How to Build a Small Adobe House

Adobe homes can be small or large and simple or ornate.

Adobe is one of the oldest building materials in the world although it has been modernized to include products that waterproof the adobe brick, creating a longer-lasting building material. Creating these bricks is often the first task of building an adobe house of any size. After the bricks are produced the construction of the home is undertaken. Do-it-yourselfers need a adequate amount of skill, time and equipment to build a small adobe house.

Things You'll Need

• Sand
• Clay
• Emulsified asphalt
• Water
• Straw
• 2 by 4 inch lumber
• Shovels
• Trowels
• Beams
• Lentils

Instructions

Making Adobe Bricks

1. Build an adobe brick form out of 2-by-4 inch lumber. Layout two 10-foot long 2-by-4 inch boards on edge. Connect the boards with a 14-inch long piece of 2-by-4 inch lumber every 10 inches to create an adobe form with five cavities for bricks. Make the process of creating adobe brick more efficient by building multiple forms.

2. Make test bricks of a mixture of clay, sand, emulsified asphalt, straw and water. Clay content can vary from 25 to 45 percent of the final mix. Emulsified asphalt is generally added at about 1/2 gallon per cubic foot of material. Add sand and water to create a heavy mud. Place in the brick form and allow to set for about two hours before removing the form.

3. Allow the brick to set flat and dry for about two days. When the edges of the brick begin to show a change of color due to moisture loss set them on edge and allow to continue to dry. Once the brick is dry check the bricks for excessive cracks, longer than 3 inches or wider than 1/4 inch, or brittleness.

4. If the bricks do not have defects continue with full production. Mix the components in the proper ratios and place in the forms. Allow the bricks to dry in the form for two hours and about two days lying flat before turning on edge for the final drying. The bricks are completely dry when they have a uniform color.

Building the House

1. Pour a concrete footing around the perimeter of the house. The footing is a level concrete foundation for the walls. This narrow concrete slab elevates the first course of the adobe brick off the ground and away from moisture.

2. Lay the first course of the adobe bricks on the footing using a mix of the same formula of adobe mud used to create the bricks as a mortar. Place about a half inch of mortar under the brick and between each brick.

3. Continue adding courses of adobe brick up the walls. Allow open spaces for doors and windows and set a lentil, a wood, metal or concrete beam that will support the weight of the building material above the door or window, above each window or door.

4. Set adobe bricks to the top of the walls. Add beams across the room space for roof support. Construct the roof to the owner's design specifications above these beams. Add doors, window and floor to complete the project.

References

• Desert Phile: Adobe House
• Mother Earth News: The Onwer Built Clay Home