RIGO AND HERIBERTO CAREFULLY SET THE LINTEL IN PLACE ON A LAYER OF MUD. IF THEY DROP IT DOWN TOO FAST, IT SQUISHES OUT THE MUD, AND THEY HAVE TO START ALL OVER AGAIN.
I LIKE THE WOOD LINTELS TO REST ON AT LEAST 16 INCHES OF ADOBE WALL ON EACH SIDE OF THE OPENING. IF THE SPAN IS LARGER, I WILL INCREASE IT UP TO 24 INCHES. THIS IS AN AREA THAT I FEEL IS CRUCIAL
TO THE STRENGTH OF THE HOME. ADOBE CAN SUPPORT THE WORLD,
BUT YOU NEED TO GIVE IT A CHANCE.
IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH ADOBE CONSTRUCTION, YOU HAVE PROBABLY NOTICED I DON'T USE ROUGH BUCKS, WHICH ARE BASICALLY WOODEN UPRIGHTS AT ALL THE DOOR AND WINDOW OPENINGS. I WILL COVER THIS ISSUE FURTHER WHEN WE SET THE WINDOWS AND DOORS, BUT I FEEL THEY DONT LET THE WALL SETTLE OUT EVENLY AS THE MUD BETWEEN THE COURSES DRIES OUT DURING CONSTRUCTION.
