From garden walls to award-winning homes and commercial buildings — walls from 600mm tall to 10 metres high, built right across Tasmania.
Chris has lived in rammed earth homes for 33 years — first in a standard 300mm home from July 1993, then in one of Australia's first insulated rammed earth houses, which he built himself at Clifton Beach in 2005. He knows exactly how both systems perform through a Tasmanian winter.
Since 1992 we have been involved in many award-winning rammed earth structures across Tasmania — houses, commercial buildings, fireplaces, art pieces, floors, and garden walls from 600mm to 10 metres high.
View our work300mm thick walls providing excellent thermal mass for both internal and external use. Outstanding soundproofing and a natural, low-maintenance finish that never needs painting.
As someone who lived in a standard 300mm rammed earth home for 12 years, I know north-facing walls that get good winter sun perform beautifully — absorbing heat through the day and releasing it overnight.
We recently achieved a 6 star rating on a two-storey home at Beaumaris, East Coast — all 300mm uninsulated walls — using a concrete slab, double glazed timber windows and ceiling insulation.
400–450mm thick walls with a 50mm, 75mm or 100mm XPS foam core. Engineered for Tasmania's more demanding conditions — south-facing walls, heavy shading, or where maximum thermal performance is required.
We supply full engineering drawings for insulated walls and lintels, and our system features no thermal bridging around windows. We were one of the first companies in Australia to develop this system.
I moved into my first rammed earth home in July 1993 and have lived in rammed earth ever since — 33 years of knowing first-hand how the walls perform through every Tasmanian winter.
Chris Westcott · Owner, Rammed Earth Tasmania · Building since 1992What is stabilised rammed earth?
A mixture of gravel, sand, clay, a small portion of cement and a waterproof additive — engineered and rammed to create an extremely strong, durable wall. We have achieved 19 MPa with recent compression testing. Dense, solid, stone-like, fireproof and virtually maintenance-free. Walls can reach up to 10 metres high.
What does the building code require?
Tasmanian councils generally require a 6 star energy rating, plus stamped approval from a Structural Engineer and Building Surveyor, followed by a standard building permit. We personally recommend Aldanmark Engineering — they specialise in rammed earth construction.
How much does rammed earth construction cost?
Initial costs are comparable to conventional construction. The key cost drivers are design and site characteristics. Long term there is no painting required and significant savings on heating and cooling. The material pays for itself over time.
Can you use soil from my property?
Generally we use quarried gravels and sands. The labour cost of testing and cleaning on-site soil is expensive, and most site soils are unsuitable. The material cost is only a small part of the overall wall system price, so quarried material is almost always the better option.
What energy rating can I expect?
A standard 300mm wall can store heat energy for up to 12 hours, helping stabilise indoor temperatures through winter nights. With good design and quality glazing, uninsulated rammed earth can easily satisfy the Building Code of Australia. We recently got a 6 star rating on a two-storey home at Beaumaris — all 300mm uninsulated, southeast-facing — using a concrete slab, double glazed timber windows and thick ceiling insulation.
Do you build anywhere in Tasmania?
Yes — we have a vast knowledge of soils and gravels right around Tasmania and can source material and build anywhere on the island. Call Chris on 0417 589 089 to discuss your project and location.
We offer a full consultancy service including rammed earth design, detailed drawings for lintel and insulated wall systems, engineering guidance, building ideas and solar energy requirements.
We can also refer you to our preferred designers, architects and trades across Tasmania. For energy rating assessors who understand rammed earth construction:
Leading Energy ESD
Energy rating