Blocks
Compressed Earth Blocks
Compressed earth blocks (CEBs) are a low-carbon masonry unit. This building material utilizes clay as the primary binder, which minimizes the need for cement. Clay has been used as a building material consistently for over 10,000 years. We use the same mix design as our ancestors and achieve higher compressive strengths with machinery and technology. CEBs have an impressive low carbon footprint due to the fact they are made with local materials that are considered overburden to the quarry. The blocks are unfired, easy to construct, and energy-efficient. In fact, the majority of our homes use minimal mechanical heating or cooling throughout the year.
Click above to request a quote for CEB, Adobe Bricks, earth mortar or plaster materials. Our team will work with you on identifying suitable blocks, quantities, delivery options, and design.
We would love to show you around production yard where we make CEBs and adobes. Contact us to set up a tour.
Making and Building with Compressed Earth Blocks
Colorado Earth utilizes a custom line of equipment for block manufacturing. An overview of the production process is shared below/
Origin of Material
Origin of our material is a nearby quarry 0.75 miles away. We use overburden material from aggregate mining excavations.
The soil is a sandy clay mix with the correct percentages of each to make a suitable block.
Manufacturing Site
Once the material is delivered to the site, the manufacturing process begins.
The fact the material is local and comes from such a short distance gives rise to one of the lowest embodied energy building material available on the market today.
Screening the Soil
The material is screened on-site to approximately 3/8” which is used for block making.
Running the Equipment
Our continuous line of equipment allows for streamlined production. The screened material is loaded into the two primary hoppers, and a separate hopper which holds the stabilizer (lime or cement).
The pictures below show the process.
Natural Fines are delivered to the Block Machine for compression
Screened soil and cement are mixed together at a constant rate to achieve 6.5% stabilization. This hydrated soil is delivered to the block machine.
Block Production
Blocks are ejected from the machine and the fresh blocks are stacked directly onto a pallet where they will be transported to the building site.
Wall Construction
Compressed Earth Blocks are structural and do not require any other supporting wall system. A continuous bond beam is placed over the top of the wall and the finished walls are typically plastered with a lime-based coating for long-lasting protection.
Finished Product
The finished product is timeless and will last for generations, providing a safe and healthy home.
Adobe Bricks
Adobe bricks have been produced for over 10,000 years. The same material that is used to make the CEBs is used to make adobes. Here the mixture is wet and poured into forms on the ground. The freshly molded bricks can be handled the next day and put into a stack where they are left to air dry. Our specially shaped bricks incorporate services, scaffolding, and reinforcement. The bricks have slight undulation and the finished wall is generally more organic in appearance.
Our team will work with you on what size blocks would be most suitable, quantities, delivery options, and design.
Earthen Mortar and Plasters
Links to Lime and Earthen Plaster recommendations:
Living Craft – www.livingcraft.design
Lime Strong Build- www.limestrongbuild.com
BioLime – www.biolime.com
We provide screened mortar and earth plaster material for your projects. CEBs and adobes are laid in the wall using the same material as the blocks, but screened down further for mortar, and even finer for plaster.
It can be difficult to describe in words the feeling when you are inside a well-constructed earthen home. It could be the fact that natural finishes manage moisture, thus regulating indoor humidity levels, and lowering the chance of mold growth. Or it could be the thermal mass, helping to regulate the inside temperature. Or the fact you’ll never have to paint. Listen to what our home owners have to say:
“I like the texture and the way they reflect light…the feeling of a dense surrounding. Warmth.”
“I love the general appearance of my adobe walls. They give the interior a quiet, calm atmosphere.”
“I like the feeling of solidity and the sense of mass.”