ADOBE BRICK, AN EFFECTIVE CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL

Arc. Boyce A. Odoko

Department of Architecture

National Institute of Construction Technology, Uromi, edo state.

E-mail: odokoarch@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Adobe bricks are known to be durable and long lasting when used in building construction, especially in dry climates like in Northern Nigeria or Southwest of the United States of America, New Mexico, for example.

In the Southwest of the United States of America, Adobe brick is produced by mixing soil (clay) with binding material straw and water. The straw holds the Adobe brick together like reinforcement, preventing the Adobe brick from cracking. Adobe bricks (mud bricks) are made of earth with fairly high clay content and straw. If produced manually the earth mix and cast in open mold on the ground and then left to dry out. Adobe bricks are only sun dried, not kiln – fired. When used for construction they are laid up into a wall using an earth mortar. Before drying out, the finished walls are smoothed down. Often a clay render is applied as a surface coating. The modern Adobe is stabilized with either emulsified asphalt or Portland cement up to 10% by weight.  However, most soil throughout the world is suitable for production of Adobe brick and it is economical. Sun backed clay bricks are one of earliest basic building materials used by man and indeed are still used today. This is because of their simplicity and low cost, low thermal conductivity, good acoustic properties, and at the end of a building’s life, the clay material can easily be reused by grinding, wetting or returned to the ground without any interference with the environment.

Key wards: Adobe bricks, construction material, earth construction, earth, compressed, soil, brick, rammed earth, earth buildings, style of architecture, popular material, durable and long lasting material, binding material, straw and water.