Browse Forums Owner Builder Forum Re: EcoStay building project 56Dec 23, 2018 10:00 am Last year we made enough mudbricks to complete this project, however since then we used a heap to build a kitchen for the studio and we've also made a few plan changes to the house. That means we are now short by about 2000 mudbricks. So, back to the mudpit for us. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ On a good day we can knock out about 200. Today it will be 39 degrees and since we're working in the sun we finished up at 7:00am with 63. Another 150 are drying in the shade and we have 350 in the shed already. We're promised a stinking hot Christmas / New Year .... ideal mudbrick making weather. Maybe I'll make my new year's resolution that I put on some weight. Re: EcoStay building project 57Dec 31, 2018 3:34 am We've had a change in the weather (it's been cooler and a few showers) so not really mudbrick making weather. There are now over 600 stored under cover. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ We've taken this opportunity to make a start on laying some mudbricks. These are the west and north walls of the downstairs store room. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ These are mudbricks we made last summer. So exciting to be actually creating a room. Re: EcoStay building project 58Dec 31, 2018 9:18 am Can you please post a pic of the brick making process? I'd love to see where and how you press and cut your fresh bricks. Mixer, mold, press, etc. Also do you set/lay with clay and cement or just the same clay you use for the bricks. Well done on your efforts so far. I can really see your skills and past efforts coming together on this new project. Re: EcoStay building project 59Jan 01, 2019 6:16 pm We have a dam that will (depending on summer rain) almost dry out by summer's end. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Once the water level is low enough we can drive the tractor in and dig out the mud that silts up the bottom. This is a mixture of sand, clay and small stones. We stockpile the mud up on the bank of the dam. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ We've dug a pit about a meter deep by five meters long. In this pit we add mud, straw and water, mixing it up with the tractor until it is a nice uniform Goldilocks consistency. Not too wet, not too dry....just right. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ From scrap timber and steel we've made a number of moulds, including a half brick size. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ We shovel the mud into the moulds by hand and then smooth off the top with a mudulator (Piece of board). Then lift off the mould and let them dry for a day or so. Once they are firm enough we'll turn them on their side to dry for another day. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Then we store them under cover, stacked on pallets to dry for a few more months. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ We'll sift the dried mud off the ground through a sieve (about 6mm) to make the mortar for laying the mudbricks. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ The mortar contains are no additives, just reconstituted mud. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Maybe there are better or other ways of doing this but this is the method we've found that works for us. The end result is a fantastic, sustainable, renewable, ecologically friendly building material that's cost us almost nothing but hard work. Re: EcoStay building project 60Jan 05, 2019 4:40 pm The store room walls are just about done. The walls are 350mm thick and offer great protection from the outside environment. We wanted a couple of small windows on the north wall just for a bit of light but didn't want to reduce the insulating effect of the thick mudbrick wall. We made up some double glazed windows using the glass doors from old front loader washing machines & driers. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Following these simple steps will help you mitigate unwanted costs, have your expectations met and give… 0 4622 DIY, Home Maintenance & Repair That laser level looks lovely! We bought one for less than a quarter of that price off eBay. It worked really well for us and it's still going now, five years later. After… 1 16897 |