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Extreme weather on the rise -

It is no great secret that extreme weather poses a threat to our homes. As hurricanes, tsunamis, and wildfires become more common, communities must adapt to keep themselves safe.

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Protective measures -

One technique people are using to keep themselves safe in the event of a wildfire is to rebuild their homes using mud.

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Long history of earth homes -

With a long history all over the world, there are examples of earth homes to be found in many cultures, from the pit cave dwellings in northern China to the mud homes in Sana’a, Yemen.

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Neglected building material -

That said, in the US, mud has largely been neglected as a construction material for the past few decades. As the risk of wildfire continues to increase, however, that is beginning to change.

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Resurgence -

In the wake of recent fires in the US, several residents have made the decision to (re)build their homes using fire-resistant earth blocks.

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Example case -

Denver-based couple Melanie Glover and Matteo Rebeschini, for example, made this decision after their home was destroyed by fast-moving winds and hot flames in December 2021.

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Home burned to the ground -

As the fire rolled through their neighborhood, they were trapped with their children in the front foyer of their home for 30 minutes. Their house burned around them.

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Residual trauma -

Thankfully, all family members escaped unharmed once the fire passed. However, the experience left them with lasting trauma.

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Rebuilding -

In the wake of this terrible event, the couple was determined to rebuild their home, this time using a material that would hold up better in the event of a fire.

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Research findings -

Glover's instinct was to use dirt, since it doesn’t burn. And indeed, her instinct has been backed up by initial research.

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Strengthened by fire -

In fact, early research suggests that not only are earth homes extraordinarily able to withstand wildfire, but that they may even strengthen after exposure.

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Blowtorch test -

In 2021, researchers at the University of California, Davis did a series of tests in which they took a blowtorch to a compressed earth block at nearly 1,900°C (3,452°F). That is far hotter than the average wildfire.

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Kiln-like process -

Upon exposure to this incredible heat, the earth blocks hardened and turned to red clay. The process is similar to what happens to pottery in a kiln.

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Caveat -

Despite these promising results, it is important to note that these earth blocks themselves have not yet been put to the test in an actual fire.

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Real-life evidence -

That said, there are real-life examples of earth homes holding up much better in a fire than homes made of other, less durable materials.

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Bobcat Fire -

When the Bobcat Fire hit Littlerock, California in 2020, for example, the earth was blackened for miles around. However, the 2008 earth home belonging to resident Stevie Love survived.

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Other advantages -

In addition to their durability and heat-resistant properties, mud homes are also more environmentally friendly than homes made of traditional materials.

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Environmentally friendly -

This is because they are generally made from local and abundant materials, which reduces the need to rely on imported resources with high emissions.

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Energy efficient -

Earth homes also tend to be more energy efficient, since mud has excellent thermal mass, which means it is great at regulating internal temperatures.

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Less expensive to run -

This reduces the need for heating and cooling systems and keeps running costs down. To a large extent, this makes up for mud homes being more expensive to build.

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Offsetting building costs -

Indeed, studies show that earth homes are more expensive to build than traditional homes, although generally less expensive than other green alternatives.

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Current challenges -

Despite all the great reasons to build a home from earth, there are still currently some challenges with using the material.

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Sensitivity to moisture -

Firstly, earth is very sensitive to moisture. This means that mud homes must be managed very carefully in order to prevent damage from water or humidity.

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Limited design flexibility -

Mud can also be quite restrictive in terms of the design and architectural style it allows. This means that mud architects have limited design flexibility.

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Convincing the wider industry -

Perhaps the biggest challenge faced by proponents of this building material, however, is getting the wider construction industry to accept it and adapt.

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Mixing with cement -

Currently, for example, builders tend to mix dirt with binders such as cement, since they are pushed by codes to treat them as bricks. However, that is not the right way to use the material.

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Tackling the problem -

In order to tackle this, researchers are working on a set of standards that would help local governments set codes for using earth as a building material in the US.

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Mortgages and insurance -

There is also a problem with getting mortgage lenders and insurers to create policies that are able to accommodate earth homes.

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The status quo -

Currently, for example, earth homes are much more expensive to insure than traditionally built homes, which doesn’t make sense when you consider their higher durability.

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All in all -

Mud seems to have great potential as a fire-resistant, energy efficient, and environmentally-friendly resource. It may be a while before mud homes become the norm, however.

Sources: (BBC) (The Mud Home)

See also: The sustainable cities made of mud

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