Taos building trends
A lot of new houses in Taos are constructed with building materials that are not so well known in other parts of the country. I thought it would be helpful to describe some of these materials.
Adobe: Brick made of mud, sand and straw are stacked like regular bricks. This material is great at keeping temperature on an even keel. The use of adobe is labor intensive but does add value to a home.
Pumice: A low density concrete made with a pumice aggregate. Insulates well and is pured wet into a form. When the material dries it offered good strength and insulation.
Rastra: Is a lightweight recylcled polystyrene material. It is formed into building blocks that are clamped together and filled with concret. It is great for insulatin, soundproofing and fire protection. Rastra is also easy to install.
Strawbale: Bales of Straw are stacked and held together with rebar. The walls are thick and have good insulation.
Recycled tires, bottles and cans: Many "earthships are made from recycled materials such as tires which are packed with dirt to create a wall. The walls are created and then plastered. Insulation is good because of the thickness of the wall.