Adobe 102 “Adobe Wall Construction”
Institution: Northern New Mexico College – El Rito Campus
Course Title: Adobe 102 “Adobe Wall Construction” (Blackboard/Internet)
Degree: This class can be applied to NNMC’s Certificate in Adobe Construction.
Instructor: Kurt Gardella
Credits: 4
Dates and Registration: see www.adobecollege.com
This 8-week internet course covers the fundamentals of building earthen walls using mud bricks. We begin at the top of the foundation wall and work our way up to the bond beam. We work through all wall-relevant parts of the current New Mexico Earthen Building Materials Code to help define key vocabulary and building procedures of a typical mud brick wall. We also look at and discuss methods of installing windows and doors into the wall.
Theoretical topics include: overview of most important earthen wall-building techniques used worldwide, in-depth discussion of all NM Earthen Building Materials Code sections dealing with walls (from foundation up to bond beam, including window and door openings), in-depth discussion of R-values, U-values, insulation techniques of walls, thermal storage and transmission properties of earthen walls, in-depth discussion of why the department prefers the mud bricks for earthen walls, basic overview of plumbing and electrical installation.
Step-by-step hands-on video demos include: constructing and setting up speed leads for mud brick walls, mixing mud mortar for wall construction, applying mortar to the wall, applying mortar to higher parts of wall (over shoulder technique), correct brick coursing and leveling with a special focus on corners, cutting adobe bricks, constructing gringo blocks and rough bucks, inserting gringo blocks and rough bucks into a mud brick wall, constructing and inserting lintels, constructing and inserting wood bond beams.
The course also provides you with podcast interviews on the above topics with our department chair Quentin Wilson. An online discussion group for interacting with the instructor and fellow students also accompanies the course.