How to build a house with tire bales | Page 2 | Construction and DIY projects | Forums

icanreachit said
This looks awesome! Seems like the downside vs traditional individual tires is that you would need heavy machinery whereas you can pack the individual tires by hand. Some people have time, some people have money, as my dad always said.

Yes that's true.  You have to rent a skid steer that will lift 2000#.  Also, it takes a larger footprint for the tire bales, so it's best to have some land.

KVR said
Any concerns with the cables snapping in the walls and the bales expanding?

Tire Recyclers in Denver did a secondary binding on the bales for our residential application.  The second binding was galvanized steel.  My guess is it's about a #4 or #6 gage cable.  I don't see any issue.  While we were picking up bales, occassionally (2 or 3 out of about 80), a cable would snap.  Even then, the bale would hold together, because of the secondary binding.  Often, we would pick up the bale by the cable, to reposition it or something, and the cable would hold the entire 2000 lbs.

KVR said
what did you pay per bale if you don't mind me asking?

The bales were free, with a building permit.  Tire Recyclers in South Denver, gets $50 per bale, from the State of CO, for tire disposal, if they're used for construction projects.  I did have to pay for shipping - seven semis - about $2500.