Poured adobe building construction and method of forming same

摘要

Heretofore, commercial adobe construction has involved bricks or blocks of adobe (a sand and clay mixture prevalent in Western United States). In accordance with this invention, foundation footings of concrete are poured with the lower edges of wire mesh reinforcing material embedded or in otherwise attached to the horizontal foundation beams, one adjacent to each face of the adobe wall to be constructed. Since the adobe walls do not accommodate vertical bearing loads, holes are dug in the earth at spaced intervals to receive reinforcing bar cages and the lower ends of posts which carry the roof load. After the foundation has set, modular forms are applied along either face of the wall and interconnected, preferably by snap ties. Each form has a frame around four edges and vertical members spaced between the vertical edge members, all preferably of 2×4's. The inner face of each form carries a diamond pattern expanded metal member. Adobe (preferably dug from the site) is pre-soaked (if necessary), in water in a pit, then mixed with coarse sand (if necessary to obtain preferred soil mix of 25- 45% clay and the rest sand) in a plastic mixture along with a waterproof emulsifier (asphalt), straw and water to a suitable viscosity and then poured or pumped between the forms. The excess water seeps through the expanded metal so that in about two weeks, in warm weather, the wall sets. The forms are removed by breaking the snap ties. Adobe smooth plaster coats the walls.