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Various adobe and cob built structures projects thread

 
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I'll be using this thread to post pics of my various build projects. This is a test post to see if I am posting pics correctly.
 
Kris Johnson
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That didn't work. How do I post pics here?
 
out to pasture
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This thread has instructions on different ways of posting photos - how to make your posts better

But in your case, part of the problem seems to be that the permissions are set wrongly. You might need to make the album permies.
 
Kris Johnson
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Small mortared stone stem wall
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mortered stone stem wall
 
Kris Johnson
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Burra Maluca wrote:This thread has instructions on different ways of posting photos - how to make your posts better

Sweet! it worked! Thanks Burra!
 
Kris Johnson
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Some pics of progress on my adobe brick sawdust toilet outhouse.
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Kris Johnson
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Other angles
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1007151356-00.jpg
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Kris Johnson
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Alright! I'm going to be a picture posting maniac now!
 
Kris Johnson
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A wicker basket that I plastered with soil cement and tadelakt.
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Kris Johnson
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A cob bowl that I did tadelakt over
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Kris Johnson
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Whew, now that I got those out there I'll try to keep this thread focused on the small adobe block outhouse. And once this project is completed I'll move on to the next so as not to have posts of scattered projects all over the thread. Questions and critic's greatly appreciated!
 
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Hi Kris, thanks for your posts.

Are you casting the adobe bricks right in place in the wall? That's what it looks like in the pictures. If that is the case, why don't you make a bigger frame and just cast whole pieces of wall in place? That's what we did (low tech ancient style rammed earth, or I suppose it should be called packed earth, or formed cob). It has proven to be wonderfully durable, hard, strong, warm, etc etc.

The disadvantage of adobe bricks is that the wall is not composed of one monolithic piece of material but many small pieces that have less structural connection. Rammed or packed earth or cob are monolithic, and in my experience clearly stronger than adobe brick walls.

The advantage of adobe bricks is that you can make the bricks and turn and dry them from all sides before you are ready to build the wall. Then when you're ready to build, it's faster to slap them into place than to place forms and fill rammed or packed earth layer by layer. Also if the bricks are already dry, the wall dries quickly, as just the mortar needs to dry.

If you're placing brick molds on the wall and casting in place, it looks to me like maybe you're getting the disadvantages of both and the advantages of neither.

Or maybe I've misunderstood the pictures?
 
Kris Johnson
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What in the pictures would make one think the bricks are cast in place?
 
Kris Johnson
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This is a traditional adobe brick wall where bricks are made first, allowed to dry and then laid in mud mortar. I like to try to keep the mortar and the dry brick that is in contact with the mortar as moist as possible so the brick and mortar create a covalent bond and the wall becomes one solid mass. Perhaps the gringo block gave the cast in situ impression?
 
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How are you making the bricks?
 
Kris Johnson
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The bricks I'm using for this are about 3 years old now and about the third project they've been used for. I mixed raw soil with water and straw and packed the mixture into a wooden form, removed the form and allowed to dry. Where I am now I have to mix 2.5 parts sand to 1 part raw soil to make a sufficient brick that doesn't crack, add straw if available. Use the same mix for the morter. These bricks are 12"x9". Maybe I'll post some pics of the process.
 
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Hi Kris,

I am really enjoying looking at your "earth work!" It is wonderful. The mixed medium with tadelakt is impressive. Great job, and thanks for sharing...
 
Kris Johnson
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Here's a few progress photos.


First pic is after a good desert rain, 2" in 72 hours, almost half the average yearly rainfall in 3 days!

Second pic showing progress and a lintel/bondingish beam/gringo block.

Third pic is a closer view and the platform that will have a toilet seat over a 55 gallon dry toilet.
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Kris Johnson
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Damn, just when I thought I had the picture thing down!
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After the 2" in72 hour rain
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Progress pic lintel/bondingish beam/giant gringo block
 
Kris Johnson
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More pics and more to come!
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Another angle
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More angle
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Close up of crude laped dove tail joint
 
Kris Johnson
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A few pics of in-situ arch frame work. Bricks stacked on top of one another and then mortar piled on the outside and smoothed over to the radius of the arch.
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Front view
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Close up radius with 2X4 attached for creating the arch form
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View from "inside"
 
Kris Johnson
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Sorry its been so long since I've posted on this project, I've been internetless until a week ago so here are some update photos, enjoy!
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Arch being built
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Walls going up around arch
 
Kris Johnson
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More pics
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0428161447-01.jpg
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Kris Johnson
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More pics bond beam
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Kris Johnson
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more pics begining of brick roof
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view from above
 
Kris Johnson
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more pics
0528161831-01.jpg
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Starting to close in
 
Kris Johnson
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more pics
0530161529-01.jpg
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top view
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inside view of completed roof
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standing on top of roof where eventual cuppola will be
 
Kris Johnson
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more pics?!
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"back" door
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stairs? leading up into toilet area
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back side with door attached
 
Kris Johnson
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... more pics
0831161355-00.jpg
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inside wall plastered, polished and white lime washed
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white washed brick inside roof
 
Kris Johnson
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The brick roof was covered in a layer of magnesium phosphate cement that I got from grancreate. I still have to make and attach a door, finish the interior floor and toilet area and plaster the outside in lime. But that is it for now!
 
Rebecca Norman
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Hi Kris, These photos look great, thanks! I don't know why I made that comment up there in 2015 thinking you cast your adobes in place. I dunno.
Your structures are gorgeous.
 
Kris Johnson
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Thank you Rebecca!
 
So I left, I came home, and I ate some pie. And then I read this tiny ad:
Unlock Free Wood Plans! Download free projects and create unique pieces now!
https:/the-art-of-regenerative-wood-working/
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