Basic Techniques 10

Basic Common Techniques of Different Types of Earthen Construction Continued

From Page(s) > 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5, 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10

Which covered a few of the Basics of the revitalized ancient and common Earthen Construction Techniques offered by Earthen Construction.
Including:

Page 8 - Hybrid {Combined} with Doors and Wood

Page 9 - Hybrid {Combined} with Paper

Page 10 - Sustainable Methods Continued with Brick, Cement and Stone

Page 11 - Other Rare Alternatives: including Cake Icing; Faux Details, Props and Staging;
Continued > 11

"One mans trash is another mans treasure." - Hector Urquhart - 1860?

Basic Common Techniques of Utilizing Found or Recycled Brick, Cement or Stone

In this page we will be discussing different Earthen Construction Techniques and again, the Alternatives in Natural Building Materials that can be found, that can be constructed and/or can be recycled or upcycled. Yet, because many of these are commonly found in Nature, one might not think of it as recycling as much as one does when they consider other materials for building, construction and/or recycling previously mentioned in this topic and my/our past pages on it. At the same time, Brick, Cement, Black Top and/or Stone... Buildings, structures and roadways... Are often demolished and the result is that there is debris of natural materials or waste left over for removal, recycle, and upcycle... Like all our materials discussed so far, depending on where you are? This supply may just be unlimited.

Funny thing about Rocks or Stones, they are natural and lay on the ground everywhere everyday and most do not see the value in them, until they need one to throw. Yet, try to have a load of them hauled in and it can cost you a small fortune depending on the type of rock or stone. After all, just look at what that diamond cost.

As we have seen in the previous pages, you can take any material and make it look a shabby or chic as you determine. Let us not forget that it is coal that becomes diamonds. Which may not be a real good example, as you probably wouldn't want to use either of these rocks to build with. Yet, I think you get my drift.

So many different types of rocks? So little time... So which one is right for you and your building project? Keep in mind, the Techniques or Process of Building may change according to the type of rock... That your working with, along with all that must be considered or examined when examining your goal or purpose for our project. All of which may just be determined by your surroundings and what is plentiful at the time.

As previously stated in our last page, all Hybrid Sustainability Techniques are dictated by the goal or purpose combined with best renewable supply of appropriate available material for y(our) budget, environment, household and community, conservation of resources, health, project and/or area... Keeping this, along with all the Keys and Rules of Holistic Hybrid Sustainability we have discussed in mind, the Examples and Techniques that follow are some that I believe to be some of the best Alternative Materials and Processes that I am aware of, have some experience with and could possibly offer.

Please, Allow me to Clarify once more, that Earthen Construction is not claiming responsibility for Constructing or Copy Rights for any of these Examples shown on this page(s). These are images found published in Commons and are only set here as examples of the type of Construction and Techniques I/we currently offer. Please See Our Gallery for some Examples of my/our work. Thank You!

All images are provided for educational purposes without profit and are {will be soon} linked to their original locations and you can click on that image to visit that site and/or to see more. Your Very Welcome! For the Free Advertising and Info. Abundant Blessings!

Rock or Stone is much like Wood in that there are numerous different types in different colors of different hardness-es. Meaning some are harder or softer than others. Which give each one different or unique advantages. For instance, sandstone which runs in different hardness-es on one hand is much easier to carve than granite which on the other, can hold even more detailed carvings, uphold better, and last longer in environmental and weather conditions over time. While limestone, which runs in different hardness-es is known to absorb odor, alkalize, break down certain matter and house or store energy, which maybe why it was used to cap off the outside layer of the pyramids later becomes labeled granite at a certain hardness.

Speaking of constructing sustainability. Depending on what is happening in your area and your resources. One might just be able to sustain ones self through the process of recycling, building, hauling, installing, processing, manufacturing, sales and/or supplying these demolished and recycled materials and/or gathering and distribution of other discarded found, natural or recyclable materials to the surrounding community and/or builders.

According to Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masonry

Masonry

The building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar; the term masonry can also refer to the units themselves. The common materials of masonry construction are brick, building stone such as marble, granite, travertine, and limestone, cast stone, concrete block, glass block, and cob. Masonry is generally a highly durable form of construction. However, the materials used, the quality of the mortar and workmanship, and the pattern in which the units are assembled can significantly affect the durability of the overall masonry construction. A person who constructs masonry is called a mason or bricklayer.

With all that said, where do we begin? Where most jobs begin, with a Lazar Level now days if you can afford one; they can be costly and are not a necessity as we have done without them until just in recent years. The way it has been done for centuries...

A Straight Line - Setting a String Line

String Line between two joists

Off Setting a String Line

Plumb Bobs and Plumb Levels

Plumb Bob
A String Line Brickie's or Mason's Plumb Level

A String Line Horizontal Plumb Level

Mortar (masonry) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortar_%28masonry%29

Mortar holding weathered bricks Mortar is a workable paste used to bind building blocks such as stones, bricks, and concrete masonry units together, fill and seal the irregular gaps between them, and sometimes add decorative colors or patterns in masonry walls. In its broadest sense mortar includes pitch, asphalt, and soft mud or clay, such as used between mud bricks. Mortar comes from Latin mortarium meaning crushed.

The Salisbury Cathedral

While seeing how things fit is a gift, just a thought on it all.

The Art of Masonry has manifested it's self in many forms, on many levels, see Free Masonry or Free Mason. Latin is the language that is used to communicate and define most of those levels and/or structures. Words and languages are like bricks or blocks, built one upon the other, can you see how the word Martyr = one who allows themselves to be crushed basically is an extension of the word - Mortar = meaning "crushed" Origin - Middle English, from Old English, from Late Latin, from Greek martyr-, martys witness First Known Use: before 12th century. From the construction and cor-operation of the builders of the Cathedrals and the Law, to Governments and Offices, Schools and Medicine,... One built upon the next, like the great building blocks of the great pyramids they have constructed over time. This is why the great pyramid is depicted on the dollar also created by those who illuminate the globe, the builders, designers and architects who built the market place where they rule.

A Look Inside ~ Salisbury Cathedral came into being when the seat of the Bishop moved from Old Sarum to Salisbury and work started on a new cathedral. ~ The period of construction unusually was over the space of less than 100 years. As a result it is built in only style of Gothic known as English Gothic. ~ The water table is so near to the surface of the site that the foundations are only four feet deep. ~ 60,000 tonnes of stone are used in this building, 6,400 of which are in the tower and spire. One tonne of stone is enough to make a single block. ~ 2800 tonnes of timber are used in the construction of the roof, the largest of the beams is a continuous piece of English Oak that is 24 metres long. ~ The windows contain 3,200 square metres of glass whilst the interior has no less than 12,000 tonnes of Purbeck marble. ~ Apart from the tower, the cathedral was actually completed in 1258. Construction on it began in the late 1260s and tower adds a further 33 metres to the height and is topped by 54.8 metre spire. ~ Weight of the structure on the four original columns under the crossing was such that they bulged by almost 23 centimetres until 112 wooden and stone buttresses were added to provide extra strength. ~ Despite this the tower leaned by 27 inches which required the building of the strainer arches in the central crossing and south western choir aisle to keep the spire level. The excess weight on the piers that support the tower and spire is estimated at 6,604,416 kilos meaning it shouldn't be standing... but is. This is believed to be entirely due to the fact that the original builders didn't remove the scaffolding inside the cathedral. ~ It is the tallest cathedral in Britain today. The spire is believed to have survived because the builders never got around to removing the scaffolding from inside.

Third through Fifth Dynasties ~ During the earliest period, pyramids were constructed wholly of stone. Locally quarried limestone was the material of choice for the main body of these pyramids, while a higher quality of limestone quarried at Tura (near modern Cairo) was used as the outer casing. Granite, quarried near Aswan, was used to construct some architectural elements, including the portcullis (a type of gate) and the roofs and walls of the burial chamber. Occasionally, granite was used in the outer casing as well, such as in the Pyramid of Menkaure. In the early pyramids, the layers of stone (called courses) forming the pyramid body were laid sloping inwards; however, this configuration was found to be less stable than simply stacking the stones horizontally on top of each other. The Bent Pyramid at Dahshur seems to indicate acceptance of a newer technique at a transition between these two building techniques. Its lower section is built of sloping courses, while in its upper section the stones are laid horizontally. ~ Middle Kingdom and onward ~ During the Middle Kingdom, pyramid construction techniques changed again. Most pyramids built then were little more than mountains of mud brick encased in a veneer of polished limestone. In several cases, later pyramids were built on top of natural hills to further reduce the volume of material needed in their construction. The materials and methods of construction used in the earliest pyramids have ensured their survival in a generally much better state of preservation than for the pyramid monuments of the later pharaohs.

When building or constructing any foundation there are some things that one may want to consider during the layout and estimation process beginning with purpose, height and size of the building project or structure and ending with the type of foundation that would be required to support it.

Basic Popular Designs

Foundations, Formulas and Recommendations

Other Recommendations Concerning Construction and Foundations

Moisture/Vapor Barrier(s)

Damp Basement, Crawlspace and/or Foundation Solution(s)

Particle Barrier

Insect/Termite Barrier(s)

Frost Barrier(s)

*It is Important to Note: Adding a Moisture or Vapor Barrier can be a big plus to any home, building or structure depending on how and where it is added. At the same time, if a moisture barrier is misconstructed it could cause the same damage that you were trying to prevent. This mistake of not applying a moisture barrier properly or not at all, is very common in my opinion. Especially in structures that have had a Contractor apply Vinyl Siding to Wood Framed homes or buildings... As most Contractors do not apply moisture barriers unless you are watching, though many probably have charged for the installation of one they did not install. While many Contractors really have no real idea how to install one properly, if they even know what it is. The idea is to keep moisture out and away from your foundation or structure, not to trap it in. This is especially important if you live near or on water, snow or if you live in a cold, humid, wet or moist climate.

** Warning: Living in a moldy environment can be Toxic! Living in a chemical filled environment can also be Toxic! Termites can be Toxic to wood!

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder"

Plato quoted it:

"Remember how in that communion only, beholding beauty with the eye of the mind, he will be enabled to bring forth, not images of beauty, but realities (for he has hold not of an image but of a reality), and bringing forth and nourishing true virtue to become the friend of God and be immortal, if mortal man may."

As you have seen in these incredible images {none of which we take any credit for as they were found published in commons and are only examples}, the Architect's eye combined with man's ability to adapt, build, construct or create, design, engineer, learn,... Sustain... Has lead us from humble and simple to some really amazing awesome and seemingly insane and/or impossible accomplishments.

Earthen Construction is dedicated to bringing your vision to life while helping you to accomplish peace/zen. Let us build it. See Our Gallery

The Fine Artist combined with the Architect combined with the Administer or Minister in me loves this image above though it is not of my own creation. It could have easily been. I would love to have the opportunity to prove that.

That is not intended in any way to discredit or take away from the actual Architect's and/or Artist/Creator of this remarkable piece. It is only to say, it is admired and it wouldn't hurt if we saw more creativity in construction...

Which drives some of it all. The opportunity for the ego to prove and to improve...

While some of it is driven by the souls desire and/or need to survive and/or sustain...

Then there is the drive to provide pure comfort and/or need for pure protection,...

While it seems there are few spirits who seek to create major change while at the same time leaving a very small foot print.

A Branch of Diverse Sanctuary Community Network Ministries