PO Box 429

Rio Chama, NM  87532

PHONE (505) 927-2219 FAX (505) 357-3360

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Our Adobe Home

We have all had a dream or desire to build our own home and preferably with "Green" or recycled materials.  Our journey to achieve this goal was to own the land out-right and to build our adobe block home as we could afford to do so.

My wife Mary has always wanted more space and we moved to a rural part of Rio Rancho, NM.  We owned the only house in 12 sq miles of open land.  We thought we would be isolated enough for me to be able to park my equipment and Mary could raise our Labrador Retrievers  in relative peace and quiet.

It was not to be.  In five (5) short years, all that ended--in that time, an entire community of 300 homes grew up around us with an additional 500 in the planning stages and we decided it was time to look elsewhere.

Just by chance, I started doing some consulting work in Northern New Mexico and found a nice 6.11 acre parcel in Rio Chama, NM (10 miles south of Abiquiu, NM) that backed up on to the Chama River.  It's so close to the Chama River that the last 70 feet of the property are "in the river".  The property has a large pond, a well and utilities in the street.  The water table is at 6 feet or so.  This can be a negative for construction, however with proper elevation of the foundation and a good drainage system, it will work just fine.

The pond will be cleaned out and stocked with a few trout. 

The property extends 3 acres beyond the trees

The last 70 feet of the property are actually in the Chama River

Because of the amount of water available, the entire property is covered with tall grass and is so heavily rooted, I can't make much progress with a backhoe clearing a spot for a material lay-down area.

PHOTO

PENDING

Jim Stiff, an equipment dealer in California, offered me this nice Case 1155E Track Loader that is equipped with rippers and a 4-in-1 bucket.  This will be really nice for cutting through the grass and hauling away the debris.  The track loader will also be used extensively to build up the pads for the work shop and our new home.  Just wait 'til we start moving dirt.

Sometimes it is difficult to sort out the priorities and this project was no exception. My wife and I decided on an action plan and oddly enough we had the similar ideas in mind.  The plan is;

    Grub and clear the land of grass and invasive trees

    Remove all shrubs from around the pond

    Clear approximately 1 acre of shrubs and Russian Olive trees (water guzzlers)

    Clean the muck out of the pond and use the water for construction

    Install the well pump and a holding tank

    Haul in structural fill dirt for the building pads

    Install the septic tank and leach field

We decided to build the 3200 sq. ft. work shop first so that we could store our tools, equipment and materials.  It would also provide a place to work out of during the winter months.  Also included is a restroom and small kitchen to help things along during construction.  Depending on weather and our other work loads, it may be a two year venture to complete the house.  Check back often to see progress photos as we build our work shop and home.

The home will be large, however it will function as living space with two master bedrooms, two smaller bedrooms, formal dining room, breakfast nook, pantry, craft room and an office.  Covered portales on the west, north and south sides, covered passage to the garage and a big bonus will be the enclosed courtyard in the center that is accessible from every room in the house. 

The walls will be 24" thick with a double adobe wall (8" outside, 10" inside) and a 6" space for insulation.  Recycled bar joists will be used for the large spans, polyiso-insulated roof with Pro-Panel and Pueblo style parapet walls all around.

The adobes used on the home will be compressed earth block (CEB), all produced on site and placed directly in to the walls as they come off the machine.

Contact Information

Telephone

                  505-927-2219 

FAX

             505-367-3360

 

Postal address

            PO Box 429

                  Espanola, NM  87532

 

Electronic mail

Sales                             paul at sanco-bg.com

Web Master                    webmaster at sanco-bg.com