Frequently Asked Questions
Will adobe brick walls wash away in the rain?
No. A well-designed mix resists degradation and will remain durable for centuries. At any point, the building can be plastered to further enhance durability. We were New Zealand's leading earthen builders, having constructed over 50 major projects. New Zealand is known for its cold and rainy winters. Our buildings have performed well and are free from any type of degradation.
Are adobe brick walls safe from earthquakes?
Modern adobe brick building design integrates wall location, wall height, brick strength, bond beams, and reinforcing to ensure performance in the face of adversity. We have used our engineered designs for over 50 adobe brick buildings in one of the world’s most earthquake prone regions, New Zealand.
Do adobe brick walls get dusty?
No. Our brick walls are strong and durable with a smooth and clean finish. Sand/Clay based adobe mud plasters, with cement added as a stabilizer, will give a brilliant beautiful finish that feature outstanding shadow effects. Our solid walls are dust-free, sponge-wipe cleanable and rainwater shedding.
Where can I see some adobe brick houses?
You can check out Our Portfolio to see some photos or you can visit houses we have built in the USA, New Zealand and Fiji. Alternatively, we may be able to locate an earthen building near to you for you to visit.Contact us for addresses.
Can I use the earth from my site?
Most often the answer is yes. However, your earth may benefit with the addition of clay, sand and/or aggregate. Our soil stabilization engineer will test its composition and make a structurally stable "mix design".
What size are the enhanced adobe bricks?
Our standard brick size is 11-1/4" x 11-1/4" x 4-3/4" for imperial based constructions or 280mm x 280mm x 120mm for metric based constructions.A mortar join of " (or 20mm) rounds the horizontal increments to 1 foot (or 300mm) and the vertical increments to 5-1/2" (or 140mm). Please note that there is a slight difference in brick sizes between metric and imperial building systems for rounding to convenient increments.
How much does a standard adobe brick weigh?
Our standard brick (the heaviest brick) weighs around 38lb or 17kg.
What are adobe bricks made of?
While many types of soil can attain the strength and durability required, the most workable/moldable raw material is a mix of about 75% sand with about 25% clay for bricks, mortars & plasters. The use of cement as a stabilizer dramatically improves the structural performance as well as the wall surface durability.
The cost of stabilizing the mix above is usually about 1% of the cost of a new structure and stabilization will allow the walls to endure centuries of exposure to weather, thus not requiring the building to be rebuilt for generations.We assert that this is sound logic with regards to environmental impact, with the long range being of equal concern to the short range.
Other types of earth can also be used and it is possible to use a raw material that has neither of the components mentioned above. When planning to build with any type of earth, the advantages of using of a soil stabilization engineer cannot be emphasized enough. It is their job to design a mix that will use the minimum amount of imported amendment and/or stabilization (such as cement) to achieve the desired results. The information they provide can make the difference between early wall failure (less than 50 years) and walls that can last indefinitely (centuries). The costs associated with their service are usually offset in several ways (cement cost savings, labor savings, repair cost savings, etc.), and their involvement brings a peace of mind that is invaluable. However, it is possible to "design" your own mix by forming various mixes into bricks and carrying out tests on them to determine the quality of each mix.
Do I have to use cement or other stabilizer in the bricks?
We strongly recommend the use of stabilizing additives for adobe brick construction, particularly in wet climates.Many building authorities will allow people to build "unstablized" earthen structures. However, we feel that thoughtful use of cement will allow better/quicker handle-ability, improve overall erosion durability, and protect against unexpected concentrated water damage (i.e. leaky pipes). We normally use 5-7% cement to ensure the building’s longevity. The cement budget for the adobe brick walls of an average home is about US$750 (in the US) or NZ$1800 (in NZ).
How strong are adobe bricks?
The building departments in USA and New Zealand allow for adobe bricks to be as low as 1.5MPa (190 PSI).However, a brick so weak is difficult to handle without breakage and will most certainly not last as long as a stronger brick. We want our buildings to last for generations and recommend designing the mix so that bricks turn out to be about 4.5MPa (650 PSI) (ordinary concrete is about 18Mpa (2610 PSI)).
Is adobe building slow?
No.The adobe brick walls of an average size home at around 2000 square feet (or 185 square meters) can be constructed within one month by a skilled 3-person team. A crew of 3 able bodies can produce around 600 bricks in a given 8-hour day. This same crew can lay approximately 250 bricks into a wall per day. This same house with a simple floor plan would use around 3600 adobe bricks.
Who does the design?
We offer design services, or you can use another informed architect or draftsperson to produce your house plans.Ask your architect or designer to request an "Designer’s Pack" from our office, which will provide them with design requirements and details. Also, we have a collection of adobe brick home designs for you to choose from.
Can I build my own house?
Yes. We have up-skilled many do-it-yourselfers in our informative 1-day workshops (we also offer on-site training on one of our projects).Generally, it is cheaper to build your own home rather than have one contract built.The materials that go into adobe brick walls are inexpensive whereas the labor is not always.We have some real DIY success stories (beautiful houses on a low budget), with prices ranging from $75 to $120 per square foot. You can go to D.I.Y. (Do It Yourself) to learn more.
How much do contracted adobe brick houses cost?
Our contracted wall prices are similar to other quality masonry methods – at $US65 per square foot.We have built both large and small houses using recycled materials and houses using very expensive materials.Our "full contract" house costs have ranged from $120 to $300 per sq ft) (remember to extract the wall area, i.e. calculate floor area only).In each case the adobe brick wall costs were about the same, illustrating how the finishing materials greatly affect the overall cost.
Is it hard to get this type of building a building permit?
Not at all. Many countries have adopted the "Uniform Building Standard" (or a similar, adapted standard) which allows people to illustrate to the building department how a structure will perform by providing data and test results from other localities. Also, New Zealand has the world’s first dedicated Earth Building Standards (code book), which has set a criteria for earthen buildings within NZ. In the year 2002, 1 in 100 houses built in NZ was built from earth. We have obtained building consents from many different districts in USA, NZ and Fiji. We will be able to work with your local building authority to gain approval for you to build with adobe bricks.
What are the benefits of building with adobe?
Using adobe for house construction utilizes one of the world’s most energy efficient and durable materials, earth. Properly built, earthen walls provide better insulation than other conventional timber-frame building methods. Beautiful by nature, adobe brick houses are warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Earthen walls will also provide shelter for many generations.In these times of burgeoning populations it is important for all countries to consider the advantages of multigenerational housing rather than investing in buildings with a finite life-span with regards to structural longevity and market trends.
What kind of roof goes on a adobe brick house?
You can have any type or style of roof construction for your earthen home.
How do you run the wiring and plumbing?
We have special bricks which create a vertical core for running the wiring, plumbing, and reinforcing within the adobe brick wall. Refer to Adobe Madre Bricks for more information
What if I need to add wiring or plumbing later?
It is simple to add or change any services in the adobe brick wall if necessary. We often leave spare service sleeves in the wall for future use. Alternatively, it is easy to cut a chase groove into the adobe brick wall for services, which would require a plaster repair. But, we can tell you how to make that an easy job too.
Is earth construction experiencing some sort of fad?
While there is a strong renaissance in many countries it is the so called "modern" highly manufactured building materials which are subject to fad, tending to change with each generation. Evidence shows that earth construction has been in constant use for over 10,000 years making it the only building material that has not been a fad. Today earth building is the most widely used building method in the world, with over 50% of the world's population living in earthen homes. Of these earthen homes most are made of adobe brick (also known as mud brick).
Why has adobe brick building been so popular over the last 8000 years?
(Adobe was developed later than some other methods of earth building.) We believe that adobe brick houses are the most common method of earth building for the following reasons:
- The process uses mainly raw earth and can be done with a minimum of imported materials.
- It can be done with a minimum amount of gear and even without mechanization.
- It is very simple and forgiving with good results achieved by novice builders.
More Info
Download Our Flyer
To dowload a copy of our 2-page full color flyer, click on the icon above. The flyer includes a brief description of our system, adobe brick dimensions, facts & benefits, frequently asked questions, as well as photographs of our work.
Client Reports (read more...)
"When working with adobe brick I found I had complete flexibility in construction to the degree of being able to change or add into the walls anything from windows & doors to mirrors or bottles or large timbers."
"I’ve visited dozens of earth houses. Each one had considerably different architecture but they were all warm and charming in their own way."
Contact Us
Telephone
(407) 810-5030
Address
Waiheke Island, New Zeland
Orlando, FL
Decatur, Alabama
Seattle, WA (Coming Soon)
Not Convinced?
We can’t blame you. One of our founders, Vince Ogletree, a builder by trade, was working on his first earth house for several weeks before fully realizing the advantages of earth building. In fact, he tried to convince the owner that there was still time to switch to concrete block in the days prior to constructing the earth walls. Vince says, "I was under the impression that the modern building industry (where I was trained) had all the answers. I considered earth to be an outdated, inferior product that was superseded by later products. Once I saw a well built structure develop from the ground upwards I was unable to fault any aspect of the structural system and I was more than amazed at the quality of the earth plaster and impressed by it’s smoothness and durability. A well-built earthen house is actually of outstanding structural quality that will last hundreds of years. It also gives a smooth plaster finish, worthy of being incorporated into the finest of architectural creations, at the reach of everyone."
Client Reports
Below are actual reports from our clients about their homes. We have not omitted any details and as would be expected there are some reports which show how we may have helped our clients better. We have shared these comments to let you know that we will do all that is possible to resolve any design, material or workmanship issues before you build.
What do you like most about your earth walls?
"I like the feeling of solidity and the sense of mass. I also like that I will never need to paint."
- Contracted Job"The rich color and the way they buffer the light in the day and appear to soften up the electric lights at night. They warm up nicely from sun and feel like a freshly baked potato on a cold winter's night .. can't be beaten for heat sink effects!"
- Contracted Job"The general appearance.They give the interior a quiet, calm atmosphere. Also, no ants or rodents in the walls."
- Contracted Job"The texture, the way they reflect light.The feeling of a dense surrounding. Warmth."
- Do-It-Yourselfer"Earth walls give a living environment like no other building material. It's difficult to explain in words because the effect is a subtle feeling you get by being in them; serene, warm, solid, less noise, healthier, secure."
- Do-It-Yourselfer"The solidity and they’re warm in winter and cool in summer."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
What do you like least about your earth walls?
"There’s nothing to dislike, how could you? I can’t think of anything."
- Contracted Job"It’s somewhat silent in the rooms when you have the doors closed. You can’t hear what is going on even in the next room. But, I don’t even know whether this is a valid concern or not. Maybe I would choose to have certain walls from timber-frame if I built again."
- Contracted Job"I wanted to run a cable and I had to trench around the whole house. I didn’t leave many spare sleeves in the walls though.I wish I had put more in."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
Have you noticed any deterioration of your walls or do you have any other concerns?
"I’ve been in the place for 9 years and there’s been nothing."
- Contracted Job"No."
- Contracted Job"My husband used a couple of dodgy bricks, but doing slurry wash has helped.Other than that, no, excellent."
- Do-It-Yourselfer"The only deterioration I have in my walls are slight micro-cracks which don't effect the integrity of the wall strength."
- Do-It-Yourselfer"None."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
If you were involved with the planning of your earth home, did you experience any difficulties with the building department?
"No, they really didn’t have anything to say."
- Contracted Job"We had no difficulty with the building dept."
- Contracted Job"No."
- Contracted Job"No, just a lot of plans posted over to engineers."
- Do-It-Yourselfer"I had Vince teach me 2 yrs before I started my own building. Lisa drew up the plans and Vince oversaw when I built. So, I had experience and practical knowledge and no problems in construction or the building dept."
- Do-It-Yourselfer"None."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
If you were to wish for any changes, would you alter any aspect of your walls, such as color or finish, or would you add windows or doors?
"I would like to make one door wider to let more light into the house, which can still be done."
- Contracted Job"Nothing."
- Contracted Job"Slurry wash the walls a slightly lighter shade of cream."
- Contracted Job"No, but I’d definitely slurry the house 2-3 coats before doing any finishing stuff. Even putting windows in if possible."
- Do-It-Yourselfer"None."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
Please comment on the thermal performance of your house?
"Groovy."
- Contracted Job"As simple as this "Warm in the winter and cool in the summer""
- Contracted Job"Seems to be cooler inside during hot days. Seems to retain the heat well on cold days."
- Contracted Job"Fantastic!! Warmest, driest house I’ve even been in."
- Do-It-Yourselfer"My earth brick bungalow is set in the bush on Waiheke Island, New Zealand. When I walk in the door on a cold winters day the environment inside is warm and cozy compared to outside. We have limited heat from the sun because of the tree cover so I have installed heating in the earth-slab floor that assists the bungalow to stay at a constant temperature year round. The bricks also work to cool the bungalow in the hot summer. It's always cool even in the hottest temperatures we experience."
- Do-It-Yourselfer"It’s a wonderful temperature night and day and year round. Always pleasant for entertaining."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
Do you have any other comments?
"My personal opinion is that earth building is under-rated as a building product"
- Contracted Job"I’ve visited dozens of earth houses. Each one had considerably different architecture but they were all warm and charming in their own way. Somebody should start a B&B..."
- Do-It-Yourselfer"When working with adobe brick I found I had complete flexibility in construction to the degree of being able to change or add into the walls anything from windows & doors to mirrors or bottles or large timbers."
- Do-It-Yourselfer