Comments on: Small Concrete Pipe House – Part 4

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 02:27:26 +0000

These would be excellent for helping the homeless get a new start, imagine the money Habitat for humanity could save if they used this technique.

By: michaeljanzen

michaeljanzen — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 01:05:45 +0000

Great suggestions Dustin. Thanks. Checking out your blog now… love the name… Conventional Stupidity

By: Dustin

Dustin — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:59:58 +0000

Consider using Bottle Walls, like they do in Earthships, for the windows at either end. No custom glass, DIY, recycled/re-purposed…

If only the pipe sections weren't 9 inches think and cost so much… There has to be a way do DIY wet-cast one's own forms… There is no structural need for that much concrete, 4 inches thick would do just fine.

By: Michael Janzen

Michael Janzen — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 10:06:09 +0000

Workingindust… I suggest contacting a local pipe manufacturer. Normally these folks work with big commercial and municipal projects so the pricing would vary for each project. They may even have pipe left over from past jobs. They can also tell you about site prep. From what I’ve read there is a lit of engineering that goes into concrete pipe so having some expert advice would really help. I suspect that because of the size and weight issues having the raw pipe installed by the manufacturer would be the only route to go.

By: Workingindust

Workingindust — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 05:39:41 +0000

I’ve been thinking along these lines for a while now. One thing I’ve been trying to find is price (everything from the price of individual sections to delivery). Barring that do some pipe manufactures lease the forms so you can pour, cure and install on site? Weight – How much site prep do you need to do for the pad these things are going to placed on? Initial searching found that the average pipe section with 12′ ID/9″ walls weighs over 3000lbs each! That’s a lot of settling over time, if you don’t do a proper foundation you’ll have sagging within a few years.

If anybody wants to continue conversation this please hit me up

By: Alex Richards

Alex Richards — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 16:31:32 +0000

Strange, I was thinking something simlar and a quick bit of Googling revealed I wasn’t on to a unique idea no-one had thought of before (damn).

The big difference is, I was looking at Corrugated Steel Pipe (CSP) which I think might provide a better solution that concrete.

All the reading I’ve done suggests that it’s easier to work with than concrete, the hole and the backfilling doesn’t have to be to the same high spec as concrete and joining it is easier with ready made watertight collars which bolt together.

Also there are a range of “standard” fittings available, I personally was looking at Tee fittings as a good solution. The “standard” size suggests a 24ft long “cross” piece with a 6ft long and a 6ft long “down” piece. So you could for instance use that to give a 12 x 6 bathroom a 12 x 6 sleeping area and a 18 x 12 living/kitchen space with glazed end. Not a bad size.

You could go up a lot and have an H shape, giving a 24 x 12 living area, a 12 x 12 kitchen/diner, a 18 x 12 bedroom and a 12 x 6 ensuite. Or any range of variations to give more bedrooms if wanted.

Again like yours all earth covered, and it’d be down to site/sunlight/builder preference as to how many end caps were solid and how many glazed.

And as you can see, it needs no reinforcment around the outside http://www.yulan.com.au/lysaght/Img/Our%20Projects/Lycorpipe/CSP/scan0166_lrg.jpg

By: Michael Janzen

Michael Janzen — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 01:06:30 +0000

“how do you move these pipe pieces around and stick them together?”

The people that make these big pipes are also experts at placing them. From what I’ve read it sounds like there is a lot of engineering that goes into them and the hole they are place in. I think it would be best to hire the company that makes the pipe to install it. Then once they are in the owner-builder could take over and complete the work.

By: vincent chang

vincent chang — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 01:03:27 +0000

how do you move these pipe pieces around and stick them together? they must weigh tons. To fit together snugly , the site must be exactly level. Maybe the pipe makers can stick 4 or five pieces together at the factory, then the whole thing can be rolled off the truck bed on dolleys or something. Then the whole thing can be levelled like a modular home.

By: sundigger

sundigger — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:46:20 +0000

There is an interesting book on this subject, I foget the exact title, but it was something like ‘The Southern Underground House Book”. They suggested larger pipe sections, as I recall, and worked on some of your other concerns. It’s an interesting idea if can afford the cost of the pipe sections or get cheap somehow. Perhaps ferro cement could be used in modular expandable way.

By: Michael Janzen

Michael Janzen — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 03:22:34 +0000

There seem to be some “Y” sections and manhole sections but no “T” sections. But it also looks like custom work is common for concrete pipe manufacturers so anything is probably possible especially if it doesn’t have to carry water