THE COMPLETE BOOK OF UNDERGROUND UNAS Ow TO BUILD A LC LOW-C i ene HOME - ROB ROY:THE COMPLETE BOOK OF UNDERGROUND HOUSES HOW TO BUILD A LOW-COST HOME ROB ROY (a ip STERLING PUBLISHING Co., INC. New YORKAcknowledgments ‘The best part about writing this book was renew- ing old acquaintances (and making new) with all the slightly out-of-step eccentrics who dare to do something radically sensible. Thanks to architects Malcolm Wells, Don Metz, and Les Boyer for the helpful chats, and to Ray Sterling at the Under- ground Space Center, Susan Nelson at the Ameri- can Underground Space Association, and Peter Carpenter at the British Earth Sheltering Associa- tion. Special thanks to owner-builders Peter and Eileen Allen (for help with the radon commen: tary), Richard and Lisa Guay, Elaine Rielly Cos- grove, Becky Gillette and Roger Danley, and Linda and Ray Hurst for sharing their experiences Extra-special thanks go to Geoff Huggins, Siegfried Blum, and John and Edith Rylander for actually writing their own excellent case studies. Lovingly dedicated to Jaki, my building partner at Log End Cottage, Log End Cave, Earthwood, Mushwood, and who knows what in the future. Thanks for the memories past and all those yet to come. It’s been tun. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Roy, Robert L. ‘Complete book of underground houses : how to build a low-cost home/ by Rob Roy. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index ISBN 0-8069-0728-2 1. Earth sheltered houses—Design and construction. TH4BI9. F27RS78 1994 690'.837—de20 woe 7654321 Published by Sterling Publishing Company, nc. 387 Park Avenue South, New York, N.Y. 10016 (© 1994 by Robert L. Roy Distributed in Canada by Sterling Publishing 1, Title 94-16840 cP 5 Canadian Manda Group, One Ailantic Avenue, Suite 105, ‘Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6K 3E7 Distributed in Great Britain and Europe by Cassell PLC Villiers House. 41/47 Strand, London WC2N 5JE, England Distributed in Australia by Capricorn Link (Australia) Pty Ltd. P.O, Box 6651, Baulkham Hills, Business Centre, NSW 2153, Australia Manufactured in the United States of America All rights reserved Sterling ISBN 0-8069-0728-2