New Products from Watershed Blocks

The Lime White Watershed Block uses no Portland cement. Other colors are available.
The Lime White Watershed Block uses no Portland cement. Other colors are available.

“I’m thrilled to announce a range of new Watershed Block, all made using local materials that celebrate the region of their origin, all produced with the latest in sustainable building materials technology. – David Easton + the Watershed team

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Terra Cotta Decorative Brick

Decorative brickwork in Thamel Kathmandu, Nepal
Decorative brickwork in Thamel Kathmandu, Nepal

A highlight of my trip to Nepal has been the traditional Newari brick. Beautiful examples of this architectural terra cotta clay brick abound in Kathmandu. Terra cotta brick and tiles are very affordable because they’re made with low fired clay.

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Rammed Earth Block Machine Makes Clay Materials Harder than Concrete

Watershed Materials concrete block made with waste clay materials are now available in northern California.
Watershed Materials concrete block made with waste clay materials are now available in northern California.

Guest post by Alex Wright of Watershed Materials, the company who’s making geopolymer concrete blocks out of waste clay materials. We’ve covered their exciting development in two previous blog posts. This article focuses on their rammed earth block machine.

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Watershed Materials Develops Clay Masonry Twice as Strong as Concrete

Geopolymer is stronger than Portland concrete and has a very low-carbon footprint
Geopolymer is stronger than Portland concrete and has a very low-carbon footprint

California-based startup Watershed Materials, with support from the National Science Foundation, has spent the last four years researching and developing a concrete alternative. Currently, their studies have produced a masonry created with natural, mineral based geopolymers, that has incredible strength and very low-carbon footprint.

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Green/Eco Friendly Brick Options

Green bricks are environmentally friendly alternative to concrete and high-fired clay bricks.
Green bricks are environmentally friendly alternative to concrete and high-fired clay bricks.

Why do we need greener options for making bricks? Here’s a quote from IDSN MOW “1.3 trillion bricks are manufactured on earth each year, and at least 10% of which are made in coal-fired ovens, on a whole releasing 800 million tons of CO2 annually.” In addition, clay bricks often destroy valuable topsoil. We need affordable, locally made, low tech eco bricks for the masses. Here is a list of leading eco-friendly green bricks.

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Rice Hull Ash Brick Formula With No Cement

Fly ash bricks are available in various colors. Natural iron oxide pigments could be added to rice hull ash bricks for similar results.
Fly ash bricks are available in various colors. Natural iron oxide pigments could be added to rice hull ash bricks for similar results.

Yesterday’s blog post was about making bricks with rice hull ash. Today we’ll review a few benefits of using rice hull ash in non-Portland cement products such as bricks and geopolymer, and give a formula for making rice hull ash bricks with no cement. Please note how other agro wastes such as sugar cane ash peanut shell ash and coconut ash could also be used. Use what is low cost and locally available.

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