Building with Earth: Design and Technology of a Sustainable Architecture

Joints

When loam elements are joined to posts,

beams, windows or doorframes, the follow-

ing 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 equilib-

rium moisture content).

• Timber structures continue to swell and
  shrink slightly in use due to adsorption and
  desorption of humidity.
  Illustration 14 .1shows some possible joint
  designs of stranglehmrespectively loam-
  filled hoses, adobes and lightweight loam
  with posts of timber or brickwork, or with
  door and window frames of timber.

107 Designs of building elements

14 Designs of particular building elements

14.1 Possible joint
designs of stranglehm
respectively loam-
filled hoses, adobes
and lightweight loam
with posts of timber
or brickwork, or with
door and window
frames of timber.
(horizontal sections)

Lightweight loam

stranglehm or

loam hoses

Loam plaster

Earth blocks

Timber

Bricks 14 .1