Samuel Gray bought 5 acres of land near Abiquiu, New Mexico 15 years ago and built his own tiny adobe casita for less than $3,000. He lives there three months out of the year. The interior square footage is 86 square feet, which includes not much more than a small bed, fold-down desk, kitchen counter and some shelves.
He created a foundation, bought pre-made adobe bricks, mortared it with local mud, and plastered inside with white clay mud. Although mud is the more traditional technique, Samuel used 2-inch rigid foam insulation, stucco wire, and cement stucco for the exterior walls. The roof is wooden.
The homemade electrical system includes 2 solar panels and 4 deep cycle batteries for $1,902. Sam uses a $75 camping toilet and dumps at a nearby RV park. In a few years he hopes to build another structure with modern plumbing and live on his property full time. (more pics)
photo credit: Samuel Gray
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glad it’s not his permanent home. hopefully, when he builds that, he’ll know better than to use cement on the exterior of an adobe. well known that cement doesn’t breathe, but adobe does contract and expand, and the two together are destructive to the adobe.