We started our journey in the big coastal cities of Peru where most people live in houses or apartments made from dried cement or concrete. Many cities are this way which is why they are sometimes called “The Concrete Jungle.” When concrete is combined with steel re-enforcement, it is nearly indestructible. Only an earthquake can shake the strong buildings enough to bring them down. Unfortunately, the coastal region of Peru where this method of construction is used is also very prone to earthquakes.

The process of creating concrete walls, floors, and ceilings involves a combination of sand, cement, water, and a form. An entire wall or floor can be made at one time if there is enough concrete available. In Peru, concrete is mixed in small batches by hand. Hand construction is a lot of work, involving many people and a lot of time.

As we entered the arid deserts of western Peru, we saw a shift from concrete to adobe homes. Adobe bricks are very durable and strong. The oldest structures in the world are made of adobe. While in the western desert of Peru, we visited ruins of the ancient city of Tucume that was made of adobe over 700 years ago! We were lucky to stay in an adobe hotel because it is comfortably cool in the hot desert sun. Unlike concrete, adobe is not used for floors or ceilings. Adobe buildings typically have metal roofs and packed-dirt floors.

Adobe is made by mixing clay, sand, straw and other organic materials. Like concrete, it is also a lot of work. The muddy mixture is shaped into bricks using wooden frames. Then the adobe bricks are dried by the sun for several weeks. Once dry, the bricks are stacked and combined with a clay mortar or glue. Adobe is a very resourceful and inexpensive way to build.

More recently, as we’ve entered the cloud forest and rainforest, we’ve noticed the houses are typically built with wood. We saw a few log cabins in the higher altitudes where colder temperatures are more common. Here logs are laid on top of each other horizontally. A muddy mortar is packed in the gap between layers of log.

Most wooden houses are built using the post-and-beam method. Posts, which stand up and down, are buried a few feet into ground. Then beams, which run horizontally, are nailed, screwed, or tied to the posts. The type of wood used varies on what the builder wants the wood to do: stay straight, bend a little bit, resist rotting, etc. It also has to be wood type that is easily available.

Construction of any home in these rural villages is typically a community effort. This is a pretty neat concept that people help each other construct buildings. “You help me when I need it, and then I’ll help you when you need it.” I think the world could learn a lot from this idea.

Build it Strong,

Patrick

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