Rammed earth (pisé de terre)
Damp earth tamped hard in layers inside temporary forms. Walls can stand for centuries if kept dry and protected.
- Climates
- hot-dry, temperate
- US permit route
- Building official's approval, usually with an engineer
The South Carolina Encyclopedia describes pisé de terre as clay poured into wooden molds and tamped solid, then coated with stucco. S. W. Johnson’s Rural Economy (1806) introduced the method to American readers.
Risks
- Water at the base and top of walls
- Insects in the timber that frames and roofs it
- Low insulating value in cold climates
Needs a professional
- Engineer for wall design and soil testing in most US jurisdictions
Sources
- Pisé de terre. South Carolina Encyclopedia. · accessed November 4, 2026
- Church of the Holy Cross (Stateburg, South Carolina). Wikipedia. · accessed November 4, 2026
Fact-checked November 4, 2026. Spotted an error? Tell us.