Lavacrete Accent Wall Workshop
Learn to build a stunning and functional centerpiece in our Roundhouse with lavacrete during this 2 day workshop.
The Lavacrete Accent Wall Workshop will be held on our homestead from October 10th-11th, 2026. This weekend event will include step-by-step details for building a functional wall centerpiece out of Lavacrete - a lightweight, thermally efficient material that can be cast with minimal labor.
We'll be joined by Guru Das from Awareness Ranch and Paul Schwam, who will bring their knowledge and expertise to the project.
Or keep reading for more info...
What is Lavacrete?
Lava Concrete is an under-the-radar alternative building technique that uses volcanic or scoria sand combined with portland cement, lime, and rebar to create thermally efficient, highly compressive walls that need no finishing work.
Lavacrete is beautiful, set in layers similar to rammed earth, is not prone to shrinking or cracking, and can be a cost effective option due to the scoria sand being a byproduct of screening for lava rock used in landscapes.
You can watch this video to learn more.
Lavacrete Benefits
- Thermally Stable - The porosity and material itself allows for a perfect temperature at the root zone for the plants so they don't get too hot or cold
- Porous Nature - Air pockets in the scoria sand and the way the material is laid means your soil is oxygenated naturally
- Termite Resistant - Lava sand is often used as a termite barrier because it's sharp and hard for them to dig through
- Non-Toxic Properties - Scoria is generally considered non-toxic, safe for landscaping, and eco-friendly
- Low Labor Intensity - The process of mixing lavacrete and lightly compacting the material in forms is simple and easy on your body
- No Finish Work Needed - Lavacrete needs no plastering or finishing work, and the result is a gorgeous natural wall
- Cost Effective - Scoria sand is a byproduct of landscaping lava rock, and can be cheap if you're near a cinder mine
Who Are We?
Hi friends, we're Jonathan & Ashley from Tiny Shiny Home. Our family is building an off-grid desert homestead from the ground up, literally! We started with no construction experience, and have managed to create a solar shed office, chicken garden, composting toilet outhouse, and an outdoor shower, all using hyperadobe earthbags.
We just finished the Lavacrete Utility Lodge Workshop here on our homestead, and enjoyed working with Guru Das and Paul so much that we're getting the band back together!
Bringing in the Experts
We're excited to partner with Awareness Ranch for this project! Guru Das has been doing commercial and residential Lavacrete projects in Tucson for 5+ years, and we're looking forward to him bringing his expertise to guide us through the build process.
We're also excited to welcome Paul Schwam as part of this project - he's been integral to the development of Lavacrete for nearly 30 years, and has worked tirelessly to push the technology forward with over 25 permitted and code compliant structures to date.
Lavacrete Accent Wall
So what are we doing? Since we first laid eyes on Lavacrete we knew we wanted to feature it in our Hyperadobe Roundhouse. We'll be designing and building a 10'W x 12'H accent wall with utilities, mount points, and insets for media and visual interest.
The wall will be 8"-12" thick so it won't be a lot of manual labor. But should give you a great jumping off point for your own Lavacrete project.
What We'll Cover
This workshop will focus mainly on building the Lavacrete accent wall.
- Building Forms
- Mixing, Pouring & Compacting Lavacrete
- Installing Rebar
- Running Conduit & Building Inserts
Important Details
Please read the following information carefully.
Date & Time
October 10-11, 2026
8:00am - 4:00pm
Location & Lodging
This will be held on our property in Cochise County, AZ. In our best efforts to keep our exact homestead location off the internets, we will be providing recommendations for overnight accommodations only to those signing up. For reference, the closest major towns are Benson & Willcox. There are plenty of options for staying close by:
- Hotels
- AirBNB's
- Campgrounds
- Boondocking
Camping on-site is available as well. You must be self-contained (i.e. no disposing of gray or black water on the ground). Porta-Potty will be provided. Spots may be limited.
Meals
Ashley will be preparing delicious breakfast & lunch for everyone each day :)
Additional Details
- Limited space - there will be a max of 20 people.
- Partners of 2 use the "couples" option, families of 3 or more use the new "family" option and add your family members.
- No dogs, please.
- Kids are welcome for this event.
- If rain is in the forecast we may re-schedule.
- More info will be provided after signing up.