Earth Bag Walls?

[livingreen1]

Anyone have any expereince with buiding earth bag walls? I have been asked to look in to it for a community we service. Looking for info. Thanks

[White Gardens]

What is the purpose for the wall???

If it's simple retention for a short period of time it might work.

A well built retaining wall with block will last as long as the concrete blocks. A earth bag wall will only last as long as the bags.

I was doing some reading on the bags, and they said to use good polypropylene bags. I don't know about you, but I've never seen plastic last any longer than a couple of years exposed to the elements, and burlap just breaks down.

Is your customer trying to be green?? If so, plastic bags aren't a good choice.

[Isobel]

the poly bags will work only if they are covered with an exterior covering--something like mud. The only place I've read of people using them is in building earthen-wall homes.