Customer Reviews

Underground Homes

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Mr. Wampler's "Underground Homes" offers a good introduction to the drawing up and building of an underground home and I give it a pretty good rating, though from a carpenter's viewpoint I would like to have seen a few more detailed elevation drawings within the book to allow the reader to expand with one's own floor plan and draw up a full plan for at least a small underground home without buying a full set of blueprints, though it's necessary to have prints for full scale buildings, some homeowners may choose to add on an underground room or storm room also, and here is the perfect opportunity to offer some basic accepted methods of construction on elevations into plan form. He does cover the various problems which are unique to underground building and one should not approach this type of construction without due information and particular preparation.But, there are no actual home plans in this book.Chapters on waterproofing, insulation, lighting,heating and cooling, and more, will get the reader to thinking about all the options and wonderful security offered in an underground or earth-sheltered home.

This book is fairly old (1978; revised in 1980), and slim (only 107 pages of text). But there aren't too many books that cover underground homes, and this is a fair overview.

If you're just starting to think about building a house, and want to consider the underground or earth-sheltered option, this book makes a decent starting point. You'll need to search out other materials if the idea strikes your fancy, though.

Chapter titles:
---------------
Introduction
Lot or Land
Structure

Waterproofing
Insulation
Interior
Natural Light
Heating and Cooling Systems
Exterior
Standard Roofs: A Compromise Solution
Building Sequence
Conclusion
Reference Material
Index

The layman who wants an easy introduction to planning and building an earth-sheltered home typically has plenty of construction guides to choose from, but UNDERGROUND HOMES differs from most in offering all the basics, from site choice and waterproofing and insulation choices to handling problems unique to subterranean homes, such as determining the local water table and handling heating and cooling systems for different climates. The basics are all covered in easy language and diagrams.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

This book isn't bad, but is limited in scope. It presents a nice overview of a limited approach to underground homes. Not that this approach isn't viable. Design is seat-of-your-pants experienced contractor style, not that of an architect or engineer with background in the field. A good book to include, but get others as well to see different approaches.

This may be a little book in pages,but it is definitely worth it. There are step by step procedures to follow for building an underground / earth berm home.It covers the pitfalls of inappropriate drainage and also Earth-roof designs. There are new techniques now for Earth-roof designs that would be well deserved reading. With energy costs so exorbitant one would think this type of building would stage a comeback.

Well , I don`t read many books these days and I may be a little unqualified [I am a handyman] BUT..... a bit light on for reality! . Book is conceptual and lacks punch from REAL examples or photos. Enjoyable read at bedtime but dont expect your underground house NOT to leak.Probably a great house for a desert. Also not terribly 'green' as it relies on masses on re-enforced concrete. At least the author accepts that a ''normal '' roof may be a fair compromise.Why not build above ground with lots of sensible insulation? Builder beware.

Ordered 3 books on this subject and found this one to be the least informative.

The book was shipped quickly and at a fare shipping cost. Book had a lot of good information. Be more than glad to do business with them again.

Interested.

Trying to be as fair as possible. The book is interesting to say the least. I would use it as a guide if I were building /and I, my wife and I might just do that. We have just retired and our retirement home will be either underground or a log cabin. her and my choice respectively, so both of us are looking into the possibilities. I will use your book as a reference. I have obtained a copy from a friend and will see how the progression goes from there. I will stay in touch.