Do mudbrick walls wash away when it rains?

A properly maintained mudbrick wall, built with a damp course underneath and with intact roofing, eaves, gutters and downpipes, will last centuries. You must guard against concentrated water projection on to a mudbrick wall (e.g., from sprinklers, broken downpipes etc.) as this does have the capacity to erode mudbrick over time.

Can I put nails into a mudbrick wall, for example, to hang a picture?

Yes! Locate nails as close to the centre of the mudbrick as possible, and you can drive a nail directly in to the mudbrick. You can also drill a hole and insert a plug and screw, however, whichever method you choose avoid the edges of the mudbrick as it might crack away.

Do you need to add modern chemical additives/chemical-based products to make a good mudbrick?

No.

What is the best soil or clay for making mudbricks?

In brief, many subsoils and clays are appropriate. Please refer to our Mudbrick Construction Guidelines for detailed information.

How long does it take to build a mudbrick house?

An average build by professionals, from excavation to occupancy, is around 6 months.

How expensive are mudbrick homes to build? How do they compare in price to other forms of building?

This varies, but on average $4000/m2. Mudbrick homes are a premium product and closely associated in price to a solid brick house.

Who can perform building inspections?

Builders of mudbrick houses often carry out building inspections; refer to the NMA Trade Guide in our Publications section.

What are the advantages of living in a mudbrick home?

There are numerous advantages that are summarised around the notions of sustainability, aesthetics, and comfortable living. Refer to https://www.yourhome.gov.au/materials/mud-brick for more information

What energy rating can mudbrick houses achieve?

Every house is different. It is prudent to design your house from the outset with energy efficiency in mind so that your mudbrick home can achieve a 6-star energy rating.

Do I need special paint for finishing a mudbrick wall?

A mudbrick wall can be coated with several products (refer to our Construction Guidelines for more information).  Historically, builders would make up a brew with clay, cow dung and water, however current practice is usually to use a water-based render paint that is vapour permeable, as mud bricks need to breathe.  Refer to the NMA Trade Guide for local contractors who do rendering.

What is the best home insurance for mudbrick buildings?

If you are looking for home insurance there are a few options, such as trying the bank where you have your mortgage or engaging an insurance broker. NMA members have also reported using Youi insurance and the Commonwealth Bank.

Who can I get to do a pre purchase building inspection?

: Refer to the NMA Trade Guide in the Publications section of our website.

How do I find someone in regional Victoria to repair my mudbrick home?

Try the following groups:

Natural Building Australia  https://naturalbuildingaustralia.org/ This group is actively running workshops and has a growing list of tradespeople and suppliers

Earth Building Association of Australia https://www.ebaa.asn.au/ EBAA runs annual conferences and has an informative website and a list of tradespeople.

How do I become a member of NMA?

Annual Membership (financial year) for the NMA is procured through the Trybooking ticket selling platform.

Membership is for the financial year beginning July 1.

NMA Family Membership F26 $70.00

NMA Individual Membership F26 $40.00

NMA Concession Membership F26 $20.00

To purchase your membership, go to https://www.trybooking.com/

Then follow these instructions to find your "ticket" purchase choice.

-Buy Tickets

-Search "NMA F26"

-Book Now