Adobe is a building method which uses bricks composed of a saturated mixture of clay, sand, and sometimes manure and straw. The bricks are made with forms, in which the wet mixture is poured or pressed. Each brick is sun-dried for several days into a hardened block. The bricks are then stacked into the desired shape of the structure. Adobe structures are often built on a foundation of stone, and mortars are made with mud or lime.

Adobe structures are popular in the southwestern United States, where they have been employed by American Indians for thousands of years. North Africa, the Middle East, and South America also have long-standing traditions of building with earthen bricks. Many Middle Eastern structures have remained standing for hundreds of years.

Adobe structures require careful consideration to avoid erosion. Roofs with wide eaves can provide rain protection. Walls are often coated with mud or lime plasters upon completion to increase durability and allow for resistance to the weather. Cement stucco finishes are a common and seemingly simple solution, however they often trap humidity inside the structure which leads to eventual erosion. For this reason, as well as the avoidance of toxic substances, traditional plasters of mud, straw and lime are considered superior for the long term. Adobe building is best suited to dry, arid regions.

Source: Straw Bale Central www.StrawBaleCentral.com

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