The Unbelievable Power of Adobe Bricks

Adobe has been a common material used in Arizona for centuries. From houses to churches, adobe buildings were seen almost everywhere. What is adobe, and why was it so commonly used?

a large stone structure sitting in the middle of a desert

Adobe

Adobe is one of the oldest and most effective building materials used by early man. According to the Arizona Archaeological Society, adobe is made out of a combination of clay or mud, straw, and water. Once the mixture was made, it would be shaped into bricks and placed outside in the sun until TO dry.

Unlike modern fired bricks, adobe relies on natural evaporation, making it inexpensive and environmentally efficient. Its composition tends to vary by region, but in Arizona, where clay is abundant, people could make adobe no matter where they chose to settle.

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Ruinous adobe wall framing desert landscape with saguaro cactus.

Why did people in Arizona use it so much?

Adobe was an effective building material in an environment as warm as Arizona. It is a very temperature-effective material, as heat travels very slowly through it. During the day, the sun would hit the exterior walls, and the heat would slowly reach the interior walls, usually around the time the sun went down, then vice versa. This thermal process kept adobe buildings cool during the day and warm at night.

It is also relatively simple to build with adobe. You would form the brick, let it try, stack them, and plaster them together, then seal the outside. While it was time-consuming, minimal tools were needed, and in team work based communties, a house could be put together in no time.

FUN FACT: The Grand Canyon is full of complex and well-preserved adobe structures that date back thousands of years.

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a stone building built into the side of a mountain

Cons of Adobe

Adobe isn't waterproof, making it risky to build with in areas with flash floods and lots of moisture. This vulnerability can cause cracking, erosion, and structural weakening if not taken care of properly.

This material also requires a lot of maintenance, especially during the rainy months. Adobe buildings that were used a lot would require regular re-plastering, sealing, and repairing of cracks to keep the building stable.

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An adobe building being replastered. / Russell Lee, Getty Images

Overtime other methods of construction were developed that were less labour-intensive and more efficient. Despite that, Adobe is still commonly used to this day. It is the perfect building material for the dry climate and warm weather found in Arizona.

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