How Are Adobe Houses Made?

Adobe homes are poular in America's southwest

In simple terms, adobe means "mud brick." Spanish in origin, adobe is also used as an inference to any building built from adobe bricks. The adobe style home is popular in warm, dry climates, like the American southwest. The adobe dates back centuries and to the 16th century in Texas, having a strong history with indigenous people. Today, the low cost and simple design make the adobe a desirable home building option for many people.

Foundation

Foundations for traditional adobe homes were sometimes constructed from tile, cobblestone, bricks, field stones or seashells. Today, framed and poured concrete would offer a solid foundation, but at very least, the bare ground must be leveled and compressed to support the weight of the heavy bricks. Check the building codes in your city or town for all building specifications.

Bricks

The adobe or mud brick is traditionally made from sand, clay, gravel and water. Sometimes, straw or grass is mixed in to stabilize the brick. The mixture is about 1/2 sand, 1/3 clay and 1/6 straw. The mixture is placed in wooden molds to form it and then removed and left to dry in the sun. Stronger fired adobe brick made with cement and other stabilizing materials, which are moisture resistant, are available commercially.

Mortar

Mud mortar is used to hold sun-baked bricks together but the mortar, as well as the bricks, are subject to swelling, shrinking, expansion and contraction from climate variations. The mortar is made from the same materials as sun-dried bricks with the exception of straw. It should be a thick, spreadable consistency.

Any other type of mortar will destabilize traditional bricks. Manufactured fired bricks are best secured with cement or lime mortar.

Walls

Bricks are laid in a layering course adhered by mortar. Using buttresses to brace exterior walls for additional stability is recommended. One wall at a time is completed, leaving openings for windows and doors. At the openings, a lintel is placed on top to support the bricks above. Beams are then laid on the top layer of the bricks providing a horizontal support to bear the weight of roofing materials

Roof

Roof material is mixed organic materials, soil, clay, sand and water, formed into beams, much like bricks are, and laid across the roof supports. Or roofs can be made by using a framework of metal or lengths of wood over the roof supports, then layering adobe brick on top of it. A stucco, whitewash or mud finishing can be placed over walls and roof, upon completion, to protect the building from water damage.

References

• National Park Service: Adobe Homes
• Reference.com: Adobe