Wall Construction
Build evenly and in bond
Wall construction converts a mix into a stable structure. Set out corners and openings first, then build courses or lifts evenly around the wall. Keep walls plumb and level, and avoid raising one section far above its neighbours. For rammed earth, each lift is compacted between forms; for adobe, units are laid in mortar with proper bond. Corners need interlocking or reinforcement. Day joints should be rough, clean, and moistened before the next section is placed.
Traps: stacked joints, unkeyed cold joints, and building too fast. A wall that looks straight on one face may be out of plumb on the other, so check both faces. Do not rely on render to correct poor alignment. Also avoid laying units so wet that they shrink and crack.
Worked example: build a corner by carrying alternate courses through and overlapping the returns by at least half a unit. For rammed earth, stop each day's work at a sloping or stepped joint and rake it before restarting. Rule of thumb: no section should stand more than about 500 mm above the adjacent section at the end of a day, and check plumb at every lift.