Different Types of Homes in the Desert

Adobe Houses

• Adobe housing is perhaps one of the most iconic desert homes. An adobe house gets its name from its primary construction material, adobe bricks. The bricks are a mix of straw and clay that bakes in the heat of the desert sun. Builders stack the bricks, cementing them in place with adobe mortar. There is a wide range of homes you can build using adobe. The bricks can insulate the house against the desert heat during the day and the chilling temperatures at night.

Rammed Earth Homes

• A rammed earth home starts out with a frame like any other house, but the construction method after that is quite different. Instead of filling a house with traditional fiberglass insulation, you fill the hollow frame with sacks full of clay or dense materials. Punch down the bags as you stack them to make a dense filling for the walls. Continue until you completely fill the frame. Once you finish stacking and packing the bags, you can cover the walls in cement or stucco. The design works well for a desert environment because it can stand up to the harsh, dry conditions.

Straw Bale Homes

• The straw bale home construction is similar to the construction of a traditional home, but you replace the fiberglass insulation with packed straw. The straw keeps out the intense heat of the desert sunlight while holding in heat during the cold nights. Straw bale homes do not work well in colder, damper conditions because the hay will decompose if exposed to moisture. Even in the dry conditions of the desert, you want to seal your walls thoroughly to prevent moisture buildup in the walls.

Considerations

• Any desert home should have thick insulation that keeps the inside of the house at a consistent temperature. It should also have strong exterior that seals the inside. An improperly sealed home can lead to sand buildup in your home and infestations by small desert animals. That is why adobe and stucco exteriors are so popular in desert climates. Unlike vinyl siding or wood logs, stucco and adobe completely seal the exterior of the home.