I'm planning a large house design that is half way underground. It consists of a bottom story thats buried and an "A-frame looking" top story, with one side almost all windows, just above ground level. I also plan on having dirt, grass, etc. on top of the roof looking like a hill slope. I planned to have the entire exterior made of concrete. I was wondering if having that steep of slope for a concrete roof would be safe, without costing too much. How much rebar or other support is required for that type of structure. Also is it really necessary to have the roof made out of concrete, or is there another way to build a roof that won't deteriorate under ground and can support the massive amount of earth over the top of it. Thanks in advance for any help

I’m researching this too. As far as I know it’s a challenge to cast-in-place roof pitches greater than 5:12.

This company is doing it on end on the ground from what I can tell, and assembling sectionals. Not sure how they are sealing the production breaks.

There are plenty of design guides and methods on the net for constructing live roofs but without knowing the dead and live loads you are designing to no one out here can help. You should get some help from a local PE and perhaps geotech  before you get hurt.

SCIPs can be used for slopes all the way up to vertical (aka walls). Shotcrete sprayed swimming pool walls are somewhat similar. For safety and loads, I agree - consult a PE.

The pre-cast method dumb compared to SCIP makes me laugh @ ignorance! All that work, cranes, factory fab, shipping heavy precast vs on site, dumb! ICF dumb meets dumber! Popular stupidity explained in detail here: http://www.greenbuildingtalk.com/Forums/tabid/53/aff/15/aft/82516/afv/topic/afpgj/1/Default.aspx#139450


ICF mega home sales hype BS: http://www.icfmag.com/articles/features/2012-10_mega-home.html..actually SCIP there is better than that my secret.

I'm in touch with major tornado areas to get the ICF out and better in, not the answer your effort I will end!...FEMA what a JOKE @ rebuilding! SCIP joke too I won't be pushing that either....you won't branch out further than Mexico and the gulf at best.You won't produce sales in the USA and push jobs to Mexico. America will dominate at what we know best and do best HIGH TECH,  I will see to that. We in the USA have seen ENOUGH "out sourcing" loosing jobs, my methods is about creating LOCAL jobs not sending them to Mexico...do not buy scip unless it is a local mfg that you know for sure hires Americans not foreign nationals. Same with fuji an Mitsubishi HVAC minispilts follow my post we don't need them. We need to rebuild our country's jobs and save lives in disaster areas, not compromise to support manufacturing in other countries.

SCIP purchases supports jobs in Mexico build your own goggle u-tube for tooling. You will shoot your kids future in the foot buying foreign.

You will shoot your kids future in the foot buying foreign.

My kids are the future.

Hopefully they will be able to get a job if they go to college unlike a lot of this generation. Hopefully so called "American" greedy companies will stop out sourcing to cheaper labor in other countries. When we support this we are dumb since it ruins the local economy we are in too, houses don't sell, businesses fold, etc. Many companies like GCT that produce SCIP make them down in Mexico, ship them here, ship them to you leaving behind jobless and a carbon foot print. This generation needs to learn how to build from local resources, create local jobs, lower embodied energy for the next. OP you are on the right track with a live roof. To answer your question no you do not need concrete with portland cement that is made in a factory with a high carbon CO2 foot print that pollutes the atmosphere. There are better binders like fly ash and pozzolan from local resources that can be used to at least take the amount of VOC portland cement in concrete down if you need the strength. You can also use wood without formaldehyde resins too. If you have access to natural green lumber and a local saw mill use it, you will be much more satisfied with the aesthetics if you expose the beams with nice joinery to the interior. The day of hiding craftsmanship as art at the expense of factory studs needs to stop too. If you go green lumber do some research there are things you need to know about drying. Mention that to your PE that will design either to meet the PSF rating needed for the roof, walls, and foundation. It all works together. Your local market will determine the most cost effective solution.

Hopefully they will be able to get a job if they go to college unlike a lot of this generation.

Don't get your Willy in a twist. Current college failures are the responsibility of the student, not any system, government or corporation.

Maybe you can tell us what percentage of fly ash is found in the typical Ready Mix load these days.