Help on Mud Houses about there foundation....10 pts!?

Question

I need sites that talks about how the foundation of a mud house is built. Thank You in advance.

Answer 1

I'm not sure where you live, so you probably need to check if there are foundation requirements and other structural codes to deal with.

By mud house, I would assume that would encompass any of the following:

cob (basically clay)
adobe (sun dried bricks
rammed earth (framework with mud compressed inside)
wattle and daub (cane or bamboo woven together is covered in mud)

You can try doing a search with the more specific term and see what comes up.

So I picked adobe as an example. I found sites such as this which will give you links to more details:

http://architecture.about.com/od/planbooks/tp/adobe_plans.htm

http://www.architecturalhouseplans.com/home_plans/227
has a plan for one--notes that it was designed to have a SLAB foundation but that it could be altered to a crawlspace or full or partial basement

More house plans:
http://southwestern.coolhouseplans.com/

I think you're going to find that to have a truly secure base, you're probably going to want a slab foundation.

If you agree, you can look at sites like this that take you through constructing a slab on grade foundation:

http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/home_building/article/0,2085,DIY_13953_2512213,00.html

http://www.bobvila.com/HowTo_Library/Foundations_An_Overview-Foundation-A1670.html

Some books from the library wouldn't be bad either, but just make sure you meet code where ever you are. I'd be willing to spend more on a foundation than other aspects of a house. If you have foundation problems, you are in such a world of hurt. Most can be repaired, but the cost is great.

Answer 2

The first prairie homes were built of mud (Grass plugs) because it was there and, easy to use.
A hill was picked out and the back of the house was put to the rear. Then the sides were build out along a scheduled size and the sod clunks were laid down one on top of the other, chinking with mud and straw.

Sometimes, a rich family bought there own glass but, usually oiled paper was used for this. The doors of course and swinging Windows completed the task.

The floor mentioned was sweep to a high shine and kept quite clean and flat after awhile. A cistern was dug under the kitchen and the rain water allowed to run into this for a water supply. Sometimes an addition for animals was added to the side for the safety of these animals. Pigs and hens on one side, houses and mules on the other, the grass grew on top, goats and even cows raged up there. Chicken were allowed to range, they kept the bugs down around the house.

Freash meat was hung inside due to lack of refregeration, the cooking was done over an open fire, smoking the fresh meat hanging or, it was done outside sepertly then hung inside from the rafters. Straw was used for bedding and changed regularly for the nits and lice.

Answer 3

A google search would have brought up several sites to find this information.

Answer 4

http://www.auroville.org/thecity/architecture/arch_regina_mudhousei.htm

the first entry in google.....