Earth Materials

Earth materials include minerals, rocks, soil and water. These are the naturally occurring

materials found on Earth that constitute the raw materials upon which our global society
exists. Earth materials are vital resources that provide the basic components for
life, agriculture and industry. Earth materials can also include metals and precious rocks.

Definition

Mud, a mixture of earth and water, is economical, practical, functional and attractive. It is
easy to work with, and it takes decoration as well. Mud is especially useful in humid and hot
climates. Mud is a natural building material that is found in abundance, especially where
other building materials such as bricks, stone or wood are scarce due to affordability and or
availability. The mud architecture is a great resource that focuses on architecture constructed
of mud brick, rammed earth, compressed earth block and other methods of earthen
construction.

 COB

With only a little water to form a very stiff mud, a large lump is roughly moulded into the
shape of a huge elongated egg.  The usual size is anything between 12 to 18-inches, (30 to
40-cm) long and about 6- inches (15-cm) in diameter.  A row of these cobs of mud are laid
neatly side-by-side - preferably somewhat pressed together.  Then another row of cobs is
laid on top.  When three or four courses have been laid, one above the other, the sides are
smoothed over so that the holes and cracks disappear.  Openings for doors, and windows are
a problem, which can be solved by using temporary vertical planks or shuttering.  Another
very simple shuttering for openings is to use empty kerosene tins. COB is good for anything
except height. It is particularly good for curved or round walls.

 Rammed Earth
The second method has developed from the cob wall so as to standardize or regularize the
thickness of the wall. It is also an attempt to increase the strength of the wall by ramming it.
It is known as the Rammed Earth method. Two parallel planks are held firmly apart by metal
rods and clips or bolts, or by small crosspieces of wood. Stiff mud is thrown in between these
two planks and rammed down with either a wooden or metal ramrod. When one section is
completed and hard, the two boards are moved along and the process is repeated The two
planks are then raised up and a second course of rammed earth is repeated over the first.
RAMMED EARTH is strong and ideal for solid, squat, single storey houses.
 Adobe
Blocks shall be kept covered with air tight polythene sheets for first 48 hrs with relative
humidity up to 100. Polythene sheets shall be removed after 48 hrs and the blocks shall be
kept in shaded area like having enough air circulation.  Sprinkle water over blocks daily, as
many times needed, during 28 days. Blocks shall be kept covered with air tight polythene
sheets for first 48 hrs with relative humidity up to 100. Polythene sheets shall be removed
after 48 hrs and the blocks shall be kept in shaded area like having enough air circulation.
Sprinkle water over blocks daily, as many times needed, during 28 days. ADOBE or SUN
DRIED BRICKS can easily cope with two storey houses.
 Wattle & Daub
Wattle and daub method is an old and common method of building mud structures. There
bamboo and cane frame structure that supports the roof. Mud is plastered over this mesh of
bamboo cane and straws. Due to excessive rainfall the Wattle and Daub structures gets
washed off. However, the mesh of cane or split bamboo remains intact and after the heavy
rain is over the mud is plastered on again. WATTLE & DAUB is elegant and fine for Seismic
Zones.
 Earth Bag Construction
Earth bag construction is an inexpensive method to create structures which are both strong
and can be quickly built. It is a natural building technique. The technique requires very basic
construction materials: sturdy sacks, filled with inorganic material usually available on site.
Standard earth bag fill material has internal stability. Either moist subsoil that contains
enough clay to become cohesive when tamped, or an angular gravel is used.  Walls are
gradually built up by laying the bags in courses forming a staggered pattern similar to
bricklaying.  The most popular type of bag is made of solid-weave polypropylene, such as
the type often used to transport rice or other grains. Polypropylene is chosen for its low cost
and its resistance to water damage, rot, and insects.
 Sod
Sod or turf is grass and the part of the soil beneath it held together by the roots, or a piece of
thin material. Such material is more usually known as turf, and the word "sod" is limited
mainly to agricultural senses. Rolled sod Golf course turf Sod is typically used for lawns, golf
courses, and sports stadiums around the world. In residential construction, it is sold
tolandscapers, home builders or home owners who use it to establish a lawn quickly and
avoid soil erosion. Sod can be used to repair a small area of lawn, golf course, or athletic field
that has died. Sod is also effective in increasing cooling, improving air and water quality, and
assisting in flood prevention by draining water. Sod Roofing
 Earth Rammed
Tire Walls The market for scrap tires continues to increase. Whether used as fuel, ground and
recycled into new products, rethreaded or used in civil engineering projects, their rate of
recycling and reuse continues to climb. One such method of reuse is beginning to gain
popularity among eco-friendly builders: building with tires.
 Earthen Floor
An earthen floor, also called an adobe floor, is a floor made of dirt, raw earth, or other
unworked ground materials. It is usually constructed, in modern times, with a mixture of
sand, finely chopped straw and clay, mixed to a thickened consistency and spread with a
trowel on a sub-surface such as concrete. Once dry, it is then usually saturated with several
treatments of a drying oil. Benefits: • Variety of colours, textures, and materials • Can be
installed over nearly any subflooring • Integrates well with in-floor radiant heat tubing • One
of the cheapest flooring methods, green or otherwise. In modern times, most earthen floors
are often laid over the top of a subfloor of tamped gravel or cob or adobe, and then a mixture
of clay, sand and fiber are mixed and levelled onto the subfloor. The finished layer can be 1/2
to 2 inches thick, and A drying oil like Linseed oil is usually used to seal the floor and protect
it from wear and tear. A final coat of a wax sealing finish (perils oil or floor wax) can be used
to increase durability and lustre.
 Earthen plaster
(Adobe plaster) is a blend of clay, fine aggregate, and fibre. Other common additives include
pigments, lime, and casein, prickly pear cactus juice (Opuntia), manure, and linseed oil.
Earthen plaster is usually applied to masonry, cob, or straw bale interiors or exteriors as a
wall finish. It provides protection to the structural and insulating building components as well
as texture and colour. Earthen Plaster Additives are usually blended with the clay, sand, and
natural fiber to improve the workability and strength of a plaster. Some of the most common
additives are wheat flour paste, manure, cactus juice, casein (milk protein) and various
natural oils such as linseed oil.
Advantage
 The main advantage of mud is; it is eco-friendly.
 Mud flooring is a very cheap option compared to PVC or any other type of flooring.
 There is no health concern in case of mud flooring whereas PVC flooring emits high
VOC compound which is not good for health.
 Mud flooring has ability to control the temperature variations. During summer it stays
cool and vice a versa during winter time. It can provide fairly warm atmosphere.
 It is a fire resistant compared to PVC flooring.
 Skilled labours not required to do the mud flooring.
 Low cost, good resistant to fire, good temperature insulation, good sound-proofing;
and being a natural resource that is readily available from earth. However, mud
construction have also some weaknesses such as they can be easily destroyed by
wind, rain and flooding if it is not protected well enough, they require more care and
maintenance as they are a weak building material that would even be affected by
dampness or dry weather, it may also have a musty smell when first finished
construction, if the mud contains decaying organic matters such as leaves, plants and
vegetable matters,

Disadvantages
 It is not durable as compared PVC flooring.
 Mud flooring requires frequent maintenance, once or twice in a week.
 The surface of the mud flooring is not smooth as compared PVC flooring.
 Mud flooring gets weathered due to certain activities i.e. walking, moving of
furniture, etc.
 It is not moisture resistant therefore there are chances of the growth of bacteria which
is unhygienic.
 It dost not resist heavy load as the floor gets dent.
 Mud flooring has low resistance to stain as it has high porosity.
 Its life is limited.
 ADAMA SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF CIVIL AND
ARCHITECTURE
ARCHITECTURE DEPARTMENT
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN STUDIO II

ASSIGNMENT FOUR
Emerging Building Materials and Technology
 
BY-MERON TUFA A/UE16355/10
 
 
 
 
 
 
SUB DATE-13/11/2021
SUB TO – JEMAL SALIH