Clay house construction using low-energy building methods

Hello to all home builders I want to build a 2010 NEH. However, I prefer "biological" construction methods. In doing so, I would like to build a house with clay bricks. I have already read a lot about construction methods and materials. However, I have not found much about long-term experiences, problems, tricks, experience, etc. It is clear to me that in this construction method the water and electrical installations need to be treated differently. What should be especially considered? I am grateful for any tips also in areas such as solar systems or underfloor heating, etc. I am also convinced that many home builders will follow your tips with keen interest. Thank you

Hello surfer,
When building with clay, it must be noted that clay is sensitive to moisture, which requires special precautions for weather protection, especially in solid clay construction. Furthermore, clay, contrary to popular belief, is not a well-insulating building material.

I would recommend combining timber frame construction for the load-bearing wall with clay finishing; timber frame construction with natural fiber insulation provides thermal protection, the finishing offers the advantages of clay construction (regulation of indoor humidity, protection against building pests, the special flair) and sound insulation.

Hello Hertweck

I have read a report that there are industrially manufactured clay bricks. A report on this topic has somewhat "convinced" me.

However, I find timber frame construction too complicated. You also have to find an architect who can calculate the static structure. Bassmasta is also looking. I also suspect that the construction costs are not so easy to oversee because I have no idea about it either. Furthermore, you are not as flexible with the W/E installation. It is faster to lay a new line in a brick wall. A solid brick house also has the advantage that you can do a lot yourself. I am not under time pressure and would help out with the construction myself. Regarding insulation, I have read that it is no longer needed with clay bricks. I also read a great book. Innovative wall construction ISBN 978-3-7880-7791-4 Is also very informative. Modern clay construction ISBN 3-8167-6277-8

Hello Surfer,

Surely, nowadays clay bricks are manufactured industrially; nobody shapes them by hand on the construction site anymore. "Lehmsteinbau" or "Lehmziegelbau" refers to building with air-dried clay bricks. "Ziegel" itself is a term for fired bricks.

There are different types and formats of clay bricks, suitable and unsuitable for load-bearing masonry, light, quite heavy.

If you want to build a house from solid bricks, that is certainly possible, it is just quite laborious compared to clay-filled half-timbered construction and timber frame construction; the brick format of load-bearing clay bricks is either quite small, or the bricks become very heavy to handle.

What one must not forget: clay is a "real" building material. You have to know how to handle clay bricks, slabs, etc., you have to understand the building physics and constructional concerns. So it is not for construction laymen who have never built or laid bricks before – you need help and guidance (which you can also get from some clay building materials manufacturers and dealers). A structural calculation would also be necessary, as with any other load-bearing building material.

And once again in conclusion: clay is not an insulating material. You can make clay insulating by mixing it with plant fibers, for example (not for load-bearing walls), but without a thermal insulation layer you cannot build a clay house.

Hello Hertweck

By industrially manufactured bricks, I meant those like in the project mentioned above. Unfortunately, according to information, they are no longer produced. And I could not find any comparable products either. I wanted to use these bricks/green bricks in the conventional way to build a shell structure. Unfortunately, the green bricks from the company Lana Therm are not suitable for load-bearing walls. It would probably be easier to build a normal shell structure and cover it with 16mm clay boards from Claytec. My primary concern is to create a healthy indoor climate. www.knaufinsulation.de/de/ecose I find it is also a good alternative to conventional insulation. In one thing you are right, that clay walls also need to be insulated. Clay only has better heat storage capacity. With good insulation, this creates a more constant living climate. It is probably more sensible to clad load-bearing walls on the inside and build partition walls with green bricks. However, the installation of water and electrical lines still worries me. I have read too many contradictory things about this. Do you perhaps have some information about it?

Hello again, Practical experience in the field of sanitary and electrical installation in clay constructions I unfortunately do not have; after asking experienced colleagues, a mixed picture emerges. Making the slots is simple, fixing empty conduits and empty boxes in clay walls seems to be problematic. Most use a clay-fix cement mixture for setting the boxes and fixing the cables. With stud walls paneled with clay building boards, this is easy, just like with gypsum stud walls.