SCREEN THE SOIL

The selected soil must be screened through mesh having openings of one quarter inch square.

ADDING THE CEMENT

Depending upon the intended use of the blocks and the climatic conditions, excellent results can be obtained using between 5 and 10 percent cement. After screening the soil, sprinkle the measured amount of cement evenly and mix thoroughly. Generally, a higher percentage of cement will result in a block having greater resistance to erosion, absorption and abrasion. The house illustrated elsewhere in this site, was built using 8 percent cement and has withstood almost twenty winters at an altitude of over 6000 feet without problem.

MOISTURE CONTENT

The amount of moisture used in the mixture is one of the most critical requirements. A simple test to determine the correct amount of moisture is to squeeze a ball of soil mix in your hand. If the ball can be broken into two pieces without crumbling and without leaving moisture on your hand, the mixture is correct. Should the mix be too dry, sprinkle small amounts of water evenly and mix thoroughly until the right consistency is reached.

NOTE: Lime may be substituted for cement, but in doing so, double the quantity of lime used and double the curing time as well.