Q5. Can we be sure that these walls are not going to fall down?
A. This the most commonly asked question and where people
have the most concern - who have not yet seen a Stabilized Soil Block building. The answer is simple, Stabilized Soil Blocks have
a patented
shape
that gives them the most solid interlocking feature ever. The walls are
made from blocks that are interlocked with each other. It is totally
impossible to remove one block out from a wall unless a pick is used
to break through it. There is no more solid wall available on the market
today.
Q6. If there is soil movement, will the wall crack and fall down?
A. Here again is the very basis of the strength of the
Stabilized Soil Block concept. Each and every block in the building
is interlocked
to the others, but is not bonded to the them as with cement mortared
blocks. Once there is a soil movement - with traditional mortar the
blocks come under such strong tension that the bond eventually cracks
and the
wall starts a cracking process that never ends and is most difficult
to correct. With Stabilized Soil Blocks, each block undergoes a
minimal amount of movement and the whole wall will adjust progressively
without damage or cracking.
Q7. How can you avoid the top blocks from being removed on a
roofless structure?
A. If you build a wall with no top structure, then it is recommended
to seal the two top layers of blocks with mortar or, better still, put
a firmly fixed topping on the wall. (such as a pre-cast shaped beam,
or wood trusses).
Q8. For a perimeter wall, how can you avoid reinforced columns?
A. As with any other construction
method - Stabilized Soil Blocks are not immune from normal external
stresses and long length walls obviously have to be supported. In this
case,
we can very simply
make a supporting column with Stabilized Soil Blocks only. You still won't have to buy and transport reinforcing
bars and mix concrete.