Adobe Wall Construction 2025 (Online)

Format: 6-Week Online Class
Dates: July 7 to August 17, 2025
Credits: 3
Location: Online Instruction via Canvas
Instructor: Kurt Gardella

This course covers the fundamentals of building earthen walls using adobe blocks. We begin the wallbuilding process by laying a first course of adobes onto the foundation wall. We continue course by course to the top of the wall ending with the installation of a wood bond beam. We work through all wall-related sections of the current New Mexico Earthen Building Materials Code. We define key concepts and correct building procedures of a typical load-bearing adobe block wall. We also examine different methods of installing window and door openings into the wall.