Q: Do you have to be a licensed builder or architect to build your own home?

A: This really depends on the laws where you want to build. In most places owner/builders can build their own homes, as long as they comply with all of the building code requirements.

Q: What do building codes say about this kind of building technique/material?

A: It depends on how liberal the local building officials are. Earthbag and papercrete building is fairly new and therefore less known than other alternative building methods, so it may be more difficult to get through the red tape. Nader Khalili at Cal-Earth has been working for many years to have his techniques of "superadobe" (using earthbags filled with adobe) be adopted by the Uniform Building Code. He has convinced his local building dept., in Hesperia, CA, to allow this sort of building. I built my earthbag/papercrete house in a county of Colorado that has not yet adopted building codes, so that was fortunately not issue for me.

Q: Our state will allow building with earthbags as long as we have an engineer's or architect's stamp of approval. The architects that we used for our strawbale barn plans are probably not quite advanced enough for this. Do you know anyone who might fit the bill?

A: You might enquire at Cal-Earth in Hesperia, CA. They might have some general engineering data about earthbag construction, since they have been trying to get ICBO code approval for several years. email: CalEarthATaolDOTcom; phone: 619-244-0614.

Q: What kind of inspectors and licenses do you need for this kind of structure?

A: Again this is a matter of local jurisdiction. Some places will allow "experimental" building (New Mexico, for instance), but you need to have a licensed engineer sign off on the plans and show that they comply with the requirements of the codes there.

Q: What about insurance? Will most insurance companies cover this kind of structure?

A: Good question. We got insurance on our place, but the insurer never looked at the house, or even asked if there was anything unusual about it.