Fall 2012 Adobe Classes With Kurt Gardella

I’ve taken three adobe classes with Kurt Gardella–and he built the amazing earth oven in our backyard. Kurt has a couple of classes coming up and I thought I’d help get the word out. He’s a great teacher. From an email he just sent:

Dear adobe friends,

Intro

Fall is a great time for natural plastering and interior finishing work. Interior mud plastering and installing an earthen floor finish the normal adobe house construction sequence. The first two classes listed below (choose from both online or live-instruction versions) will take you through this entire process step-by-step.

Fall 2012 Adobe in Action Classes

Class: Interior and Exterior Plastering (8-Week Online Class)
Dates: October 1 to November 25, 2012
Credits: 4
Instructor: Kurt Gardella
Fee: $500

Class: Floors for Adobe Structures (8-Week Online Class)
Dates: October 1 to November 25, 2012
Credits: 4
Instructor: Kurt Gardella
Fee: $500

For those of you who can be in New Mexico this fall, you might also consider the live-instruction versions of the above classes which will be held at an adobe building site near Abiquiu, New Mexico:

Class: Interior and Exterior Plastering (10-Day Live Class)
Dates: October 15 to October 26, 2012
Credits: 4
Format: Live Instruction near Abiquiu, NM (M – F, 8am to 4pm)
Instructor: Kurt Gardella
Fee: $500

Class: Floors for Adobe Structures (8-Day Live Class)
Dates: November 10 to November 17, 2012
Credits: 4
Format: Live Instruction near Abiquiu, NM (Sat to Sat, 8am to 6pm)
Instructor: Kurt Gardella
Fee: $500

More info on the classes after the jump . . .

Here is an overview of topics covered in both the online and live-instruction versions of these classes:

Interior and Exterior Plastering:
historical overview of interior and exterior finishes for adobe structures in New Mexico
importance of respiratory and eye safety when preparing and mixing plasters
overview of mud plaster characteristics and why earthen plasters make sense
summary of tools and materials needed for natural plastering
window and door opening reinforcement using reed mat
adobe wall preparation for maximum mud plaster adhesion
locating and testing soils for mud plasters
locating and testing aggregates for mud plasters and lime plasters
importance of work site and material organization for plaster work
fiber (straw) preparation and chopping techniques
sifting, preparing and mixing soil and aggregates for mud plasters
wheat paste production for strengthening mud plasters
casein production for lime paints
natural exterior mud plaster stabilization techniques (lime, cactus juice)
hand application techniques of mud plasters (base coats, patching)
hawk & trowel application of mud and lime plasters (leveling and finish coats)
basic mud plaster ingredients and recipes
basic lime plaster ingredients and recipes
calculating surface area to be finished and materials needed
troubleshooting mud and lime plasters (cracking, adhesion problems, etc.)
Floors for Adobe Structures:
historical overview of floor types found in New Mexican adobe structures – pros & cons
overview of helpful tools and leveling devices for floor installation
poured mud, mud brick and rammed earth floors – installation techniques and finishes
brick on sand floors – installation techniques and finishes
flagstone on sand/flagstone on mud floors – installation techniques and finishes
concrete floors – installation techniques and finishes, pros & cons
suspended wood floors – installation techniques and finishes, pros & cons
radiant heat in floors – advantages and disadvantages
importance of mass floors in passive solar design