Rammed Earth Works
Rammed Earth Works, founded in 1976 in Redding, California, manufactures 3-inch pre-cast rammed earth panels and provides earth building consultation for high-end residential, commercial, government, and cultural construction projects worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1976
- HeadquartersRedding, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Rammed Earth Works does
Rammed Earth Works is a Redding, California-based construction firm founded in 1976 by David Easton that specializes in rammed earth walls and earth building consultation. The company manufactures custom pre-cast rammed earth panels, with its core innovation being a 3-inch thick panel (versus traditional 18-24 inch walls) cast within hidden steel frames made from 5-inch angle iron, flat bar, and intermediate rebar. The technology reduces weight by nearly 90% relative to traditional rammed earth, enabling flatbed freight shipping within the US and A-frame container shipping internationally, and allowing rammed earth to be specified in modern building environments where on-site pour methods are impractical. A proprietary mix design process sources natural minerals from quarries to achieve gray, blue, tan, red, and other palettes without artificial pigments, with test blocks and cylinders cured and tested for compressive strength before production.
The company serves high-end residential, commercial/retail, government/institutional, and art/cultural customers. Named enterprise customers include Reformation (retail interiors), American AgCredit (lobby wall, LEED Gold), California Natural Resources Headquarters (the largest project to date at 15,000+ SF), Stanford University's Windhover Contemplative Center (IIDA Best of Competition 2015), and various custom residences in California, Colorado, and Malibu. Revenue is generated through quote-based panel sales, with related revenue from $35 mini color samples, custom rammed earth benches (~1,500 lbs each), and sandblasted signs. The company does not perform installation, instead referring clients to partners including Universal Precast Construction, Townsend and Schmidt, and Shawmut Construction, and works with Precast Unlimited Inc for manufacturing capacity.
The go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer panel sales (no minimum project size, single panels accepted, worldwide delivery) with architect-led specification during concept design and value engineering phases. The marketing strategy relies on a project portfolio website, an active technical blog, earned media (Dwell Magazine Materials Sourcebook 2016, AIA Redwood Empire Citation Award 2016), and founder keynotes at industry conferences. The company remains privately held under founder ownership; David Easton also founded sister company Watershed Materials, which develops low-cement rammed earth block technology. The current primary contact is Damian De Les Dernier.
Rammed Earth Works firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rammed Earth Works
- Legal name
- Rammed Earth Works
- Website
- https://rammedearthworks.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1976
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Rammed Earth Works, founded in 1976 in Redding, California, manufactures 3-inch pre-cast rammed earth panels and provides earth building consultation for high-end residential, commercial, government, and cultural construction projects worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Rammed Earth Works is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Redding
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Rammed Earth Works business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Pre-cast Rammed Earth Panel Sales: Manufacture and sale of 3-inch thick precast rammed earth panels in standard sizes (12' L x 5' H) or custom dimensions. Panels include integrated steel frames for mounting and are sold directly to contractors and property owners worldwide. Pricing varies by project size and customization.
- Rammed Earth Samples: Sale of mini 5' x 6' rammed earth samples demonstrating various color schemes for $35 each, used by architects and designers to select colors for projects.
- Site Furnishings: Custom rammed earth site furnishings including benches (6' length, ~1,500 lbs) in various color schemes with slightly polished tops and rounded edges. Can be made-to-order at custom dimensions.
- Custom Rammed Earth Signs: Custom rammed earth signs for commercial and institutional applications, featuring specialized mix designs including waterproofing admixtures for freeze-thaw environments.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Mini Rammed Earth Samples - 5" x 6" size |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Custom Rammed Earth Benches |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Pre-cast Rammed Earth Panels |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Rammed Earth Works product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rammed Earth Works manufactures 3-inch thick pre-cast rammed earth panels (standard 12' L x 5' H, ~2,200 lbs) with integrated steel frames for use as interior and exterior architectural cladding. The company produces custom sizes, color formulations, site furnishings (benches), signs, and color samples for residential, commercial, institutional, and government projects worldwide, shipping panels from its Napa, CA facility via flatbed freight or shipping containers.
Product overview
Rammed Earth Works is a manufacturer of 3-inch thick pre-cast rammed earth panels for clients worldwide. Their core product line consists of standard-sized panels (12' L x 5' H) manufactured in their Northern California facility, with custom size options available. The company also offers related services including color-matched mix design formulation, sample production, and mounting hardware systems. Supplementary products include rammed earth site furnishings (benches) and custom signs. Their panels serve as non-structural cladding or facade systems for residential and commercial applications, featuring naturally-colored stratified geological layers. The company no longer produces pour-in-place structural walls, focusing exclusively on their pre-cast panel technology.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Pre-Cast Rammed Earth Panels 3-inch thick pre-cast rammed earth panels manufactured in Northern California facility, standard 12' L x 5' H size weighing approximately 2,200 lbs including steel frame. Used as cladding or facade system for interior and exterior residential, commercial, institutional, and government applications, featuring stratified geological layers created from naturally occurring minerals. Custom sizes available. Includes hidden steel frame reinforcement with lifting hooks for transport and mounting. Two-year warranty against defects in material and workmanship.
- Rammed Earth Site Furnishings (Benches) Custom rammed earth benches made with recycled materials, standard 6' length weighing around 1,500 lbs. Can be set directly on grade or with built-in footer for below-grade anchoring. Features slightly polished top and rounded edges, available in various color schemes with custom dimensions (wider or longer) available. Price quote available upon inquiry.
- Custom Rammed Earth Signs Custom rammed earth signs for commercial and institutional applications. Can be manufactured with hydropel waterproofing admixture technology for freeze-thaw climate conditions and dual sealer. Available in various color schemes with custom sizing options, with sandblasted graphics available.
- Mini Rammed Earth Samples Small 5" x 6" x 1-inch thick rammed earth samples demonstrating various color schemes (Limestone Gray, Blue Sky, Tan & Red, Turkish Blue, Jade Green, and others). Approximately $35 each. Used by architects, designers, and clients to evaluate color and texture before committing to full panels. Lead time varies based on order timing.
- Rammed Earth Color/Mix Design Services Custom color matching and mix design formulation services. Process involves creating test blocks and cylinders that are cured and tested for compressive strength, using natural minerals from clay, sand, gravel, and crushed stone sourced from various quarries to achieve gray, blue, tan, red, and other natural color palettes without artificial pigments. Samples serve as architectural tools to confirm the rammed earth satisfies owner and architect intent.
Companies that use Rammed Earth Works
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Rammed Earth Works technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Rammed Earth Works partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Precast Unlimited InccoreManufacturing partner based in Redding, CA that aided with space and manpower to complete the CA Natural Resources Headquarters project (15,000+ SF). Instrumental in helping redesign panel molds for better durability. Partnership was so fruitful that Rammed Earth Works expanded facilities across the street from them.
- Townsend and SchmidtcoreInstallation crew for CA Natural Resources Headquarters project. Led by Alexander Morua, they foresaw issues in advance and constantly managed changes in schedule from other trades, equipment availability, and coordination challenges. Upheld contracted pace of installation while outperforming architectural specifications.
- Universal Precast ConstructionminorRecommended installation partner for rammed earth panels. Customers can contact [email protected] for installation quotes. Rammed Earth Works does not offer installation services.
- SmithGroupJJRcoreSan Francisco architecture firm that pioneered use of thin precast rammed earth panels for the Stadium TechCenter project, initiating the company's shift from on-site pour to prefabricated panels.
- Bohlin Cywinski Jackson ArchitectscoreAward-winning architecture firm (known for Apple Store Fifth Avenue) that commissioned first free-standing rammed earth panel installation at Reformation Mission District store, pushing the boundaries of thin panel applications.
- Montalba ArchitectscoreArchitecture firm that designed Reformation Melrose store with rammed earth wall. Worked with Shawmut Construction to complete installation.
- Shawmut ConstructionminorConstruction company that completed installation of Reformation Melrose store, working with Montalba Architects and Rammed Earth Works.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Rammed Earth Works competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Swisspearl Group: Swiss manufacturer of fiber cement architectural cladding panels and facade systems. Comparable in product form factor (large-format architectural cladding panels shipped to job sites) and architect-driven commercial specification, though using fiber cement rather than rammed earth.
Broad incumbents
- Wienerberger AG: World's largest producer of clay building materials including bricks, clay blocks, and facade systems. Comparable as a major clay/earth-based building products incumbent with a sustainability positioning and presence on commercial and residential projects, though at vastly larger scale across multiple geographies.
- James Hardie Industries: Global leader in fiber cement building products including architectural cladding panels and siding. Comparable as a manufacturer of architectural cladding panels competing for the same facade and interior finish specification on commercial and residential projects, though at massive scale and with a different material.
- Boral Limited: Large Australian building materials and construction products company with masonry, cladding, and concrete product lines. Comparable as a broad building products incumbent that overlaps with Rammed Earth Works on masonry and architectural cladding specifications, particularly in commercial construction.
Emerging players
- Hempitecture: US-based manufacturer of hempcrete and bio-based building materials for sustainable construction. Comparable as an emerging US player in the natural/low-carbon building materials space pursuing similar architect and sustainability-driven customer segments, though with a different base material.
- Mighty Buildings: US-based technology company using 3D printing and composite materials to produce sustainable prefabricated buildings. Comparable as a tech-enabled sustainable building products manufacturer pursuing the custom and sustainable residential market with a different production technology.
- Plant Prefab: California-based sustainable prefabricated building company focused on custom and modular prefab homes with low environmental impact. Comparable as a US sustainable building products innovator with a prefabrication-driven model and architect/custom-home customer base.
Direct peers
- BC Materials: Belgian producer of unfired clay-based building materials including rammed earth, clay plasters, and earth blocks. Directly comparable as a specialty earth-building products manufacturer serving architects and sustainable construction projects in Europe.
- Lehm Ton Erde: Austrian rammed earth pioneer led by Martin Rauch, operating at the intersection of rammed earth architecture, research, and proprietary construction systems. Closest international peer in the high-end rammed earth space with comparable prestige projects and technical authority.
- Watershed Materials: Sister company also founded by David Easton, focused on developing rammed earth block technology and low-cement masonry systems. Directly comparable as a US-based earth-building products innovator, though operating in the block/masonry niche rather than precast panels.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights8 records
Customer concentration
Rammed Earth Works social profiles
Digital presenceRammed Earth Works financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rammed Earth Works leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Rammed Earth Works funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rammed Earth Works M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Rammed Earth Works
What does Rammed Earth Works do?
Rammed Earth Works manufactures 3-inch thick pre-cast rammed earth panels (standard 12' L x 5' H, ~2,200 lbs) with integrated steel frames for use as interior and exterior architectural cladding. The company produces custom sizes, color formulations, site furnishings (benches), signs, and color samples for residential, commercial, institutional, and government projects worldwide, shipping panels from its Napa, CA facility via flatbed freight or shipping containers.
Is Rammed Earth Works a public or private company?
Rammed Earth Works is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Rammed Earth Works founded?
Rammed Earth Works was founded in 1976. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Rammed Earth Works based?
Rammed Earth Works is headquartered in Redding, United States, in the North America region.
How does Rammed Earth Works make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Pre-cast Rammed Earth Panel Sales are the primary driver. The others are rammed Earth Samples, site Furnishings and custom Rammed Earth Signs.
Who are Rammed Earth Works's main competitors?
Swisspearl Group is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Wienerberger AG, James Hardie Industries and Boral Limited. Emerging players are Hempitecture, Mighty Buildings and Plant Prefab. Direct peers are BC Materials, Lehm Ton Erde and Watershed Materials.
Does Rammed Earth Works have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rammed Earth Works.