stephen jay construction
                                                           EDUCATION

George Washington High School, Graduated 1967, majors in Mechanical Drawing and Ceramics

University of Denver, Graduated 1973 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

Adobe Fireplace Construction, 1979, Anita Rodriquez, Taos, New Mexico

Adobe Vault & Dome Workshop 1980, Hassan Fathy, Abiquiu, New Mexico

Adobe Construction Seminar, 1981, P.G. Mchenry, Ghost Ranch, New Mexico

Earth Systems Exposition ‘84, Albuquerque, New Mexico                       
                                          WORK EXPERIENCE


1970-1972Director of Advertising, Oliver, Ltd.                                                                     Media Placement, Creative Development, Copy Writing, Account Management and Acquisition.  Award winning ad campaign for Sanford & Co.  Team contributor for the development of the ad campaign , logo and promotional materials for the Environmental Protection Agency.

1973-1977Owner, Zapotec Designs, Ltd.
Wholesale imports from Mexico and Guatemala.  Duties included but not limited to the purchasing of goods, processing with customhouse brokers, marketing of goods to 30 accounts in the Southwest, USA and all office functions to manage business.

1973- to present   Owner, stephen jay adobe construction                                       Specializing in adobe construction/renovation of homes and commercial buildings.   Historical Adobe Restoration in Taos, New Mexico,  Abiquiu, New Mexico and  Alamos, Sonora, Mexico.  Overseeing of all areas of the construction, including design work and engineering details.  Extensive relationship with Taos Planning and Zoning and the Architectural Review Committee.   New Mexico General Contractor  #358229.  Washington State General Contractor #STEPHJC903LH
Steve with adobe crew
Steve adobero
Telephone 360-730-2019  Email: stephen@adobestephenjay.com
Reprinted from Mystique Magazine Volume I, Number I, August 1984

As I plunge my hands deep into the mud, I feel the profound connection to the spirit of the earth reverberate through my being.  With my hands full of earthy mud, I plaster the adobe wall that was built by my own hands.  As I do this I feel a deep sense of joy and connection to all things.  I feel connected to my true nature and my purpose on this earth.  There is no better feeling than to be doing what you resonate with most.  This is my passion and my work and I never grow bored with it.  In this article, we will go over the basic idea of building with adobe and what is possible to build from dirt.
There is dirt all over this planet.  It is abundant and extremely environmentally friendly.  At a time when the earth is on a path of deterioration, it is important to work for the earth and not against it.  It gives one a sense of deep satisfaction.
The resource of earth is not hard to find, it is inexpensive and has wonderful earth-friendly qualities, such as it is readily available, is a renewal resource, has high thermal value and is solar compatible.  If designed correctly you can save on long-term utility costs.  The beauty of building with adobe is that it is simple.  There is no need for high tech equipment to build a structure.  The basics of building with adobe are a wheel barrow, shovel, water and a small trowel.  The Egyptians invented the adobe brick.  They created a wooden form, filled it with dirt, removed the form, let the sun dry the brick and when dry; it was ready for instant use.  Wow, what a concept! 
The adobe brick was used in the construction of The Great Pyramids.  People have been building with it ever since.  It is estimated that 60% of the world population lives in some form of an adobe house.  And now in 2009, we have 6 billion people on earth that need housing and more arriving every day. 
There are many different ways to build with adobe.  From my 37 years of experience, I prefer using dirt to make brick, mortar, plaster for the walls, floors and functional fireplaces.  These elements of the house can all be made with your own local dirt.  You will notice how few trips to the local building center you make and the deceased amount of trash you create.  The amazing thing about building with adobe is that the materials are “on hand”. 
Here is a quick view of those basic elements of building with adobe yourself.  Get started by calculating how many bricks you need to build your structure.   With this process; 3 adult men can make about 500 bricks per day.  Basically, you create a mix of dirt, water and straw for the adobe brick. Make a wood frame, put your mud mixture in the frame, remove the frame and let it dry.   After all your bricks are made, you are ready to build the walls.   Use the same dirt for mortar as you used for the bricks.  If your dirt has rocks, twigs or other foreign material, I suggest that you screen it.  It will make a better material for laying up your bricks.  Building the walls of the house is simple - a 4 foot level will keep your walls plumb.   Remember, your adobe house will take on a character of its own.  Lay up each brick slowly.  After the walls are up, you can plaster the walls.  Three coats of plaster are best; each varies with the amount of water and straw.    You apply the plaster with your hands or use a trowel.   If you want to change the color of the plaster, you can apply a colored coat of dirt or paint the plaster. 
Consider building a roof of adobe.  It has been done for thousands of years in Egypt.  A dome or barrel vault is possible – do some research to learn the technique.  Make sure to plan ahead for water proofing as determined by the climate you live in. 
Making a floor uses basically the same techniques as plastering the walls.  What you seal the floor with is your choice.  Check around locally and see what is available.  Many floors in New Mexico were sealed with ox blood which creates durability
Building a fireplace of adobe creates a beautiful soft warm feeling, especially if you live in a cold climate.  The fireplace creates a lot of heat. 
Building furniture from adobe is unique and easy.  You can build a adobe platform for sleep.  If you need furniture, you can build easy chairs, couches and end tables of adobe.  Just put cushions on the chairs and tile the tables and you will have a warm pleasing atmosphere.  Just think how you can create your own house economically. 
If you like to bake, a horno is the answer.  A horno is an outdoor adobe oven. There are many hornos at the Taos Pueblo that are used daily.  What fun to bake with wood fire outdoors!  
The increased value of an adobe structure is that they are very compatible with the use of solar energy.  This creates an overall earth friendly home or building.
Make sure that you plan your building project carefully.  The more you plan, the better chance of success.  You must determine the type of foundation needed, how to install mechanical (plumbing, electricity, telephone, TV cable, gas), roof structure and any other local building code requirements.  You will need to research this on the internet, how to adobe books, and seek expert advice. 
When your house is finished, be prepared for a truly unique experience of magic!  Living in adobe creates a sense of quiet, peace and security.  The flowing sense of the walls and rounded corners give a feeling of a tranquil living space. I hope you have enjoyed exploring the idea of building with adobe. Good luck building!


Earth Friendly Building with Adobe
by Stephen J Friedlob -  July 2009