Adobe Manufacture

Adobe Products

Structural Light Adobe (SLA)

Structural Light Adobe (SLA) is a new generation of adobe walling developed in Aotearoa NZ for our conditions. Using Tasman clays blended with natural fibres such as wood shavings and hemp, SLA offers strength, durability, and improved thermal performance.

SLA has been independently tested for structural, durability and thermal performance, and is now included in the NZ Earth Building Standards (NZS 4298:2024 and NZS 4299:2024). With over a decade of in-use history, SLA offers:

• Better thermal performance than traditional adobe (balance of insulation and thermal mass)
• Seismically resilient walls designed for New Zealand conditions
• Healthy, dry interiors through hygroscopic clay and natural fibres, with no cement or synthetic additives
• Low embodied energy through local materials, simple manufacture and air drying

Solid Earth is proud to have been part of the innovation and testing that brought SLA into the Standards. This system makes earth building more accessible and future-ready, while staying true to the simplicity of adobe.

Load-bearing wall thickness: 280-430mm

Interior Adobe Brick Veneer

For timber-framed buildings, our interior adobe veneer bricks create beautiful, high-performance feature walls. These walls:

• Are tied back to the timber frame for seismic performance
• Provide thermal mass and sound insulation inside lightweight structures
• Are fully covered by the NZ Earth Building Standards, making them straightforward to specify and consent
• Deliver the timeless aesthetics and healthy indoor climate benefits of adobe in a slimmed-down format

Standard veneer thickness: 150 mm

Earth Mortar

Mortar beds and joints typically are 20mm. To ensure strength, colour harmony, and adhesion, we supply a pre-mixed earth mortar matched to our bricks.

• Produced from the same clay as our bricks for a perfect match
• Meets strength and shrinkage requirements for durable joints
• Easy to use

Special Earth Mixes (Cob, Earthen Floors, Light Earth Infill LEM)

We can produce custom earth mixes to suit your project requirements — such as cob mix, earthen floor mix or light earth infill (LEM) mix. These are delivered wet and in bulk, ready for use on site.

Ordering & Lead Times

All products are manufactured seasonally (October–April) and require drying time. Orders are supplied on a first-in, first-served basis, so advance booking is essential.

Earth Building Construction

In addition to supplying bricks and mixes, Solid Earth also provide earth building construction and hands-on support for building with adobe. We are happy to:

• Discuss your plans (book a consult)
• Provide a clear quote for laying and finishing adobe and cob walls
• Work with you on site, offering professional supervision
• Teach you and your team the skills needed to build confidently with earth

Whether you’re commissioning a full build, adding a feature wall, or looking to learn by doing, we can tailor our involvement to your project needs.

FAQ

How are the adobe bricks made?
Our adobe bricks are made in the time-honoured tradition of sun drying a mixture of clay and and natural fibers, cast by hand in wooden moulds.

What are the bricks made of?
We utilise the golden clays of the Nelson region, combined with untreated wood shaving, paper pulp, and other light aggregates for strength, durability, and warm appeal. Our bricks are made without cement.

How do the bricks perform?
Our bricks surpass the requirements of the NZ Earth Building Standards. They are regularly tested for structural strength and durability, and our Structural Light Adobe bricks have also been tested for thermal performance.

Specifications, test results, and current price list