How to Make Homemade Eco-Friendly Bricks?

Any brick that, in its composition and manufacturing, seeks to reduce the negative impact on the environment is ecological. But there are many options: bricks made of ash, recycled bottles, paper, cement and mud, among others. The proposals keep growing because it is a way to care for the planet, and it also has great benefits.

Easy Bricks to Make

Within the range of eco-bricks that exist, only some can be made at home. Topping the list of the easiest are the bottle ones. They are made using a soda bottle – usually half a liter – and filling it with waste. With the help of a rod, the content is pressed to gain density and resistance. There are some precautions to take, such as finding bottles of the same size and making them harden. "If the bottle is soft, it's no good," say those who use this technique. Then they are stacked and fixed with cement.

There is another option closer to the traditional one. It has similar shape and components, but it is an ecological option with excellent construction properties. These are ecological bricks made of soil and cement.

Composition of Eco-Friendly Bricks

Soil and cement bricks, as their name suggests, use these elements as ingredients. Their manufacture is very basic: a large part of soil is mixed with a smaller amount of cement and amalgamated with water.

The insulating properties of the brick come from the quality of the soil, which must be clayey and fine. Then, the cement gives it strength. Moreover, they have a shape known as modular or 'Lego-like', reminiscent of stackable toys. This allows for a safer and more stable assembly with fewer materials.

Step by Step: How to Build Eco-Friendly Bricks

Many people interested in making eco-friendly bricks look for courses to learn. But it is really very simple and does not require long courses. To make homemade eco-friendly bricks you need: one bucket of cement and four buckets of soil. Then, the amount of water is evaluated during the process:

• Put the soil on the ground or in a container.
• Add the cement and mix until they are unified.
• Make a hole in the center and add water little by little.
• Mix and keep adding water until everything is moistened.
• It should not look like mud, so avoid excess water. It should have a granular texture and keep its shape if pressed firmly.
• Take the mixture to the brick press. Place a portion into the machine's molds.
• Take the press and press firmly.

When you lift the press, the bricks are ready. Remove them from the mold and they must go through a drying and curing process that will take about seven days.

How to Press Eco-Friendly Bricks?

This simple process requires a brick pressing machine. This gives them the shape and enough strength for construction, so it is essential for the procedure. Some models can be found online, but the investment is significant.

There is another option, which is recommended if you are handy with manual work: make the press yourself. On some buy-and-sell websites you can find plans to build an eco-friendly brick machine.

Keep in mind that not all machines are the same. Some produce one unit at a time, others two, and others more. These are factors to consider before deciding which press you want and how much you will pay for it, as it will impact your production.

How Are Houses Built with Eco-Friendly Bricks?

The good news is that these bricks save on materials and construction time. You get lightweight bricks that do not require deep foundations. In fact, usually the floor is leveled, cement is applied, and walls are raised on that level. With good planning, you can do the electrical and hydraulic installations during construction.

This is a collaboration from Eduardo, who used our collaboration system to talk about what he does: ecological bricks.