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GUEST HOUSE IN CORNVILLE, ARIZONA
The Beginning: The trench is dug.
Tamping the Soil: We tamp the loose soil remaining in the trench.
Setting the Form: The interior of the form is set first. Notice the insulation is buried on the exterior side of the grade beam.
Done with the Pour: The concrete is poured, the grade beam is complete and this shovel is shot....and so is my back.
Making Bricks on Site: Kevin keeps busy stacking bricks. Two people can comfortably make more than a 1,000 a day.
First Bricks: The first two courses are the most important bricks in the wall. Their course work dictates the pattern to the top of the wall.
The Story Pole Told: The Story Poles or Speed Leads keep the wall plumb and mark each course's starting point.
The Work Space: The first day's completion of adobes.
The Slurry Method Employed: The slurry is nothing but water and the clay mixed to a milkshake consistancy; and a cheap milkshake at that.
Slurried Wall: The arguements for and against a slurry wall are many. One thing is for sure, the wall itself is quick to construct but finishing is a must.
The Double Wall: The double wall has no equal for thermal performance in the American Southwest. Unfortunately, it's twice the materials, the labor and the cost. But you must weigh the advantages of having a double wall and having no heating or cooling bills!
Trouble! These three adoberos are comfortable in the dirt or the brewery! Yours in Mud, Erik, Pepe & Adam.
Setting the Bucks: Each buck will be mechanically attached to the wall at various points as the adobe wall rises. This is an important point to remember when using wood bond beams.
The Walls Take Shape: The walls rise to take their shape.
Setting Windows: The bucks were built around the windows and set into the wall.
The Final Bricks: Adam rests with relief and satisfaction. The adobes have been set and it's now time for the wood bond beam.
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Ready for the Bond Beam: The wallls and bucks are set to final height and the wood bond beam is next.
Wood Bond Beam Connections: Erik and Pepe set pieces of the wood bond beam.
Wood Beams: A double wall calls for a "double" bond beam. The code states that the the bond beam must cover two-thirds of the wall's width.
Wood Bond Beam: The wood bond beam is now complete and the roof structure can now be constructed.
Completed Bond Beam.
Can You See It? The shadows of fall's lingering light rests on the newly completed wood bond beam.
Adam's Keep'n it Real!
East Elevation.
North Elevation. (And our mascot, Chaka!)
West Elevation.
South Elevation.
Plaster: The interior plaster is wrapped tightly up to the wood bucks and bond beam.
Interior Plaster: Notice the end of the future cooling tube; we ran this tube to just under the outdoor shower in the garden. The idea is hot air in the house will rise out of the cooling tower, drawing cooler air from the garden into the house.
Window Details: The windows are set flush to the wood bucks and the plaster "rolls" to the bucks. Also notice the window and door bucks are directly connected to the wood bond beam. This serves to add a "hold down" support to the wood bond beam.
Finished! The exterior plaster is finished and our time is done!