Chris Contreras

Mike Cantrell wrote:
Hi Chris!

I'm going to assume you meant questions about my process, rather than Alberto's.

Here's a good start:
Wikipedia

1. No. CEBs are like "green bricks"- they're unfired.
2. If you don't mix anything else in, then curing time = drying time. Depending on the weather, it's a few days.
3. Yes. These are susceptible to water. People do different things to mitigate that. I've tried adding 10% portland cement, and found it to make bricks that are QUITE waterproof. I've destroyed a few with freeze/thaw spalling, but not just water.
4. Yes. Lots and lots and lots and lots of building have been built with CEBs. Practically all the buildings at the Auroville Earth Institute are CEB built. Midwest Earth Builders in Wisconsin is making CEB buildings professionally. As far as North Carolina's building codes, I sure don't know. There are sections is most model building codes for adobe. These, being unfired clay bricks, would be subject to the codes that talk about adobe.
5. Yes they have, but I think it's only been done on hydraulic machines, not mechanical pressers. I can't seem to put my finger on a link right now.

Thank you for your answers. Unfortunately my area in coastal NC receives a lot of rain .... which I imagine would not be favorable to green bricks. Have you ever heard of individuals firing their own CEBs to make them stronger?

I am very excited and interested in this but I have some questions.
1- Do the bricks have to be fired to be cured?
2- What is the curing time?
3- Will water destroy/deteriorate the bricks? (Is it like a normal fired brick or will it wash away?)
4- Is it feasible to build a dwelling structure using CEB? If so will it pass NC building codes?
5- Has anyone made an interchangeable mold cavity for the machine so that multiple molds can be used in the same press?

Thank you in advance for the input on any or all of these questions!

Below is the design I'm looking to implement. Instead of using tarps, we will uset the pool liners from our old bladder pool. It is vinyl, very thick, UV resistant. I appreciate your help and will update this thread when we get everything up and running.

http://www.plamondon.com/hoop-coop.html

Thank you! I also have to mention that a bit of the available area is under pine trees. I've cleared some out, but the the ground is covered with pine straw and not grass. Is this a huge concern? Do they need grass or can they pick the bugs from the pine straw litter? We may rake up the straw and try to plant some sort of ground cover that works in a semi shaded, acidic soil.

I live in coastal NC and I'm planning on getting about 18 hens for egg production (and eventually meat.) I would like to try a mobile coop and rotating paddocks but I'm not sure how much area is needed for a flock this size. I have about an acre to work with and live in a rural/agricultural area. Is this a viable solution or should I just stick with a coop/run setup as I originally planned?