Making Bricks

I saw this nice little system for making bricks:



I'm interested in people's thoughts regarding the material (sand and cement) and if there are more sustainable or economical solutions.

Also, whether people would use this in building construction in a timber frame house

Keep on growin'

I have seen that before, its handy.
But what do you plan to use them for.
If it is a home, consider cob, adobe or nudbricks, it will be less cost and warmer.

Jason,

He is using very rich mix of 3 sands and 1 cement.  If you used 6:1 it still would be quite strong. You could dig you clean dirt (no organic matter, not too much clay) and add 10-15% cement to make bricks. It would be much cheaper.

John C Daley wrote:I have seen that before, its handy.
But what do you plan to use them for.
If it is a home, consider cob, adobe or nudbricks, it will be less cost and warmer.

I plan on using these bricks for garden/landscaping as the concrete should last longer than Adobe bricks.

However, I am also interested in natural construction for dwellings. I live in Brazil where there is less building regulation and I am exploring the economic advantages of alternative building techniques.  I am leaning towards a Timber Framed building and then using an economic/sustainable solution to "fill-in" the walls. I am still conflicted between strawbale, cob or Adobe for external walls (potentially with Wattle and Dawb for internal walls).

Cristobal Cristo wrote:Jason,

He is using very rich mix of 3 sands and 1 cement.  If you used 6:1 it still would be quite strong. You could dig you clean dirt (no organic matter, not too much clay) and add 10-15% cement to make bricks. It would be much cheaper.

Thanks. I like the idea of 6:1 ratio and using local clay (we have a lot here)

Have you thought of post and beam with infill either strawbale or adobe?
- Large dimension timber posts or sreels posts are set into the ground at 10 foot spacing
- Large dimension beams are place across the top of the posts'
- A roof structure is fitted across the beams.
-Panels between posts are infilled with windows, doors and material of your choice

It is self supporting, and easy to construct.

John C Daley wrote:Have you thought of post and beam with infill either strawbale or adobe?
- Large dimension timber posts or sreels posts are set into the ground at 10 foot spacing
- Large dimension beams are place across the top of the posts'
- A roof structure is fitted across the beams.
-Panels between posts are infilled with windows, doors and material of your choice

It is self supporting, and easy to construct.

Thanks for the suggestions. A timber frame house is the most appealing to me. I'm still debating the infill material and I am leaning towards Compressed Earth Bricks or Adobe but I do love Strawbale and cob.

Dont forget you can make your own CEB or Adobe easily if you have the correct soil,  time and its not hard, .