. It can be built to various heights, generally in 4-5’ increments and utilized during the wall construction, plastering, and waterproofing processes, or any other phase that is difficult to reach from the ground. In future years we will have many uses for it when conducting exterior maintenance on any of our structures while simultaneously providing a safe working environment. Scaffolding Accessories — Caster Jacks: This scaffolding jack fits between the scaffolding frame and caster, allowing for height adjustment upwards for approximately 18 inches. Base Plate: Provides stability to scaffolding. Locking Wheels: Used for mobility of scaffolding setup on flat surfaces.		SCAFFOLDING / SCAFFOLDING ACCESSORIES	Dome Cluster
	Sheepsfoot Roller— Sheepsfoot rollers are also known as tamping rollers. Steel drums of the sheepsfoot roller consist of many rectangular shaped boots of equal sizes fixed in a hexagonal pattern.		SHEEPSFOOT ROLLER	Dome Cluster
	Smooth Wheeled Roller — It consists of a large steel drum in front and one or two wheels on the rear end.		SMOOTH WHEELED ROLLER	Dome Cluster
	Sredder/Chipper Attachment — This chipper/shredder is easily transportable and accomplishes a variety of useful tasks. The chipper can easily take limbs up to 3.5″ in diameter, and the discharge chute is equipped with a rod and lynch pin for quick removal of the discharge screen. This tool turn those scrap logs and branches into usable, manageable mulch.		SREDDER/CHIPPER ATTACHMENT	Tropical Atrium
	String Trimmer — This is a tool which uses a flexible monofilament line instead of a blade for cutting grass and other plants near objects, or on steep or irregular terrain. It consists of a cutting tip at the end of a long shaft with a handle.		STRING TRIMMER	Tropical Atrium
	Tiller Attachment — Prepare seedbeds, power compost, and cultivate with precision and ease.		TILLER ATTACHMENT	Tropical Atrium
	Tractor — A powerful motor vehicle with large rear wheels, used chiefly on farms for hauling equipment and trailers.		TRACTOR	Tropical Atrium
	Two Weel Walk-behind Tractor — Many large farms and even cities find uses for walk-behind tractors simply because 4-wheel “riding” equipment cannot go everywhere where work needs to be done. Whether it is mowing (under fences, in orchards, on lake dams, on Christmas tree farms, in woodlands or on trails, on steep slopes, on creek banks, in vineyards), soil working (vegetable and flower gardens, vineyards, landscaping, food plots), snow removal (around buildings, on sidewalks and pathways, on rooftops) or a host of other applications, these 2-wheel powerhouses find a place on an incredibly wide variety of properties either as primary equipment or complimenting larger equipment.		TWO WEEL WALK-BEHIND TRACTOR	Tropical Atrium
	Utility Trailer Attachment — This heavy-duty trailer includes a padded seat along with duty brake and parking brake. An easy-to-use dump feature also allows owners to get rid of their haul smoothly and effectively. For hauling loads around your property, one of these utility trailers will utilize the motive power you have available from your walk-behind tractor. The utility trailer option is good for slopes up to around 20%.		UTILITY TRAILER ATTACHMENT	Tropical Atrium
	Vibrator Plate Compactor — Vibratory rollers consist of two smooth drums with the vibrator. One is fixed at the front and the other on the rear side of the vibratory roller. Both drums are of the same diameter, length, and weight. Vibratory plate compactors are used for compacting different types of soils in narrow and congested areas where it is not possible to use large equipment.		VIBRATOR PLATE COMPACTOR	Dome Cluster
	Vibratory Roller — Vibratory rollers consist of two smooth drums with the vibrator. One is fixed at the front and the other on the rear side of the vibratory roller. Both drums are of the same diameter, length, and weight.		VIBRATORY ROLLER	Dome Cluster

MATERIALS

When undertaking a project and acquiring tools and materials seek those that best fit your situation. Quality of tools generally correlates with price, but thorough research can save you money if you have the time. What works for us, may not necessarily work for you, but in many cases it will. We share our list here with the hope that it will act as a useful guide for saving you time, money, and frustration. If you find a better substitute, please let us know. To fully engage in this project you may require the following tools and materials for this component of construction:

HERE ARE PICTURES AND DESCRIPTIONS TO HELP YOU

Images	Definition		Code	Component
	Adjustable Connector — Used to achieve any angle up to 90 degrees in either direction and secure two pipes at a desired angle or partially tighten the top bolt and nut to create a hinge.		ADJUSTABLE CONNECTOR	Net-zero Bathroom
	Aircrete — Aircrete in appearance looks similar to concrete, but if observed closely one can see the pores on its surface. These pores form because of the air that is trapped within the material. Aircrete is composed of cement, water, and soap detergent making it a non-toxic material. Due to the air trapped within the material, aircrete has excellent insulating properties along with a low density to cut weight. The aircrete mixture can be poured in molds to make various shapes. The disadvantages of aircrete is its brittleness, but this is why it is only used in low stress areas.		AIRCRETE	Net-zero Bathroom
	Aluminum — Aluminum is a metal that is softer and lighter than steel.		ALUMINUM	Net-zero Bathroom
	Aluminum Flashing — (10” wide) used as a backsplash between the stucco terminal end and soil grade. We also require 12” flashing for our French drain gutter forms and 16” for our footer forms. A thin plywood could be substituted for the aluminum forms.		ALUMINUM FLASHING	Dome Cluster
	Anchor Bolt — Used to connect structural and non-structural elements to concrete.		ANCHOR BOLT	Dome Cluster
	Baling Wire — 12 gauge baling wire for securing stucco netting.		BALING WIRE	Window and Door Framing
	Barbed Wire — Is used to keep the earthbag in place and stop from slipping away, we will use two wires for each bag and this will keep the bags in place.		BARBED WIRE	Dome Cluster
	Bar Chair — Used to support rebar in place in lintel form.		BAR CHAIRS	Window and Door Framing
	Benches & Table — Table with benches, designed for dinning.		BENCHES & TABLE	Dome Cluster
	Bolt — A type of fastener typically made of metal and characterized by a helical ridge, called a male thread (external thread). Used to fasten materials by the engagement of the bolt thread with a similar female thread (internal thread) in the matching part.		BOLT	Dome Cluster
	Brass Nipple Fitting — Provided with a male pipe thread (MPT) connection at each end of the fitting, which are used to make a watertight seal when connecting piping to threaded fittings, valves or equipment.		BRASS NIPPLE FITTING	Net-zero Bathroom
	Bucket — A 4-gallon bucket with the bottom cut out works well as a funnel in filling earthbags. If you have a sabre saw or a sawzall, it is very easy to remove the bottom of a plastic bucket, converting it into a funnel for easily filling bags with gravel or soil. A utility knife can be used though and is much less expensive, just more difficult but still completes the task.		BUCKET	Footers, Foundation, and Flooring
	Bulkhead Fitting — Serve as the base connection of the PVC pipe and create a watertight seal.		BULKHEAD FITTING	Net-zero Bathroom
	Burlap — Burlap for wrapping root balls of small plants for later transplanting.		BURLAP	Dome Cluster
	Button Magnet — strong, round-shaped magnets that can be used in virtually every industry for multiple purposes, ranging from office whiteboards and home decor to industrial holding applications where high magnetic strength is required.		BUTTON MAGNET	Dome Cluster
	Butyl Tape — Butyl tape is a versatile heavy duty adhesive that is strong and durable. It is commonly used for air tight sealing without the mess and smearing from other adhesives. It is compatible with rubber, glass, plastic, wood, aluminum, galvanized steel and galvalume.		BUTYL TAPE	Dome Cluster
	Carabiner — A specialized type of shackle, a metal loop with a spring-loaded gate[2] used to quickly and reversibly connect components, most notably in safety-critical systems.		CARABINER	Dome Cluster
	Caulking — There are numerous types of caulking available and they come in a variety of colors. Some are intended for indoor use only and others outdoor use only, with some serving both purposes. Stay away from the most inexpensive options and go with something with at least an intermediate or better quality, depending on your budget. We will use caulking around our window and door frames and when overlapping polyethylene sheets. The caulking represented here is not necessarily what we will utilize.		CAULKING	Dome Cluster
	Cement Plaster — Plastering makes the rough surfaces of the walls smooth. Plastering covers rough edges and uneven surfaces, thus increasing durability and strengthening walls.		CEMENT PLASTER	Dome Cluster
	Chain — Chain, series of links, usually of metal, joined together to form a flexible connector for various purposes, such as holding, pulling, hoisting, hauling, conveying, and transmitting power.		CHAIN	Dome Cluster
	Clothing & Storage — Used for clothing storage.		CLOTHING & STORAGE	Dome Cluster
	Concrete Sealer — What are the benefits of sealing concrete? There are many benefits to sealing both interior and exterior concrete surfaces including protecting, maintaining and enhancing the appearance for one. Since the sealant protects it from damage it will not only last longer but look good longer as well. Sealing also protects it from getting stained and preserving any decorative patterns or colors. What are the advantages? There are many reasons that concrete should be sealed: Protection Water Damage Enhancement		CONCRETE SEALER	Dome Cluster
	Construction Adhesive — Used to avoid any splitting in the aircrete.		CONSTRUCTION ADHESIVE	Net-zero Bathroom
	Corrugated Drain Pipe — Corrugated drain pipes are the preferred means of moving away wastewater. Plastic drain pipes are durable and yet cost-efficient. We will use flexible 6” flexible corrugated drain pipe in our rock footers to carry runoff away from the earthbag structures.		CORRUGATED DRAIN PIPE	Dome Cluster
	Cover Plates — Used to cover the site of an old, unused connection.		COVER PLATE	Dome Cluster
	Clay — Is used for plastering and sticking together earthbags domes.		CLAY	Dome Cluster
	Door — The Doors are the Entryway to the Domes, Right now this is the door we have finalized. Click here to purchase a similar door.		DOOR	Dome Cluster
	Double Sided Butyl Tape — Double Sided Butyl Tape is a versatile heavy duty adhesive that is strong and durable. It is commonly used for air tight sealing without the mess and smearing from other adhesives. It is compatible with rubber, glass, plastic, wood, aluminum, galvanized steel and galvalume.		DOUBLE SIDED BUTYL TAPE	Net-zero Bathroom
	Drain Assembly — The pop-up drain assembly connects the sink to the P-trap drain plumbing. The assembly consists of the flange and stopper (also called the pop-up), which are the parts you see in the sink; the drain tube, which is the main body under the sink; and the ball-and-rod assembly, which moves the stopper up and down. Click here to purchase a similar drain assembly.		DRAIN ASSEMBLY	Dome Cluster
	Drain Inlets or Catch Basins — Drain inlets collect water from roads and parking lots and convey it to an underground storm drain system.		DRAIN INLETS OR CATCH BASINS	Water Attachment
	Duct Tape — Duct tape used for marking distances on the compass chain. Duct tapes are multipurpose and most widely used in Construction.		DUCT TAPE	Dome Cluster
	Electrical Cover Plate — Wall plates, also known as switch plates, cover your home’s outlets and light switches, keeping wires out of sight and away from fingers. With a wide variety of colors and materials to choose from, wall plates can complement the decor of any room. Click here to purchase similar cover plate.		ELECTRICAL COVER PLATE	Dome Cluster
	Electrical Cover Plate One Gang / Electrical Cover Plate Two Gang — Wall plates, also known as switch plates, cover your home’s outlets and light switches, keeping wires out of sight and away from fingers. With a wide variety of colors and materials to choose from, wall plates can complement the decor of any room. Click here to purchase similar one gang. Click here to purchase similar two gang.		ELECTRICAL COVER PLATE ONE GANG / TWO GANG	Dome Cluster
	Electric Meter — The meter measures exact kWh usage. The revolving wheel indicates whether or not power is in use and the digital readout registers each single kWh used.		ELECTRIC METER	Dome Cluster
	Electric Meter Socket — This is the meter base, or socket, that the above meter is positioned on, and simply snaps into place.		ELECTRIC METER SOCKET	Dome Cluster
	Electrical Slider Switches — An electromechanical device used to control current flow in a circuit path.		ELECTRICAL SLIDER SWITCHES	Dome Cluster
	Electrical Tape — A safety tape for wires, used to cover and insulate a broad range of cables, wires and other materials that conduct electricity.		ELECTRICAL TAPE	Net-zero Bathroom
	Electrical Utility Box — Also known as junction boxes, enclose wire connections. They help protect against short circuits, which can cause fires. This guide describes the different types of electrical boxes, their materials and their applications. They come in many shapes and sizes to fit wherever you need them.		ELECTRICAL UTILITY BOX	Dome Cluster
	Electrical Wall Outlets — A socket that connects an electrical device to an electricity supply.		ELECTRICAL WALL OUTLETS	Dome Cluster
	Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) — Insulation is used both under the dome slab and around the exterior of the dome about a foot below the soil. The white insulation board is incorrectly and most commonly referred to as “styrofoam”, but this is actually a brand name. The above 4’ x 8’ sheets of insulation as well as the commonly seen white cups and coolers are technically classified as EPS (Expanded Polystyrene [Foam]). If the color is white, it is likely EPS foam. Comprised of 95% air, it is the reason it insulates and helps keep your coffee warm and, in a cooler, your drinks and food cool.		EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE (EPS)	Dome Cluster
	Faucet — A faucet is a device for delivering water from a plumbing system.		FAUCET	Net-zero Bathroom
	Fencing Staples — Galvanized fence staples are used on the fenced pens for farm animals to contain them and to keep predators out, also used on agricultural plots and our orchard perimeter.		FENCING STAPLES	Dome Cluster
	Finish Nails — (6d galvanized steel, 2” in length) used as stabilizers between the earthbag courses to prevent any lateral shifting, serving the same purpose as barbed wire.		FINISH NAILS	Dome Cluster
	Flagging Tape — Flagging tape comes in multiple colors and is used for defining survey stakes and boundary designations, laying out a firebreak, marking trees for pruning, removal, limbing, etc. Some jobs you will want to stay with the same color throughout, for other work it won’t matter. Stay with bright colors though, so they are easy to see, the brighter the color better.		FLAGGING TAPE	Footers, Foundation, and Flooring
	Galvalume — Galvalume serves the same purpose as galvanized steel, but provides a more durable and non toxic coating. The coating is composed of aluminum, zinc, and trace amounts of silicon. This material is suitable when trying to keep toxins from being mixed with rainwater.		GALVALUME	Dome Cluster
	Galvanized Screw — 1 ¼’’ deck screws used for securing gutter flashing to 1 x 2’s.		GALVANIZED SCREW	Dome Cluster
	Galvanized Barbed Wire — 12.5 gauge, 4-point galvanized barbed wire on the left and a roll of polypropylene bags on the right. Set on a suspended rod, this provides easy access for both materials. These are two of the four critical elements of earthbag construction infrastructure, the others are the earth mixture of sand and clay that go inside the bags and the plaster/stucco exterior.		GALVANIZED BARBED WIRE	Footers, Foundation, and Flooring
	Galvanized Steel Wire — 16 gauge galvanized steel wire for attaching flashing to earthbags.		GALVANIZED STEEL WIRE	Dome Cluster
	Gas Spring — A type of spring that, unlike a typical mechanical spring that relies on elastic deformation, uses compressed gas contained within an enclosed cylinder sealed by a sliding piston to pneumatically store potential energy and withstand external force applied parallel to the direction of the piston shaft.		GAS SPRING	Dome Cluster
	Geotextile Fabric — There are numerous variations of geotextiles used for keeping soil out of rock trenches, thereby enhancing the drainage. A geotextile is a permeable fabric which, when used in association with soil, has the ability to separate, filter, reinforce, protect, and/or drain. For our purpose, the textile fabric prevents soil from permeating the gravel and rocks. Typically made from polypropylene or polyester, geotextile fabrics come in three general forms: woven (resembling mail bag sacking), needle punched (resembling felt), or heat bonded (resembling ironed felt).		GEOTEXTILE FABRIC	Dome Cluster
	Grace Vycor Plus Flexible Flashing — One of the best products to minimize and deflect water infiltration is a product called Grace Vycor Plus Flexible Flashing. This is a self-healing peel and stick membrane that comes in shrink-wrapped rolls 75’ long and various widths (4”, 6”, 9”, & 12”), and is an easy, efficient installation. We’ll use the 4” roll around door and window openings to prevent water infiltration and the 12” membrane under the gutters and between the earthbags and gravel bags. Under the gutters, it will prevent moisture from settling into cracks of the below bags and placed between the courses of earth and gravel backs it prevents wicking of moisture upwards into the earthbags.		GRACE VYCOR FLEXIBLE FLASHING	Dome Cluster
	Gravel and Rocks — This 2-6” rock is used for footer construction, at the bottom of the trench, adding smaller ¾” and tamping well, before using a ¾” washed gravel on top of the French drain.		GRAVEL AND ROCKS	Dome Cluster
	Heating Tape — Used commonly on pipes and is similar in principle to the heating cord. The main difference between them is the tape’s increased surface area covered per length which provides more heat to a concentrated area. This tape is useful when the pipe is exposed to freezing temperatures.		HEATING TAPE	Net-zero Bathroom
	Hex Nut Rod Coupling — Used for joining threaded rods or hanger bolts in a variety of applications that require extending threaded rod or attaching like items.		HEX NUT ROD COUPLING	Net-zero Bathroom
	Hinges — A mechanical bearing that connects two solid objects, typically allowing only a limited angle of rotation between them.		HINGES	Dome Cluster
	Hook Latch — A craft in which short segments of yarn are tied to the horizontal strands of a small- or medium-sized canvas grid.		HOOK LATCH	Dome Cluster
	Hydrated Lime — Used for plastering the earth domes.		HYDRATED LIME	Dome Cluster
	Junction Box — Used to protect against short circuits, which can cause fires.		JUNCTION BOX	Water Attachment
	L-Bracket — An L-shaped device that you attach to your camera. It is used when you are shooting on a tripod. Used to allow you to rotate your camera from landscape to portrait perspective (horizontal to vertical) without having to roll your tripod head 90º or try to find that notch on your ball head so that you can shoot vertically.		L-BRACKET	Dome Cluster
	Lighting Cans — A type of lighting fixture installed into the ceiling or wall.		LIGHTING CANS	Dome Cluster
	Lighting Inserts —		LIGHTING INSERTS	Dome Cluster
	Lumber — Wood that has been processed into beams and planks, a stage in the process of wood production. Mainly used for structural purposes but has many other uses as well.		LUMBER	Dome Cluster
	Nail — 16d galvanized common nail (3 ½”) used in 2 x 12’s in window/door frame construction.		NAIL	Window and Door Framing
	Nightstand — A small table or cabinet designed to stand beside a bed or elsewhere in a bedroom.		NIGHTSTAND	Dome Cluster
	Mesh Fabric — Made from synthetic materials like polyester and nylon.		MESH FABRIC	Net-zero Bathroom
	Metal Trim — Made of aluminum or stainless steel, used for maximum surface protection.		METAL TRIM	Net-zero Bathroom
	MPT Adapter — Used to bridge the bulkhead fitting and PVC pipe together		MPT ADAPTER	Net-zero Bathroom
	Non-Toxic Wood Sealer — Using wood can be a cost effective material for small scale water gathering. Having wood sealed from water is important for wood longevity. If the water catchment system is used for potable water it is also important the sealer does not leach any toxic chemicals.		NON-TOXIC WOOD SEALER	Dome Cluster
	Pea Gravel — ½” washed pea gravel, used for base material under the dome slab.		PEA GRAVEL	Footers, Foundation, and Flooring
	Perforated Pipe — Used to collect water through the small holes located around the pipe; these holes allow water to seep from the ground into the pipe and be carried away or to percolate back into the soil at a practical rate.		PERFORATED PIPE	Water Attachment
	Pex Line — Used for radiant heating and cooling systems, water piping, and insulation for electrical cables. PEX can be bent, twisted, or crushed, to some degree, and it will return to its original shape. Click here to purchase similar pex lines.		PEX LINE	Dome Cluster
	Pigments — There is a wide selection of pigments available in both earth tones and bright colors that can be mixed into your stucco applications.		PIGMENT	Dome Cluster
	Pipe Adapter — Allow for the connection of multiple pump accessories to one common junction.		PIPE ADAPTER	Net-zero Bathroom
	Plastic Bucket — Used to get the mold sourced from a trash can and a plastic bucket. They will be placed concentrically over one another to make a donut shaped concrete structure.		PLASTIC BUCKET	Net-zero Bathroom
	Plastic Sheeting — Comes in a wide range of thicknesses. It is rated with the term, “mil.” A mil is a measurement that equals one-thousandth of an inch, or 0.001 inch. Most human hair is one-thousandth of inch, or 0.001 inch. The most common size in the thickness rating for plastic sheeting is 6 mil. This is 6-thousandths of an inch, or 0.006 inch. Generally, the thicker the plastic, the stronger it is. If it has string/scrim reinforcement, then the string within the plastic will give it added strength. Plastic sheeting comes in different thicknesses, 6-mil the most common. If you have radon in your area you may want to consider the 20-mil as an underlayment for your floor. Click on the links below to select the thickness that will best serve your project. We have decided on 10 mil black poly due to the additional strength over the standard 6 mil. 1-2 Mil Clear and Black “Visqueen/ Construction Plastic 3 Mil Plastic Sheeting 6 Mil Plastic Sheeting 10 Mil Plastic Sheeting 12 Mil to 80 Mil Thick Liners 14 Mil Heavy Duty Liner 15 Mil Plastic Sheeting 20 Mil Plastic Sheeting 24 mil Tarps/ Covers/ Liners 30 Mil Heavy Duty Plastic Sheeting 80 – 100 Mil Thick Heavy Duty Liners This should be used to cover and prevent erosion of the ground after leveling and tamping in case of rains or snows. We are using 6-mil for waterproofing the exterior underground portion of the domes and 12-mil in the gutter system.		PLASTIC SHEETING	Dome Cluster
	Plywood — (¾”) and (½”) for Nailer production. Due to its high strength values, plywood is used wherever high stability is required.		PLYWOOD	Dome Cluster
	Plywood — This is ¼” plywood used for a different purpose in this photo, but as you can see it is flexible and with narrower strips it will work fine for the curved removable concrete header forms. An alternative is 3/16” masonite.		PLYWOOD	Window and Door Framing
	Polypropylene Bag — Used to hold the earth mixture. They are purchased used or new. If you have the need, you can purchase larger quantities of individual bags by the roll. The most common-sized earthbag is 18” x 30”, empty. Bags also come in single continuous rolls. UV treated bags are preferable, but even those will break down if left exposed to the sun. Keep them covered as much as possible during the building phase.		POLYPROPYLENE BAG	Dome Cluster
	Polypropylene Foam — Polyethylene foam is widely used in the construction industry and is mostly used to insulate pipes. This helps maintain consistent water temperature in any type of environment.		POLYPROPYLENE FOAM	Net-zero Bathroom
	Polyethylene Tubing — Black poly tubing (½”) is used at the terminal end of the stucco to act as a water barrier to prevent moisture from wicking up into the stucco from below. It can be purchased in 1000’ rolls.		POLYETHYLENE TUBING	Dome Cluster
	Porous Asphalt — Used to filter water through the pavement structure into an underlying drainage base then into the water table, protecting both the sub-grade and pocketbook of asset owners		POROUS ASPHALT	Water Attachment
	Portland Cement — Within the earthbags a 3-5% cement content ratio by volume is included, as this allows faster overall building time by providing a firm and stable platform to build from on consecutive days. With proper sized angular granules, cement may not even be necessary. Run a few test bags before committing to your build site. Lime use in the bags vs. cement is more unreliable and has a longer curing time, thereby slowing down the building process.		PORTLAND CEMENT	Window and Door Framing
	Post Base — Connectors designed to provide a connection between a structural wood post (vertical member) to the concrete foundation.		POST BASE	Net-zero Bathroom
	Pressure Gauge — The analysis of an applied force by a fluid on a surface.		PRESSURE GAUGE	Net-zero Bathroom
	Pressure Switch — The pressure switch is used to control the engagement of the pump autonomously depending on the pressure of the system.		PRESSURE SWITCH	Net-zero Bathroom
	Pressure Treated Lumbar — Is recommended in situations where there is direct contact between the wood and anything that could supply moisture: Retaining walls, which function to support landscaping projects and hold back soil. Any posts or beams that come in contact with the ground or are buried underground. The lumber which is in contact with the ground must be pressure treated.		PRESSURE TREATED LUMBAR	Window and Door Framing
	Pump Adapter —		PUMP ADAPTER	Net-zero Bathroom
	PVC Elbow — Designed to turn the flow of a liquid. This allows for the configuration of a piping system to fit in an existing location.		PVC ELBOW	Net-zero Bathroom
	PVC Pipe — Waste water lines to carry grey and black water to natural filter areas or septic systems.		PVC PIPE	Dome Cluster
	PVC Primer and Cement — To ensure your joints are leak-free and as strong as possible.		PVC PRIMER AND CEMENT	Net-zero Bathroom
	PVC Reducer — Used to join pipe sections or tube sections on the same axis.		PVC REDUCER	Net-zero Bathroom
	PVC Tee — Used to distribute rainwater to the spigot and the other barrels.		PVC TEE	Net-zero Bathroom
	PVC to Brass Adapter — A PVC connector inside a brass connector.		PVC TO BRASS ADAPTER	Net-zero Bathroom
	Rail Bracket — The rail bracket is to be centered with the vertical line drawn on the horizontal beam.		RAIL BRACKET	Net-zero Bathroom
	Ratchet Strap — To secure the lower structure on top of the center top barrel. Used by wrapping it around one of the halves and hooking it to the opposing eye screws.		RATCHET STRAP	Net-zero Bathroom
	Rebar — ½” rebar for lintel reinforcements.		REBAR	Window and Door Framing
	River Gravel — ¾ – 2 ½”. This is slightly larger and not as smooth but can still be used under the first course of earthbags.		RIVER GRAVEL	Dome Cluster
	Romex Wire — Romex is used for most lighting and outlet circuits in your home. Romex will be labeled with “12-2” or “12-3”. Click here to purchase similar romex wires.		ROMEX WIRE	Dome Cluster
	Roof Caulk — Used to prevent any possible leaks.		ROOF CAULK	Net-zero Bathroom
	Roof Fastener — Roof fasteners come in a variety of sizes and use different materials depending on the application. Often overlooked, this small fastener plays a big role in how effective a roof can insulate, slope drainage, fire resistance, and wind uplift. To choose the appropriate fastener, the roof deck material needs to be determined. Common roof decks are made of wood, metal, or plastic.		ROOF FASTENER	Dome Cluster
	Roofing Paint — This is a waterproofing paint is to prevent water from seeping into the dome.		ROOFING PAINT	Dome Cluster
	Safecoat Primer and Paint — For waterproofing the exterior exposed dome surfaces.		SAFECOAT PRIMER AND PAINT	Dome Cluster
	Sand — Sand is used for various purposes but here we use it in Earth bags and also for plastering. Sand should be sharp and angular, not worn and rounded. Do not use beach sand as it has been rounded by wave action. Here is an informative link for using sand for a natural plaster.		SAND	Dome Cluster
	Scoria — Various scoria sizes, used in foundation earthbags for both drainage and insulation. This is also what was referred to as “cinders”, smaller ground scoria used in the winter on highways for traction. Scoria, commonly called lava rock, is a very lightweight volcanic rock containing many air pockets, thus the insulation value. Some use this in the foundation bags, we will not.		SCORIA	Dome Cluster
	Screw — A type of fastener typically made of metal and characterized by a helical ridge, called a male thread (external thread). Used to fasten materials by the engagement of the screw thread with a similar female thread (internal thread) in the matching part.		SCREW	Dome Cluster
	Sealing Tape — Various types and widths of sealing tape are available. We have selected an IPG (Intertape Polymer Group) tape, many refer to it as “red tape”. Some recommend Tyvek tape but that is supposed to be used for Tyvek only. The long term reliability of tape is questionable.		SEALING TAPE	Dome Cluster
	Self Adhering Roof Paper — Roof paper is an essential material when building a roof of any material. A benefit of using roof paper or felt as a sublayer to a roof is that it keeps entrapped moisture out and prevents roof leakage which can accelerate deterioration. Self adhering to eliminate the use of nails and free up space in the substrate for the actual roof panels.		SELF ADHERING ROOF PAPER	Dome Cluster
	Self Adhesive Tape — A self adhesive sealing tape is used around all window and door openings. Many different kinds are available and come in rolls up to 100’, and 4” wide.		SELF ADHESIVE TAPE	Dome Cluster
	Self-Furring Stucco Netting — 1-1/2 in. x 37-1/2 in. x 150 ft. 17-Gauge Self-Furring Stucco Netting.		SELF-FURRING STUCCO NETTING	Window and Door Framing
	<Severe Weather Pine Pressure Treated Plywood — (Common: 5/8 x 4 x 8; Actual: 0.593-in x 48-in x 95.868-in) Used for Arch Frames and Nailer Plates.		PLYWOOD	Window and Door Framing
	Single Outlet Box — One which receives only one electrical plug.		SINGLE OUTLET BOX	Dome Cluster
	Single Slide Switches — A mechanical switch that slides from the open (off) position to the closed (on) position and allows control of a circuit’s current flow without having to manually splice or cut wire.		SINGLE SLIDE SWITCHES	Dome Cluster
	Single Wall Outlets — A socket that connects only one electrical device to an electricity supply.		SINGLE WALL OUTLETS	Dome Cluster
	Sisal Baling Twine — Used to draw the stucco netting closer to the earthbags and simultaneously enhances the cohesive aspect of the plaster/stucco. String is used for cinching the stucco netting close to the earthbag walls.		SISAL BALING TWINE	Dome Cluster
	Slider — This is our version of a slider that we will utilize specifically in the process of laying one course of earthbags over the next to allow an exact spot location of the upper layer over the lower layer in conjunction with imbedded nails within the bags, providing stabilization for successive courses.		SLIDER	Dome Cluster
	Spigot — A valve for controlling the release of a gas or liquid.		SPIGOT	Net-zero Bathroom
	Spring Bracket —		SPRING BRACKET	Dome Cluster
	Spring Check Valve — The spring check valve will protect the pump from catastrophic failure in the event of any backpressure caused from the failure of the rainwater storage system.		SPRING CHECK VALVE	Net-zero Bathroom
	Spring Latch — The most common type of latch and are made up of a bracket on one surface with a notched plate on the adjacent surface which is then joined to the bracket by a pin.		SPRING LATCH	Dome Cluster
	Steel Angle — Steel Angles are the most basic type of roll-formed steel. They are formed by bending a single angle in a piece of steel. Angle Steel is ‘L’ shaped; the most common type of Steel Angles are at a 90 degree angle. The legs of the “L” can be equal or unequal in length. Steel angles are used for various purposes in a number of industries. Framing is one of the most common uses for steel angles, but steel angles are also used for brackets, trim, reinforcements, and many other uses. The larger the steel angle, the more weight and stress it can bear.		STEEL ANGLE	Net-zero Bathroom
	Steel Pipe — 6” steel pipe is used to create a depression in the top course of earthbags of the buttress wall that will act as the gutter form in our water catchment system. Often times you can scrounge a piece at a demolition site of an old building and cut it to 18” long, a piece this size weighs about 27 pounds.		STEEL PIPE	Dome Cluster
	Steel Wall Tie — Wire or sheet metal devices used to connect two or more masonry wythes or used to connect masonry veneers to a structural backing system.		STEEL WALL TIE	Net-zero Bathroom
	Step Flash — A combination of step flash and a roof saddle can be used to seal and divert water around the roof access. The flash will be installed starting downhill and finishing uphill.		STEP FLASH	Net-zero Bathroom
	Soil Mixture — The soil mix for earthbags is dependent upon the level of clay already existing in the soil. With sandy soils, the goal is 10-15% small stones and gravel, 80-90% coarse and fine sand (with angular granules to enhance cohesion), and 5-10% cement. Lime can be used for sandy soils with some clay and the goal is then 10-15% small stones and gravel, 40-80% coarse and fine sand, 5-20% clay, and 10-20% lime. In the case of soils with large amounts of clay the goal is 10-15% small stones and gravel, 40-80% coarse and fine sand, 20-40% clay, and 10-20% lime.		SOIL MIXTURE	Dome Cluster
	Straw — (For mixing in with the first coat of stucco) binds with the clay for better adhesion and less cracking. Chop it into smaller pieces before adding to the stucco mix.		STRAW	Dome Cluster
	Stucco Netting — For the Mortar to stick to the Walls, This Stucco net is used a reinforcement to bind and hold it together from slipping down. The stucco netting, when drawn in closer to the earthbags will, will increase stucco adherence to the earthbag walls and reduce cracking of the stucco.		STUCCO NETTING	Dome Cluster
	Survey stake — Survey stakes come in different sizes, 1”x 2”x18” will suffice. Pictured might be ½” stakes. If stakes have to be hammered in, we would recommend going with 1”x 2”.		SURVEY STAKE	Footers, Foundation, and Flooring
	Swivel — A connection that allows the connected object, such as a gun, chair, swivel caster, or an anchor rode to rotate horizontally or vertically.		SWIVEL	Dome Cluster
	Swivel Anchor — The swivel helps the anchor to rotate into the right orientation so that it can self-stow. In most cases, these problems amount to mere nuisances. You can usually overcome them without the use of an anchor swivel, and without too much expense or effort.		SWIVEL ANCHOR	Dome Cluster
	Teflon Tape — Used as a sealant and lubricating material, perfect for installing fittings in the kitchen and bathroom.		TEFLON TAPE	Net-zero Bathroom
	Threaded Cap — Designed to provide protection. The design prevents damage, dirt, corrosion and moisture from entering the internal threads.		THREADED CAP	Net-zero Bathroom
	Threaded Rod — This ¾” section of 12” threaded rod is inserted into the slider slot and then a ¾” nut and washer is attached from both ends so an equal amount of the rod extends out in both directions. With a secured handle the slider is easily removed from between the earthbags after the upper bag has been lowered onto the slider.		THREADED ROD	Dome Cluster
	Toilet / Toilet With Tank — Toilet with tank is Nature”s Head self- containing composting. While toilet is regularly mounted to the floor.		TOILET / TOILET WITH TANK	Dome Cluster
	Trash Can — Used to get the mold sourced from a trash can and a plastic bucket. They will be placed concentrically over one another to make a donut shaped concrete structure.		TRASH CAN	Net-zero Bathroom
	Triple Outlet Box — One which receives three electrical plug.		TRIPLE OUTLET BOX	Dome Cluster
	Twine/String — Versatile, practical 100 percent natural jute cord		TWINE/STRING	Tropical Atrium
	Washed Local River Jacks — 2-4”. This rock is used as a transition layer between the larger rock and the ¾” river gravel, but is not absolutely essential. The transition is possible without it, if you use more of this, you would use less of the ¾”. We will not utilize this.		WASHED LOCAL RIVER JACKS	Dome Cluster
	Washer — A thin plate (typically disk-shaped, but sometimes square) with a hole (typically in the middle) that is normally used to distribute the load of a threaded fastener, such as a bolt or nut.		WASHER	Net-zero Bathroom
	Water — An important ingredient in mixing the earthbag contents so they hold firmly together. Do not add too much water to the point that it oozes out when tamping. It is generally considered that water of potable quality should be used to mix mortars, cements, and plasters, it won’t hurt to use it with your earthbag mix either. The pH should not be less than 6. Dissolved salts and minerals should be as low as possible.		WATER	Net-zero Bathroom
	Welded Wire Fabric — This is a 6” x 6” wire mesh made with 10 gauge wire running both directions. It is laid over the EPS (expanded polystyrene) insulation and elevated 1½ – 2” so it is positioned in the lower mid portion of the 4” concrete pour, thereby maximizing the strength of the concrete.		WELDED WIRE FABRIC	Dome Cluster
	Window — Left-Operable Vinyl Replacement White Exterior Sliding Window. (Rough Opening: 24-in x 24-in; Actual: 23.75-in x 23.75-in)		WINDOW	Dome Cluster
	Wire — Used to bear mechanical loads or electricity and telecommunications signals.		WIRE	Dome Cluster
	Wire Recteptacle — Are types of sockets or outlets that provide a location in a system where the wire can be inserted to provide electrical current.		WIRE RECEPTACLE	Dome Cluster
	Wire Basket — For easy transplanting of larger trees.		WIRE BASKET	Dome Cluster
	Wood Glue — Wood glue is an adhesive used to tightly bond pieces of wood together. Many substances have been used as glues.		WOOD GLUE	Dome Cluster
	Wood Screws — A tapering metal screw with a sharp point.		WOOD SCREWS	Net-zero Bathroom
	Wooden shims — Used for squaring up window and door bucks and frames.		WOODEN SHIMS	Window and Door Framing
	Wooden stake & pipe — Wooden stakes on the left, and 2” diameter schedule 40 black pipe on the right, either of which can be used for establishing the centerpoint of domes. One length of any-sized twine and the rounded stake/black pipe will also be used as a guide for maintaining the curvature of the dome.		WOODEN STAKE & PIPE	Footers, Foundation, and Flooring
	WYE Connections — Wye (Y) connection, also known as “Y” connection, is a three-phase circuit in which all the three loads are connected at a single neutral point. Unlike delta connection, wye-connected systems carry a fourth neutral conductor, often grounded but sometimes left floating (ungrounded wye system).		WYE CONNECTIONS	Water Attachment

RESOURCES

• One Community: Earthbag Village Open Source Hub
• One Community: Earthbag Village Materials and Costs Page
• EarthbagBuilding.com – an amazing wealth of earthbag building resources
• My Little Homestead YouTube Channel – A great earthbag & sustainable building resource
• Hyperadobe – Building using mesh earthbags (created by Fernando Pacheco of EcoOca in Brazil)
• CalEarth – California Institute of Earth Art and Architecture (founded by Nader Khalili from Iran)
• Earthbag Building YouTube Channel
• Use this page (click here) if you have a resource you’d like to suggest be added here

SUMMARY

The purpose of our organization is to make the building of self-propagating self-sufficient teacher/demonstration communities, villages, and cities as easy as possible. One aspect of this is clearly defining exactly what tools and equipment are needed for duplication of the complete Earthbag Village and also each of the major components within the village. This page is the results of our research and it will evolve with even more details as we build the Earthbag Village and identify through our experience the best tools and equipment to use, any tools and equipment we may not have accounted for, and ways or companies that can reduce the price for acquiring all needed tools and equipment. We will open source these details here as they evolve.

FREQUENTLY ANSWERED QUESTIONS

Q: What is the purpose of the Earthbag Village?

Please see the complete Earthbag Village open source hub: Click Here

Q: I found a broken link or incorrect price on the spreadsheet, what should I do?

Until One Community actually builds the Earthbag Village, all Tools & Equipment spreadsheets/pages will only be periodically updated and checked for accuracy (if at all), as price data and website pages change very frequently. If you are looking to buy the product in question, you can simply Google the name of it to find it or a comparable product.

Q: How do you intend to keep track of all the tools and equipment for each component?

We will use the community project management software we are developing to log everything as it is used and appoint a Project Foreman to oversee and double check the details.

Q: How do you intend to help bring prices down to facilitate duplication of your models as teacher/demonstration villages?

We have a Win-Win-Win-Win partnering philosophy combined with a significant marketing and promotional engine that we feel brings value to any partnership. We are using these tools and resources to seek partners with the global distribution capability who see the free marketing and new and expanding customer base we will provide as beneficial enough to be willing to reduce their consumer prices and individual profit in favor of volume sales and supporting global change.