PUTTING up ADOBE WALLS

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Though the use of adobe brick construction in the United States was developed in the desert Southwest, a growing number of do-it-yourselfers are finding it to be a satisfying and economical way to build in almost any climate. In a new book—which should be available through Charles Scribner's Sons by the time you read this-author/builder Duane Newcomb clearly describes how he put together an adobe house that's now valued at $130,000 .. . for only $20,000. We were impressed enough by the manuscript of the instructive volume to obtain the right to excerpt Chapters Three and Five. In the last issue of MOTHER we presented "Making Adobe Bricks", and here we complete the series with ...

Text and Illustrations from The Owner-BuiltAdobe House by Duane Newcomb, copyright 1980 by the author. Reprinted with the permission of the author.

There are several systems utilized today in constructing adobe walls. Which system you use depends primarily on whether or not you are building in earthquake country. In New Mexico, for instance, the code allows the builder to lay bricks into a self-supporting wall without reinforcement. In California, where you must consider earthquakes, you are required to use either steel reinforcing rods or a wooden post-frame support. Each of these systems will be explained later in this chapter.

GETTING YOUR EQUIPMENT TOGETHER

No matter where you build, the equipment needed to lay bricks is about the same. My own list includes the following: wheelbarrow, mason's trowel, joint tool, wire brush, shovel, hone brick splitter or wide chisel, a long level (or mason's level), nylon cord, gloves, nails, and a story pole.

MIXING MORTAR

The best formula for mortar that is to be used in laying up exposed adobe bricks is 1 part cement to 2-1/2 parts sand. This mortar is waterproofed by adding 1-1/2 gallons (5.7 L.) of emulsified asphalt to each sack of cement.

In New Mexico, where the adobe bricks are covered with plaster, most builders utilize adobe mud mortar, which is adobe dirt that is first screened to remove rocks and then mixed with water to form a stiff paste.

The rule is: If the bricks are to be exposed, use a waterproof cement mortar. If the building department allows, and your walls are to be plastered, use adobe mud as mortar.

You can either mix adobe mud in a cement mixer, or mix it directly in a contractor's wheelbarrow with a hoe, making only a small amount of mortar at a time.

LAYING ADOBE BRICKS PROPERLY

You will find it useful to estimate roughly the number of bricks needed in a wall section before you start to lay up the wall itself. I find that I am able to work much faster if I have the approximate number of bricks as near as possible to the section I am going to work. A simple guideline is to count on 150 to 155 16-inch (41 cm.) bricks or 160 to 165 14-inch (36 cm.) bricks for every 10 feet (3.0 m.) of wall.