Historic Adobe Houses

What is Adobe

• Adobe is a building material that uses readily available materials found in climates such as the Southwestern United States and South America. Adobe bricks are made from clay, sand and water, with straw or grass used as a binder, according to a webpage on the National Park Service website. The adobe material works well in these climates because the adobe can absorb the variances in moisture in the atmosphere in these areas.

How Adobe Houses Are Made

• The ingredients of adobe are mixed to a plastic consistency and poured into brick molds, then turned out of the molds and allowed to dry for four days. They are then air-cured for up to four weeks before being used for construction. The bricks are then assembled into walls of the structure. Mud is used for the mortar because it has the same moisture absorption properties of the adobe bricks. A long, wooden timber was often laid with the top row of bricks of the building to be the weight-bearing, horizontal piece for the roof.

Where to Find Historic Adobe Houses

• Many historic adobe houses and buildings are found throughout the American Southwest and in California. Many of these are owned by the state or municipalities and are preserved for the education and enjoyment of visitors. New Mexico maintains a number of historic adobe buildings in Santa Fe, Taos and other towns along the Santa Fe Trail, according to Santa Fe Unlimited Architecture. The city of Yuma, Arizona, preserves three historic adobe buildings that were built in the 1860s that can be viewed by visitors to the area. Vista, California, maintains a 163-year-old adobe building that is open for tours. Many of these houses are registered as National Historic Landmarks.

Preservation of Historic Adobe Houses

• Wind, water, improper construction materials and poor foundations can all cause deterioration in adobe houses. Adobe itself is a material that deteriorates naturally. With the help of qualified architects and workers skilled in the techniques of adobe re-construction, these homes are restored and maintained as close to their original condition as possible. Every reasonable effort is made to retain the original character of the structures.