Process of making Adobe Structures
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From 25 years of experience, we have found soils in most parts of the world make excellent block. If a soil contains too much clay, additional sand can be added to achieve the right ratio. Moisture is usually the other critical factor, if a soil is too wet it must be dried out, too dry, water must be added. The best way to test a soil is to create blocks and look at the result. Our factory will test any soil prior to purchasing a machine to insure quality block. The "red beds" famous throughout the world, especially in equatorial regions, often make excellent block.

In addition, Portland cement can be added to the soil prior to compression (10% cement, 90% soil) producing blocks that are impervious to weathering and don't require stucco finish. The hopper of the machine can be loaded with a skiploader, or manually with shovels (see illustration). A concrete foundation wall is first poured. The blocks are then stacked directly on the foundation forming walls, thereby reducing the labor necessary, the blocks being handled only once. The longest block dimension is used to create the wall thickness, approaching 16 inches in depth.

Once the the wall is complete, wood forms are nailed (nail gun makes this job easy) directly to the top borders of a block wall. Reinforcement is added in the form of rebar, and then concrete is poured into the forms. Lag bolts are also added to the concrete to tie in the roofing system. This concrete bond beam gives the walls additional strength and unifies the structure. Wiring and plumbing channels are then cut into the wall, and fixtures added. Finally, either nylon or wire mesh (chicken wire) is nailed to both sides of the wall, and a stucco finish is applied. The resulting walls are incredibly strong, durable (the oldest buildings in the world are adobe), sound proof, and aesthetically superior to standard walls.

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Bond Beam cross section           Roof System Tie In
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Window Anchor               Corner Reinforcement

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