Building with earth - Gernot MINKE (1)

14 Designs of particular building elements
Joints
When loam elements are joined to posts,
beams, windows or doorframes, the following
considerations have to be kept in mind:
• With the wet loam techniques a gap
occurs at the joint due to the shrinkage of
the loam.
• Even when the loam is dry or when dry
loam elements are used, gaps may occur
due to the contraction of the timber during
its drying, a process which might take up to
two years (till the timber achieves its equilibrium
moisture content).
• Timber structures continue to swell and
shrink slightly in use due to adsorption and
desorption of humidity.
Illustration 14.1 shows some possible joint
designs of stranglehm respectively loamfilled
hoses, adobes and lightweight loam
with posts of timber or brickwork, or with
door and window frames of timber.
14.1 Possible joint
designs of stranglehm
respectively loamfilled
hoses, adobes
and lightweight loam
with posts of timber
or brickwork, or with
door and window
frames of timber.
(horizontal sections)
Lightweight loam
Loam plaster
Timber
stranglehm or
loam hoses
Earth blocks
Bricks
14.1
107
Designs of building elements