165,854 views Mar 5, 2026 #sustainableliving #offgridliving #architecture
This video explores the surprising story behind one of the oldest and cheapest building materials on Earth. Thousands of years ago people built homes using simple adobe bricks made from clay sand and straw. Some of these houses are still standing today lasting longer than many modern buildings while costing only a few hundred dollars in materials. Even more incredible these thick earthen walls naturally regulate temperature keeping homes cool in summer and warm in winter without heating or air conditioning.

But if adobe works so well why is it difficult or even illegal to build this way in most places today. In this video you will discover the history of how building codes industry interests and financial systems slowly pushed natural construction methods out of the mainstream. The story reveals how a material that once housed entire civilizations became almost impossible to use in modern construction even though the science behind it is simple and proven.

You will also learn how thermal mass works and why thick earthen walls can store heat during the day and release it at night creating a natural temperature balance inside the home. Studies comparing adobe structures with conventional houses show that these buildings can maintain comfortable indoor temperatures with far less energy. In many climates they can even eliminate the need for mechanical cooling entirely.

The video also explores the people who tried to bring this ancient knowledge back. Architects engineers and builders around the world have demonstrated that earth construction can provide durable affordable housing using materials that already exist beneath our feet. Their work challenges the modern assumption that building a home must require massive loans expensive materials and complex technology.

Finally you will discover the remarkable story of a woman in Texas who found a legal loophole and used it to help hundreds of families build their own adobe homes. These homes cost a fraction of conventional houses require almost no energy to heat or cool and allow families to live without mortgages or energy bills. Her work proves that the knowledge has never disappeared and that people can still build strong comfortable homes using techniques that humanity has known for thousands of years.

00:00 The thousand year old house that still stands
00:58 What adobe bricks are made of
02:16 Why a three hundred dollar wall beats HVAC
04:00 The science of thermal mass and natural cooling
05:30 Why modern homes struggle with moisture and mold
06:40 How building codes pushed adobe out of cities
09:00 The role of banks mortgages and industry
12:40 Hassan Fathy and the fight for earth architecture
16:20 The state that still allows traditional adobe
18:20 The Texas loophole that changed everything
20:00 How families build their own homes from the ground
22:00 Six hundred homes without mortgages or energy bills
23:20 Why billions of people still live in earth homes
24:40 What this means for the future of housing

#adobe
#sustainableliving
#earthhomes
#offgridliving
#architecture

create a detailed outline of this video. What are the pros and cons of building an adobe building? What are the relevant laws in the state of Texas for building homes?

Here is a structured outline of the video, followed by pros/cons of adobe and a Texas-law overview.

Detailed outline of the video

1. Thousand-year-old adobe house and core claim (0:00–1:00)[youtube]​

   • Pueblo adobe house in New Mexico: 2‑ft thick walls, roughly 300 dollars in today’s material cost, still occupied after about 1,000 years.[youtube]​

   • Statement that you cannot legally build this way in 48 states; the reason is framed as economics and regulation, not safety.[youtube]​

   • Sets up the story: how the cheapest, durable material was written out of U.S. building codes and how a Texas woman exploited a loophole.[youtube]​

2. What adobe is and basic engineering (1:00–2:15)[youtube]​

   • Composition: roughly 70–80% site clay, 15–25% sand, 5–10% chopped straw or organic fiber, mixed with water and sun‑dried in wooden molds.[youtube]​

   • No kiln, no firing, almost zero external energy; about 2,000 BTU per brick vs around 30,000 BTU for a fired brick.[youtube]​

   • Compressive strength roughly 200–600 psi, exceeding the International Residential Code load‑bearing minimum of 175 psi for many natural clay sites.[youtube]​

   • Estimated cost: about 3 cents per brick when clay is on‑site; a 1,500 ft² house may need 4,000–6,000 bricks, around 120–180 dollars in raw brick materials.[youtube]​

3. Thermal mass and natural temperature control (2:16–5:00)[youtube]​

   • 18–24 inch adobe walls create “thermal lag” of about 8–12 hours between outside and inside heat peaks.[youtube]​

   • In hot–cold desert swings, walls absorb afternoon heat and release it at night, and reverse the cycle with cool night air, smoothing indoor temperatures without HVAC.[youtube]​

   • University of Arizona 2018 study: adobe vs wood‑frame test buildings in the desert; adobe held around 76°F average, 23% less heat gain and 40% lower temperature variance, needing no mechanical cooling during the 10‑month test, unlike the wood frame.[youtube]​

4. Moisture, mold, and durability (5:00–6:40)[youtube]​

   • Adobe walls are monolithic and “breathe,” allowing vapor to pass without condensation in cavities.[youtube]​

   • Modern insulated stud walls trap moisture in cavities, leading to mold; EPA is cited for an estimate that about 45% of U.S. homes have mold issues.[youtube]​

   • Modern stud walls are described as lasting 40–70 years before major moisture repairs, contrasted with multi‑century adobe structures.[youtube]​

5. How building codes began to sideline adobe (6:40–9:00)[youtube]​

   • Railroads in the 1880s bring cheap dimensional lumber, displacing adobe in rail‑served cities while rural areas keep adobe for economic reasons.[youtube]​

   • 1927 Pacific Coast Building Officials’ first Uniform Building Code: written for wood‐frame, ignoring adobe; omission forces “alternate method” approvals requiring engineering, testing, and local sign‑off.[youtube]​

   • Alternate method path adds roughly 5,000–25,000 dollars of engineering overhead to use a 300‑dollar material, effectively making adobe noncompetitive.[youtube]​

6. FHA, mortgages, and industry alignment (9:00–12:40)[youtube]​

   • 1949 FHA Minimum Property Standards require “conventional framing using dimension lumber,” disqualifying adobe and other nonstandard materials from FHA‑backed mortgages.[youtube]​

   • Without FHA insurance, banks refuse mortgages, cutting middle‑class access to adobe even if materials are cheaper.[youtube]​

   • 1970 Uniform Building Code Chapter 24A introduces adobe provisions but requires extensive steel rebar, cement stabilization, and concrete bond beams.[youtube]​

   • These requirements triple to quintuple costs and degrade thermal performance by perforating bricks for rebar.[youtube]​

   • Portland Cement Association and trade groups (cement makers, National Association of Home Builders) are described as driving code requirements that lock in materials needing contractors and cement.[youtube]​

7. Systemic layering: code, finance, insurance (around 11:30–13:00)[youtube]​

   • The video argues that codes omit adobe, which forces expensive alternate approvals, while mortgage and insurance systems undervalue or won’t support natural buildings.[youtube]​

   • Insurance premiums are based on conventional replacement costs, far above the real material value of adobe homes.[youtube]​

   • Trade associations fund code committees, aligning building rules with profitable materials rather than public interest.[youtube]​

8. Hassan Fathy and global earth architecture (12:40–16:20)[youtube]​

   • Biography: Egyptian engineer‑architect Hassan Fathy promotes mud brick as the solution to housing poverty, based on thermodynamics, structural performance, and economics.[youtube]​

   • New Gourna (New Gurna) project: traditional Nubian adobe, barrel vaults, courtyards, natural ventilation, free to residents using local clay and craftsmen.[youtube]​

   • Project is cancelled after 150 homes due to contractor lobbying for concrete projects; adobe threatens their government contracts.[youtube]​

   • Fathy later gains recognition (Aga Khan Award, Right Livelihood Award, widely translated book “Architecture for the Poor”), but mainstream building establishment ignores his work.[youtube]​

   • His diagnosis: the main obstacle is financial structures of the construction industry, not engineering or safety.[youtube]​

9. New Mexico’s adobe code and safety record (16:20–18:20)[youtube]​

   • New Mexico adopts a standalone adobe/rammed earth code in 1991, allowing non‑reinforced adobe in defined conditions.[youtube]​

   • Over 30+ years, the state is said to have zero structural failures or safety incidents under this adobe code, even in a seismic zone.[youtube]​

   • Despite this record, no other state adopts New Mexico’s code, and the International Code Council does not integrate its findings.[youtube]​

   • Notes that ASM published an adobe/earthen wall design standard in 2010 (reaffirmed 2016), but most building officials are unaware.[youtube]​

   • Mentions more recent code steps for related materials: IRC Appendix U (cob) adopted in OR, CA, WA, and Appendix BA (hempcrete) in 2024.[youtube]​

10. Simone Swan and the Texas loophole (18:20–22:00)[youtube]​

• Introduces Simone Swan, working on the Texas–Mexico border as a student of Fathy’s methods.[youtube]​

• Context: families along the Rio Grande in Presidio County earning about 8,000–12,000 dollars annually, priced out of conventional housing.[youtube]​

• She teaches families to assess clay on‑site, mix clay/sand/straw, cast, and sun‑dry bricks; walls 18 inches thick, mud mortar, no rebar, no Portland cement, simple timber roof, annual mud plaster maintenance.[youtube]​

• Typical build: 4–5 people, about 6 weeks from digging to move‑in; materials roughly 800–1,500 dollars.[youtube]​

• Describes thermal performance: interior around 68°F when it is about 41°F outside, without furnace, ducts, gas lines, or thermostat.[youtube]​

• Emphasizes that the family, volunteers, and local clay are the core inputs, with no general contractor, permits, or loans.[youtube]​

• States that Swan and collaborators have built over 600 such homes; families carry no mortgages and pay no energy bills.[youtube]​

11. Legal mechanism: owner‑builder exemption (around 22:00–23:20)[youtube]​

• Texas authorities have cited Swan’s group for code violations, but she continues under an “owner builder exemption” found in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.[youtube]​

• This exemption allows individuals to construct their own primary residence without having to meet the full IRC standard, enabling adobe builds.[youtube]​

• Video claims that, in those states, you can legally build your own adobe home as an owner‑builder without contractor, permit office, or bank involvement.[youtube]​

12. Adobe worldwide and activist framing (23:20–end)[youtube]​

• Notes that roughly 1.5–2 billion people worldwide live in earthen structures, especially in parts of Asia, the Middle East, and sub‑Saharan Africa.[youtube]​

• Argues that earth construction is the rational choice when households cannot or do not want large mortgages and long‑term energy bills.[youtube]​

• Estimates 5,000–10,000 adobe structures built each year in the U.S., mostly via owner‑builder exemptions, with around 50,000 active natural builders.[youtube]​

• Quotes Nader/Naderi Khalili to framing building codes as regulating profit more than safety and links restrictive codes to homelessness (“people who cannot afford your profit are living in tents”).[youtube]​

• Concludes that codes written by industry removed an inexpensive, durable option, and hints at a related “living roof” story in another video.[youtube]​

Pros of building an adobe building

Based on the video and broader sources on earthen construction, main advantages include:

• Very low material cost

  • When clay, sand, and straw are available on‑site, bricks can cost a few cents each, and basic shell material costs for a small house can stay in the low hundreds of dollars.[youtube]​

• Excellent thermal performance and low operating cost

  • Thick adobe walls provide strong thermal mass, smoothing temperature swings and, in some climates, eliminating the need for mechanical heating or cooling.[youtube]​

  • The Arizona study in the video found no mechanical cooling needed for the adobe test house over 10 months in desert conditions.[youtube]​

• Moisture handling and mold resistance

  • Monolithic earthen walls allow vapor to move through rather than trapping it in cavities, reducing mold risk compared with conventional insulated stud walls.[youtube]​

• Durability and longevity

  • Long‑lived examples such as Taos Pueblo, mud‑brick cities in Yemen, and Fathy’s New Gourna village show adobe structures lasting centuries with relatively simple maintenance.youtube+1

• Low embodied energy and environmental impact

  • Sun‑dried production with no kiln and minimal machinery gives adobe significantly lower embodied energy compared with fired brick or concrete.[youtube]​

  • Earthen construction advocates in Texas and San Antonio describe earthen materials as among the “greenest” options because they are locally sourced and recyclable back into soil.[tpr]​

• DIY/owner‑builder friendliness

  • Skills can be taught to non‑professionals; the video’s Texas example shows families building structurally sound homes with simple tools and guidance.[youtube]​

  • This can eliminate contractor overhead and enable debt‑free homebuilding.[youtube]​

Cons and challenges of adobe

Some of these are emphasized in the video as systemic barriers; others are more practical or technical:

• Regulatory and permitting barriers

  • In most U.S. jurisdictions, adobe lacks clear prescriptive code pathways, forcing expensive engineering as an “alternate method,” which undermines cost advantages.[youtube]​

  • Outside New Mexico, states often require added steel and Portland cement that both increase cost and degrade thermal performance.youtube+1

• Access to financing and insurance

  • Conventional mortgages and FHA‑backed loans often require standard materials and methods; nonstandard adobe may not qualify or may face higher scrutiny.[youtube]​

  • Insurance valuations can be based on conventional replacement costs rather than true lower material costs, distorting premiums.[youtube]​

• Labor intensity and time

  • Adobe is material‑cheap but labor‑heavy; hand‑mixing, forming, drying, and stacking bricks requires considerable effort and time, especially without mechanization.[youtube]​

  • In high‑wage contexts, labor can dominate total cost unless much of it is owner or volunteer labor.

• Climate and site limitations

  • Traditional unstabilized adobe works best in relatively dry climates with good foundations and roof design; wetter climates may need modifications (stabilizers, plinths, large overhangs) that increase complexity and cost.[thiscobhouse]​

  • Poor detailing where splash‑back, rising damp, or freeze–thaw cycles are severe can lead to erosion or cracking if not well engineered.[thiscobhouse]​

• Skilled design and engineering needs

  • While bricks are simple, designing for seismic zones, high winds, or multi‑story structures in adobe requires expertise and, often, testing.[thiscobhouse]​

  • Where prescriptive codes are absent, every project may need custom engineering, reports, and negotiations with officials.

• Limited contractor and inspector familiarity

  • Many builders and inspectors have little experience with earthen construction, which can translate into resistance, delays, or over‑conservative requirements.[tpr]​

  • Finding professionals willing and competent to work with adobe may be harder than with conventional wood or masonry.

Relevant Texas frameworks and laws for adobe / earthen homes

Texas law is a mix of state‑level code adoption requirements and broad local discretion, with specific local exceptions and the “owner‑builder” concept highlighted in the video.

1. State building code baseline

• Cities that choose to enforce building codes generally adopt the International Residential Code (IRC) for one‑ and two‑family dwellings and International Building Code (IBC) for other structures, often with local amendments.[tml]​

• The state itself does not prescribe an adobe‑specific residential standard; adobe falls under general masonry or “earthen construction” provisions in IBC (Section 2109 in some adoptions) or local amendments.[earthusa]​

2. Local authority and earthen code examples in Texas

• Texas is a “home rule” oriented state for municipalities: each city or county that enforces building codes can amend them to be more detailed or restrictive than model codes, including adding earthen construction provisions.[tml]​

• San Antonio is a prominent example: in 2018, its city council adopted updated international building and fire codes with local amendments drafted with the Earthen Construction Initiative, creating an “Empirical Design of Earthen Construction” chapter (2109) to guide adobe, compressed earth block, and rammed earth projects.earthusa+1

3. Owner‑builder concept and rural flexibility

• The video refers to an “owner builder exemption” in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, allowing individuals to build their own primary residence without meeting full IRC standards.[youtube]​

• In practice in Texas, the key points are:

  • Counties and small municipalities vary widely: some rural counties have minimal building code enforcement outside city limits, effectively allowing owner‑builders to construct homes with limited oversight, subject to septic, electrical, and other separate regulations.thiscobhouse+1

  • Where codes are enforced, some jurisdictions may allow relaxed permitting or simplified processes for owner‑occupied single‑family dwellings, but this is local‑policy specific and must be confirmed with the local building department.[thiscobhouse]​

• For adobe in places like Presidio County, activists report that adobe homes can face unusual appraisal and taxation treatment, including complaints about higher assessed values for adobe relative to conventional homes.[nps]​

  • This is a tax assessment, not a building‑code rule, but it affects overall feasibility and cost.

4. Natural building and Texas guidance

• Natural‑building resources for Texas emphasize that:

  • Adobe does not have a dedicated Texas‑statewide residential appendix; instead, adobe is handled through general masonry and earthen construction sections of IBC/IRC, local amendments, or case‑by‑case engineering approvals.[thiscobhouse]​

  • IRC appendices for other natural methods (cob, straw‑clay, hempcrete, tiny houses) exist but must be explicitly adopted by local jurisdictions; they are not automatic in Texas.[thiscobhouse]​

• Some Texas cities (e.g., San Antonio) have taken steps to explicitly recognize earthen construction in their codes, making it easier (though not trivial) to permit such projects.tpr+1

5. Practical path for adobe in Texas

If you are considering an adobe house in Texas, the legal path will differ depending on where you build:

• Inside city limits with active code enforcement

  • You will typically be under IRC/IBC plus local amendments.

  • Steps usually include:

    • Check if your city has any earthen or adobe‑specific code chapters or guidelines (e.g., San Antonio Chapter 2109).[earthusa]​

    • If none exist, expect to pursue adobe either as “earthen masonry” under IBC Section 2109 or via the “alternate materials, design and methods” provision, which generally requires engineering and documentation.

    • Expect to comply with structural, energy, electrical, plumbing, and fire‑safety requirements, even if walls are adobe.

• In rural county, outside city limits

  • Some counties in Texas may have minimal or no residential building code enforcement, focusing mostly on septic, wells, and certain utilities.thiscobhouse+1

  • In such areas, a de facto owner‑builder regime may allow adobe homes more freely, but you still need to comply with state septic and environmental health regulations, and consider future resale, insurance, and lending impacts.

Because Texas relies heavily on local adoption and amendment of model codes, the critical step is always to talk directly with the specific city or county building department and appraisal district where your land is located to understand:

• Which edition of IRC/IBC they enforce.

• Whether they have explicit provisions for adobe/earthen construction.

• How they treat owner‑built primary residences.

• How adobe materials affect property tax appraisals.

Would you like a second pass that turns this into a schema/outline you can drop directly into Obsidian, with headings and timestamp links built around your preferred structure?

What are the citations for research and law mentioned in this video?

The video names several specific studies, standards, and legal texts, but it does not show a formal bibliography; below are the main citations and how they are described in the script.[youtube]​

Scientific and technical research cited

• 2018 University of Arizona adobe vs wood‑frame study

  • Described as: an experiment with an adobe structure and a conventional wood‑frame structure built side by side in desert conditions, monitored for 10 months.[youtube]​

  • Reported conditions and results: outside temperatures 48–108°F; adobe interior about 76°F average, 23% lower heat gain, 40% less temperature variance; wood‑frame required mechanical cooling all 10 months; adobe required none.[youtube]​

  • Publication claim: published in the journal “Energy and Buildings,” peer‑reviewed by Elsevier, cited 47 times; never cited in any ICC code update proceeding.[youtube]​

• ASTM earthen wall design standard

  • Described as: “The ASTM, the same body that certifies every concrete wall in America, published a formal standard for earthen wall design in 2010 and reaffirmed it in 2016.”[youtube]​

  • Used to argue that technical design standards for earth walls exist but are unknown to building officials in 48 states.[youtube]​

• EPA estimate on mold in U.S. housing

  • Cited as: “The EPA estimates that 45% of American homes have mold problems and the vast majority originate in those wall cavities.”[youtube]​

  • Used in contrast to adobe’s monolithic walls that “breathe” and lack cavities.[youtube]​

• United Nations estimate of people in earthen homes

  • Stated as: “The United Nations estimates that between one and a half and two billion people currently live in earthen structures.”[youtube]​

  • Used to support the claim that earthen construction is still globally mainstream, especially in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and sub‑Saharan Africa.[youtube]​

Laws, codes, and policy documents cited

• International Residential Code (IRC) compressive‑strength minimum

  • Quoted standard: “The International Residential Code minimum for residential load‑bearing walls is 175 psi.”[youtube]​

  • Used to show adobe’s typical 200–600 psi compressive strength exceeds this requirement.[youtube]​

• Alternate materials / “alternate method” rule in U.S. building law

  • Described consequence of omission in model codes: if the code does not address adobe, it triggers “alternate method approval,” requiring engineering analysis, testing, documentation, and building‑department sign‑off, costing 5,000–25,000 dollars in engineering fees.[youtube]​

  • Framed as a de‑facto economic barrier, not an explicit ban.[youtube]​

• 1927 Uniform Building Code (Pacific Coast Building Officials Conference)

  • Cited as: the first Uniform Building Code, written for wood‑frame construction, containing no provisions for adobe; this omission is what triggers alternate‑method requirements for adobe.[youtube]​

• 1949 FHA Minimum Property Standards, Section 201‑13(b)

  • Quoted policy: requires “conventional framing using dimension lumber” for mortgage‑insured homes.[youtube]​

  • Implication: any home not built from lumber and concrete is ineligible for FHA‑backed insurance; without FHA, banks will not issue mortgages, removing adobe and other alternatives from mainstream middle‑class housing.[youtube]​

  • The video says this standard was drafted by FHA staff “in consultation with the housing industry” and adopted as administrative law, not by a vote of Congress.[youtube]​

• 1970 Uniform Building Code Chapter 24A (adobe provisions)

  • Described requirements:

    • Steel rebar every 24 inches vertically and horizontally, drilled through each brick.

    • Stabilization of adobe with Portland cement at 3–5% by weight.

    • Concrete bond beams at every floor level.[youtube]​

  • Claimed effects: multiplied adobe construction cost by 3–5× and degraded thermal performance by perforating bricks and embedding cement.[youtube]​

  • Attribution: video states that the Portland Cement Association drafted the cement requirement and that this is “a matter of public legislative record.”[youtube]​

• New Mexico state adobe and rammed earth building code (1991)

  • Described as: “the only state in the country with a standard that allows non‑reinforced adobe construction under specific conditions.”[youtube]​

  • Performance claim: in over 30 years, “zero structural collapses and zero safety incidents,” no steel reinforcement and no Portland cement, in a seismic zone.[youtube]​

  • The video says no other state has adopted this code and the ICC has not incorporated its findings.[youtube]​

• IRC Appendix U (cob) and IRC Appendix BA (hempcrete)

  • Appendix U: adopted in 2021 as a formal code pathway for cob construction; Oregon, California, and Washington are named as adopters.[youtube]​

  • Appendix BA: added in 2024 as an appendix for hempcrete.[youtube]​

  • These are used as examples that the code apparatus is starting to acknowledge some earthen/alternative methods, even while adobe itself still lacks an IRC chapter.[youtube]​

• Owner‑builder exemption (Texas, New Mexico, Arizona)

  • Described as: a “provision that exists in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, allowing individuals to construct their own primary residence without meeting the full IRC standard.”[youtube]​

  • This is framed as the legal basis for Simone Swan’s 600‑home adobe program in Presidio County, Texas, despite citations from building authorities.[youtube]​

Organizations and lobbying claims

• Portland Cement Association (PCA)

  • Named as: trade body for cement manufacturers like LafargeHolcim, Cemex, Vulcan Materials, Martin Marietta, with combined U.S. revenue of 18 billion dollars per year.[youtube]​

  • Claimed role: lobbying since 1940 for code requirements that mandate Portland cement in foundations, bond beams, mortar joints, stucco coatings; credited with drafting cement‑stabilization requirements in UBC Chapter 24A.[youtube]​

• National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)

  • Described as: 150,000‑member trade association, largest residential construction trade group in the U.S.[youtube]​

  • Claimed role: opposing every attempt to create code pathways for natural building methods at state and federal levels since 1960, with a stated reason of consumer protection but an implied economic motive (adobe not requiring contractors).[youtube]​

• International Code Council (ICC)

  • Mentioned as: the body that writes the International Residential Code and related model codes; the video states that the University of Arizona adobe study “has never been cited in a single ICC code update proceeding” and that the ICC has not integrated New Mexico’s adobe‑code evidence.[youtube]​

Historical and biographical sources (implicitly cited)

These are more narrative than formal citations, but they are clearly drawn from specific historical works:

• Jericho, Great Mosque of Djenné, Taos Pueblo

  • Used as archaeological/architectural examples of long‑lived earthen construction.[youtube]​

• Hassan Fathy’s “Architecture for the Poor” (1973)

  • Explicitly referenced as the book in which Fathy documents the New Gourna project and the political reasons (contractor lobbying) for its cancellation.[youtube]​

  • The video cites his awards (Aga Khan Award, Right Livelihood Award) and Smithsonian recognition of the book as one of the 20 most important works of 20th‑century architecture.[youtube]​

• Simone Swan and the Adobe Alliance in Presidio County, Texas

  • The narrative about 600 homes, material costs of 800–1,500 dollars, and zero energy bills is presented as fact but not linked to a specific written report; it likely draws from Adobe Alliance documentation and interviews.[youtube]​

• Nader/Naderi Khalili and Cal‑Earth

  • Cited via a short quotation given to the California Building Standards Commission: “You are not regulating safety. You are regulating profit. And the people who cannot afford your profit are living in tents.”[youtube]​

  • Khalili is identified as a natural builder whose testimony is used to summarize the video’s critique of building codes.[youtube]​

If you want, I can turn this into a compact Obsidian note: one section listing each study/standard with guessed DOIs or code numbers and another section for follow‑up research tasks (e.g., “pull full text of the 2018 Energy and Buildings adobe study”).

Create a biography of Hassan Fathy, using both the video and outside sources that you cite.

• Fathy died in Cairo on 30 November 1989, but his legacy continues through architects and movements pursuing natural building, earthen construction, and community‑driven design.rightlivelihood+2

• New Gourna has been recognized by UNESCO and others as an important example of sustainable settlement design, and there are ongoing projects to safeguard what remains of the village as a landmark of 20th‑century architecture.whc.unesco+1

• The video connects Fathy’s work directly to contemporary earthen‑building efforts in places like Presidio County, Texas, arguing that his “architecture for the poor” provides a conceptual blueprint for resisting building systems that prioritize profit and industrial materials over affordability and resilience.[youtube]​

Would it help if I next extract Fathy’s core design principles (vaulting, thermal mass, participatory building, etc.) into a checklist you can apply when evaluating adobe or natural‑building projects today?

Extract Fathy’s core design principles (vaulting, thermal mass, participatory building, etc.) into a checklist to apply when evaluating adobe or natural‑building projects today.

Here is a concise checklist of Hassan Fathy–style principles you can apply when evaluating adobe or other natural‑building projects.

1. Climate and thermal design

• Thick, high‑mass walls (adobe, mud brick, stone) sized for your diurnal swing to store heat/coolth and smooth indoor temperatures.atlantis-press+1

• Courtyard‑based layouts that create shaded “cool reservoirs” and cross‑ventilation paths.publication-cpas-egypt+1

• Narrow, winding streets / passages and arcaded walkways to shade facades and reduce direct solar gain.[atlantis-press]​

• Passive cooling elements: oriented openings, small high vents, domes with skylights for stack effect, windcatchers, water features, and vegetation to cool air.scribd+1

• Window size, placement, and shading tuned to climate (small, shaded openings in hot‑arid; larger south‑facing with overhangs in cooler climates).washingtonpost+1

2. Materials and construction system

• Primary use of local, low‑embodied‑energy materials (earth, local stone, timber) that suit the site’s climate and soil.old.ner+1

• Structural forms that reduce reliance on steel/concrete: Nubian vaults, domes, barrel vaults, and load‑bearing earthen walls.scribd+1

• Details that protect earth from water: high plinths, good foundations, generous roof overhangs, careful drainage, splash‑resistant plasters.isvshome+1

• Recyclability/end‑of‑life: materials should be reusable or returnable to the environment with minimal waste.old.ner+1

3. Social and participatory process

• Community/owner participation from the start: future inhabitants involved in siting, layout, and house configuration.former-students.imperial+1

• Training of local builders and craftspeople in earthen techniques, vaulting, and finishing, so skills stay in the community.[old.ner]​

• Designs that reflect local culture (forms, courtyards, gathering spaces, ornament) rather than importing an alien aesthetic.wikipedia+1

• Building process organized to maximize local labor and minimize dependence on outside contractors and expensive machinery.[old.ner]​

4. Settlement and urban form

• High‑density, low‑rise clusters to share walls (more thermal mass, less exposed surface) and reduce infrastructure cost per household.isvshome+1

• Mixed program at the settlement scale: homes plus mosque/church, market, school, theater or public spaces, integrated from the start.whc.unesco+1

• Hierarchy of outdoor spaces: private courtyards, semi‑public alleys, public squares, designed for shade, breeze, and social life.publication-cpas-egypt+1

• Orientation of streets and blocks for climate: align to prevailing winds for ventilation, control solar exposure with street direction and section.profiles.wustl+1

5. Economics and appropriateness

• First‑cost target matched to local incomes: building achievable without heavy debt, using materials people can obtain themselves.wikipedia+1

• Designs that minimize operating energy (cooling, heating) so lifetime cost is affordable for poorer users.atlantis-press+2

• Construction methods compatible with local regulations or adaptable with minimal added complexity (e.g., substituting local stone where adobe is restricted).profiles.wustl+1

• Architecture seen as a tool for dignity and autonomy, not just shelter: spaces for work, craft, and community, not only sleeping.wikipedia+1

6. How to apply this checklist to a project

When you evaluate an adobe or natural‑building proposal, ask:

• Does the form (walls, vaults, courtyards) actively work with local sun, wind, and temperature patterns, or is mass just decorative?scribd+1

• Are materials truly local, low‑energy, and well‑detailed for moisture, or are they “natural‑looking” but dependent on high‑embodied‑energy components?isvshome+1

• Is there a plan to train and involve local residents in construction and maintenance, or is it a specialist‑only system?former-students.imperial+1

• Does the settlement layout create shaded, ventilated outdoor rooms and shared amenities, or is it conventional sprawl with earthen walls added?atlantis-press+1

• Can typical households in that context afford both construction and long‑term energy costs without debt, aligning with Fathy’s “architecture for the poor” ethos?wikipedia+1

If you tell me your target climate and regulatory context (e.g., West Texas high desert vs humid East Texas), I can adapt this into a more specific evaluation rubric for your adobe/natural‑building ideas.

What are the conditions for building an adobe building in New Mexico? What codes in New Mexico govern building in adobe? What are the steps to build an adobe home in New Mexico? Are the steps the same in Texas?

New Mexico has a dedicated statewide earthen building code for adobe; Texas does not, so the conditions and steps are similar in spirit but not the same in law.rld.nm+2

New Mexico: conditions and main code rules

In New Mexico, adobe construction is governed by the 2021 New Mexico Earthen Building Materials Code, codified at N.M. Admin. Code Title 14, Chapter 7, Part 4 (14.7.4 NMAC). Key conditions include:law.cornell+2

• Scope and use

  • Applies to one‑ and two‑family dwellings where earthen materials (adobe, rammed earth, etc.) form the bearing wall system.bia+1

  • Adobe buildings are limited to two stories in height.law.cornell+1

• Wall heights and thickness

  • Maximum wall heights and required thicknesses are set by Table 1 in 14.7.4.8 NMAC (e.g., thicker lower stories, minimum 14 inches for bottom story walls in two‑story buildings, with 10‑inch upper story permitted if table conditions are met).bia+1

  • Walls without lateral support (buttressing, cross‑walls, or returns) have stricter height limits than walls braced at ≤24 ft intervals.srca.nm+1

• Classes of adobe and soil requirements

  • 14.7.4.10 NMAC defines classes of adobe, including unstabilized, stabilized, and terrón (cut sod brick).regulations.justia+1

  • Soil must be a mix of coarse sand, sand, silt, and clay suitable for sun‑dried blocks; soluble salts must be ≤2%.[law.cornell]​

  • Unstabilized adobe is prohibited within 4 inches of finished floor grade; the first 4 inches above floor must be stabilized adobe or waterproof masonry.[regulations.justia]​

• Mortar, plaster, and coatings

  • Earthen, lime‑sand, or conventional cement mortars (Types M, S, N) are allowed; bed joints must be fully grouted with adequate lap.rld.nm+1

  • Exterior plaster can be earthen, lime, or reinforced Portland‑cement stucco; if Portland cement stucco is used, it must be reinforced with welded wire mesh (minimum 17‑gauge, 1½‑inch openings) properly attached to walls.[bia]​

• Foundations and bond beams

  • Foundations must meet the New Mexico Residential Building Code (NMRBC) plus additional earthen‑specific rules (e.g., minimum footing dimensions and reinforcement when supporting rammed‑earth walls).[rld.nm]​

  • Earthen walls generally must be topped with a bond beam, tying walls together and connecting to any solar mass walls (Trombe walls).rld.nm+1

• Structural and energy code integration

  • 14.7.4 NMAC states that earthen buildings must otherwise comply with the 2021 New Mexico Residential Building Code, except where the earthen code provides specific alternatives.[rld.nm]​

  • Energy performance (insulation / thermal mass equivalence) is handled in conjunction with the New Mexico Residential Energy Conservation Code, with special treatment for high‑mass adobe walls.theearthbuildersguild+2

New Mexico: practical steps to build an adobe home

From the code and practitioner guidance (e.g., Earthbuilders Guild, GreenHomeBuilding), the real‑world steps usually look like:

1. Site selection and zoning

   • Confirm zoning allows residential use and check any local overlays (historic districts, floodplain, etc.).greenhomebuilding+1

2. Decide if you are an owner‑builder or hiring a contractor

   • New Mexico allows owner‑builder projects; if you follow the Earthen Building Materials Code prescriptively, you typically do not need an architect/engineer stamp for a simple one‑ or two‑story dwelling.[greenhomebuilding]​

   • Licensed contractors must comply with 14.7.4 NMAC and general contractor licensing rules.bia+1

3. Design and construction documents

   • Prepare plans that follow the earthen code:

     • Foundation plan

     • Floor plan(s)

     • Elevations

     • Wall sections showing wall thicknesses, plasters, bond beams, and roof connections

     • Roof framing plan

     • Site/plat plan showing building location, utilities, roads, septic/well if applicable.[greenhomebuilding]​

   • If you stay within the prescriptive limits (heights, spans, openings, bond beams), you can usually avoid custom engineering.greenhomebuilding+1

4. Permitting

   • Submit plans to the relevant building department (state Construction Industries Division or local jurisdiction) for review under 14.7.4 NMAC + NMRBC.law.cornell+1

   • Address any plan‑check comments on wall thickness, bond beams, foundations, energy‑code compliance, and details like fireplaces and chimneys (14.7.4.9(C) cross‑references 14.7.3.18 NMAC for fireplaces).law.cornell+1

5. Materials testing and quality control

   • Make sample adobe blocks from your soil, sun‑dry them, and test for compressive strength and modulus of rupture as required by 14.7.4.11 NMAC (the code references specific test procedures and minimum psi thresholds).law.cornell+1

   • Adjust mix (sand, clay, straw) as needed to meet the code’s performance criteria.regulations.justia+1

6. Construction and inspections

   • Build foundations to code, then adobe walls to the specified thickness and height limits, with required bond beams and any buttresses/returns for lateral support.bia+1

   • Install roof framing, doors/windows, and plasters per approved plans.[rld.nm]​

   • Pass staged inspections (foundation, rough framing, electrical/plumbing if applicable, final).theearthbuildersguild+1

7. Final approval and occupancy

   • After final inspection and corrections, obtain a certificate of occupancy from the authority having jurisdiction.[theearthbuildersguild]​

Texas: are the steps the same?

Texas does not have a statewide earthen/adobe code equivalent to 14.7.4 NMAC, so:

• Code framework

  • Texas jurisdictions generally adopt the International Residential Code (IRC) and International Building Code (IBC), often with local amendments.thiscobhouse+1

  • Adobe and earthen construction are handled either under generic masonry/earthen sections of IBC or as alternate materials and methods, which usually requires engineering and local negotiation.huduser+1

  • Some cities (e.g., San Antonio) have added explicit earthen‑construction provisions, but this is local, not statewide.[tpr]​

• Enforcement is highly local

  • Many West Texas counties have little to no building‑code enforcement outside city limits; owner‑builders may face minimal structural oversight but must still meet septic, electrical, and other separate regulations.[thiscobhouse]​

  • Inside cities or active‑code counties, you must satisfy the adopted IRC/IBC plus any local amendments; without an earthen appendix, adobe usually triggers alternate‑method review.huduser+1

• Owner‑builder status

  • Texas law protects owner‑builders (e.g., under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1051) so you can act as your own general contractor on a primary residence, but you’re still bound by whatever building code that jurisdiction has adopted.[build-your-house]​

  • There is no Texas‑wide prescriptive earthen code akin to New Mexico’s 14.7.4 that says “if you build adobe like this, it’s approved.”

So, process comparison

• Conceptual steps are similar (zoning, plans, permits, construction, inspections), but:

  Aspect	New Mexico (statewide earthen code)	Texas (no statewide earthen code)
  Governing adobe code	14.7.4 NMAC – Earthen Building Materials Code rld.nm+1	Local IRC/IBC + amendments, no dedicated adobe code thiscobhouse+1
  Prescriptive adobe rules	Yes: heights, thickness, soil, testing, plasters, bond beams rld.nm+2	No single set; often case‑by‑case engineering thiscobhouse+1
  Owner‑builder path	Explicitly accommodated; prescriptive path avoids engineering stamp bia+1	Owner‑builder allowed, but still must meet local code where enforced build-your-house+1
  Rural, low‑enforcement areas	Still under state earthen code when CID has jurisdiction [rld.nm]​	Many rural counties have little/no code enforcement [thiscobhouse]​
  Likely need for engineer	Not if you stay within prescriptive limits bia+1	Common if you want permitted adobe inside code‑enforced areas thiscobhouse+1

In practice, the workflow steps for Texas are analogous—confirm zoning, design, permits, inspections—but the regulatory certainty you get in New Mexico from 14.7.4 NMAC is missing; you must negotiate locally or build in low‑enforcement zones.thiscobhouse+2

If you tell me whether you’re considering city‑adjacent land or truly rural West Texas, I can sketch a concrete, jurisdiction‑specific action plan for you.

Give a biography of Simone Swan. Has she written any books or published any articles or research?

Simone Swan was a Belgian‑born, American adobe advocate who apprenticed with Hassan Fathy and spent her later life promoting earthen construction along the U.S.–Mexico border, especially in Presidio County, Texas.archpaper+1

Brief biography

• Simone Juliette Withers Swan was born in Antwerp, Belgium, on November 30, 1928, to a Belgian‑Dutch mother and an American father from Virginia; she held American citizenship and grew up in Europe, New York, Connecticut, and France.adobealliance+2

• She studied art and architecture in Africa and Belgium and later completed a degree at Yale, then founded the New York public‑relations firm Withers Swan, focusing on cultural and environmental institutions.adobealliance+2

• In 1964 she was recruited by Houston patrons John and Dominique de Menil to publicize their art and architecture initiatives and eventually became the founding director of the Menil Foundation, where she also helped launch energy‑conservation and alternative‑energy programs.archpaper+1

Turn to earthen architecture and the Adobe Alliance

• In the 1970s Swan encountered the work of Egyptian architect Hassan Fathy, became enamored of his Nubian‑vault adobe techniques and social aims, and traveled to Cairo to apprentice under him.designersandbooks+1

• Seeing parallels between Egypt’s desert climate and the Trans‑Pecos region, she first visited far West Texas in 1991, acquired land outside Presidio in 1995, and set out to build vaulted adobe structures there.[naturalbuildingblog]​

• She founded Adobe Alliance Inc. in the late 1990s as a nonprofit dedicated to low‑cost, climate‑appropriate housing using adobe vaults and domes in the Big Bend border region, targeting communities with high unemployment such as Presidio County.adobealliance+1

• Beginning in 1998 she built Casa Swan, a 1,600‑square‑foot off‑grid house with adobe vaults and domes on a mesa above the Rio Grande, which became her laboratory and teaching site.naturalbuildingblog+1

• Through the Adobe Alliance she organized annual construction workshops that taught all phases of adobe‑brick making, vault and dome construction, and lime plasters, attracting international students and natural‑building practitioners.adobeinaction.substack+2

• Obituaries and tributes describe her as an architectural patron, construction foreman, and charismatic teacher who insisted that “adobe is political,” seeing earthen building as an ethical response to housing injustice and environmental damage.adobealliance+2

Writings, articles, and other publications

• Swan did not publish a major solo book on adobe comparable to Fathy’s Architecture for the Poor, but she did write articles and contributed to public discussions on adobe and sustainability.texasmonthly+2

• One notable article is “Build With Adobe” by Simone Swan, published in Texas Monthly (May 2009), which presents adobe construction and its benefits to a general audience; this appears to be her best‑known mainstream print piece.[texasmonthly]​

• The Adobe Alliance site hosts a short autobiographical essay, often referenced as “Simone Swan Adores Adobe,” in which she recounts her background, her apprenticeship with Fathy, and her decision to found the Adobe Alliance in West Texas.adobealliance+1

• She frequently delivered lectures and slide talks—for example, “Adobe: From the Nile to the Rio Grande” in Austin—rather than academic journal articles, and she presented multiple times at the Earth USA conference series on earthen architecture.womenandtheirwork+1

• Secondary profiles (e.g., Designers & Books, BWAF archive) list her as a practitioner and educator rather than as a research author; there is no evidence of peer‑reviewed technical papers under her name in architectural or engineering journals.dna.bwaf+2

Research output vs. practical legacy

• Swan’s primary “publication” is her built work and teaching: dozens of vault‑and‑dome adobe houses and training workshops in the Chihuahuan Desert, many of them owner‑built homes using low‑cost earth techniques derived from Fathy.adobealliance+2

• Her influence is documented in others’ books and articles: for instance, natural‑building writers and architects like Ronald Rael cite Casa Swan and the Adobe Alliance as key North American examples of Nubian‑vault adobe adapted to U.S. conditions.motherearthnews+2

• Summing up, she is best understood as a field practitioner and educator whose legacy is embodied in buildings, workshops, and regional advocacy, with a small set of essays and popular articles rather than a large formal research bibliography.archpaper+2

Do you want a follow‑up that lists her known writings and recorded talks in a table you can use as a research task list (source, date, where to find it)?

What are the steps for creating bricks and building an adobe home? What is the routine for maintenance?

Below is a practical, code‑aware high‑level workflow for adobe, plus a realistic maintenance routine.

Making adobe bricks (field process)

Use local soils plus sand and fiber; refine with tests and, where required, local code specs.

1. Find and test soil

   • Prefer loamy sands or sandy clay loams; avoid pure clay or very silty soils.pubs.nmsu+1

   • Use a jar/bottle sedimentation test: ideal mix shows a clay band about 15–20% of column height, with the rest a gradation of sand and silt.dharmalaya+1

2. Decide mix ratios

   • Common starting mix by volume: about 70–75% sand/silt and 25–30% clay‑rich soil.moreecological.wordpress+1

   • Add chopped straw or other fiber (often 0.5–2% by volume of the wet mix) for crack control.pubs.nmsu+1

   • In New Mexico, if you need “stabilized” adobe, add an approved stabilizer (e.g., asphalt emulsion, lime, or small % Portland cement) per local code or engineering guidance.regulations.justia+2

3. Prepare mixing area

   • Choose a flat, drained area near the soil source and with enough room for drying rows.[pubs.nmsu]​

   • Traditional method: dig a shallow pit and soak it to keep soil from drying too quickly; modern method: use a tarp or mechanical mixer.moreecological.wordpress+1

4. Mix the mud

   • Shovel pre‑measured soil and sand into the pit or onto the tarp, add water gradually, and foot‑mix or use a mixer until you get a homogenous, plastic consistency (like stiff bread dough—holds shape but is workable).[youtube]​pubs.nmsu+1

   • Remove large stones or organic debris; adjust with more sand if it cracks badly when drying, more clay if it crumbles.dharmalaya+1

5. Prepare molds

   • Use oiled or wet wooden molds (single or multi‑cavity), sized to your code or design (New Mexico commonly uses bricks around 4 × 10 × 14 inches).geoinfo.nmt+2

   • Set molds on level, sand‑covered ground or plastic sheeting to ease release.[pubs.nmsu]​

6. Form bricks

   • Throw or pack mud firmly into molds, working it into corners and compacting to eliminate voids.[youtube]​moreecological.wordpress+1

   • Strike off the top with a straightedge to the mold height.[pubs.nmsu]​

   • Lift molds straight up so bricks remain in place; repeat in rows with small gaps between bricks.moreecological.wordpress+1

7. Initial drying and curing

   • Allow bricks to dry in place a few days until firm enough to handle; then tip them on edge and later stand them on narrower edges to speed uniform drying.pubs.nmsu+1

   • Protect from rain with tarps; total curing commonly takes 2–4 weeks depending on climate.pubs.nmsu+1

8. Quality checks (especially in New Mexico)

   • New Mexico’s earthen code calls for compressive‑strength and water‑absorption tests on representative bricks (e.g., 4‑inch cubes checked for ≤2.5% weight gain on a saturated surface over 7 days for certain classes of stabilized adobe).law.cornell+2

   • Discard bricks that crack deeply, crumble, or fail basic load tests.

Building an adobe home (simplified sequence)

This assumes a single‑story house in an earthen‑friendly jurisdiction; exact dimensions and reinforcement depend on local code/engineer.

1. Plan, layout, and foundations

   • Design to code: wall thickness, spans, openings, and seismic/wind requirements derived from local earthen/adobe rules or engineering.rld.nm+1

   • Pour reinforced concrete or rubble‑trench foundation with a stem wall high enough to keep adobe above splash and grade; some codes require the first several inches above floor to be stabilized or non‑earthen masonry.regulations.justia+1

2. First courses and wall building

   • Lay the first course on a level, dampened bond beam or stem wall using compatible mortar (adobe mud, lime‑sand, or type N/S cement mortar depending on design/code).rld.nm+1

   • Stagger vertical joints (running bond), keep joints relatively thin and fully bedded, and continuously check plumb and level.geoinfo.nmt+1

   • Integrate buttresses, cross‑walls, or returns at code‑specified intervals for lateral stability; leave properly spanned and head‑boxed openings for doors and windows.rld.nm+1

3. Lintels and bond beams

   • Install lintels over openings using wood, reinforced concrete, or steel sized for span and loads.[rld.nm]​

   • At top of the wall, cast or assemble a bond beam (e.g., reinforced concrete or heavy timber), tying walls together and providing a level bearing surface for the roof.geoinfo.nmt+1

4. Roof structure

   • Use wood joists, vigas, trusses, or vault/dome systems per design; maintain adequate overhangs to protect walls from rain.[geoinfo.nmt]​

   • Add roofing layers appropriate to climate (decking, membrane, insulation, metal or tile roof, etc.).rld.nm+1

5. Utilities and interior finishes

   • Run electrical and mechanical services using surface conduits, chases, or interior framed service walls; avoid excessive horizontal chasing in load‑bearing adobe.[geoinfo.nmt]​

   • Finish interiors with earthen, lime, or gypsum plasters, or drywall on furring where preferred.limes+1

6. Exterior plasters and weather protection

   • Apply compatible plasters: traditional earthen or lime plasters (high vapor permeability), or lime‑cement stuccos where required.limes+1

   • Follow good plaster practice: rough “scratch” coat, keying into the adobe, then one or more brown/finish coats, with adequate curing time and pre‑wetting between coats.[limes]​

7. Inspections and occupancy (in regulated jurisdictions)

   • Complete foundation, framing, and final inspections as required by local building authorities.[rld.nm]​

Routine maintenance for adobe homes

Maintenance is mostly about managing water, maintaining plasters, and fixing small cracks early.

1. Annual visual inspection

   • Walk the perimeter once or twice a year, after the wet season if applicable, looking for: base erosion, spalling, plaster detachment, vegetation against walls, and roof/drainage issues.limes+1

   • Check interior for new cracks, moisture spots, or salt efflorescence.[geoinfo.nmt]​

2. Roof and drainage upkeep

   • Keep gutters, canales, and downspouts clear; ensure water is directed well away from the foundation.[geoinfo.nmt]​

   • Inspect roof membrane/covering for leaks; repair promptly to prevent water reaching adobe.[geoinfo.nmt]​

3. Plaster/stucco maintenance

   • Earthen or lime plasters: patch cracks and small holes with compatible mud or lime mortar, feathering into the existing surface; major re‑coats may be needed every few to several years depending on exposure.[limes]​

   • Limewash or lime paint finishes: expect to re‑limewash exposed façades roughly every 5–7 years to maintain full coverage, more often on highly exposed surfaces.[greenyplace]​

   • Cement stucco (where used): monitor hairline cracks; seal or repair with compatible stucco to prevent bulk water infiltration.[limes]​

4. Base and splash zone protection

   • Maintain ground levels so soil and landscaping do not build up against adobe; keep a visible, sound stem wall or base course.regulations.justia+1

   • Where unstabilized adobe is used, ensure that the first inches above grade remain stabilized or protected, as codes like New Mexico’s require.regulations.justia+1

5. Crack repair

   • Small, non‑structural cracks: widen slightly, dampen, and fill with matching adobe or lime mortar, then finish flush.vasariplaster+1

   • Re‑evaluate pattern cracks or movement around openings; if cracks are recurring or widening, consult an experienced earthen‑structure engineer or builder.[geoinfo.nmt]​

6. Long‑term cycles

   • Expect exterior finish cycles (especially limewash/earthen coatings) in the 5–10‑year range, more frequent on weather‑beaten façades and less on sheltered sides.greenyplace+1

   • With sound foundations, roofs, and regular small‑scale repairs, well‑built adobe structures can last many decades or centuries, as documented in field studies in New Mexico and elsewhere.[geoinfo.nmt]​

If you tell me whether you’re more interested in a strictly New Mexico‑code‑compliant process or a more informal owner‑builder workflow (e.g., rural West Texas), I can turn this into a step‑by‑step checklist suitable for a build log or spreadsheet.