Steps Toward Decent, Affordable HousingSteps Toward Decent, Affordable Housing Habitat for Humanity in Amecameca, Mexico Habitat for Humanity in Amecameca, Mexico

© © Scott Moore, 2006, 2006

To this

A Habitat house built in Amecameca in 2005.

The family we built with currently lives in this house.

From this

The family of 9 lives in a one room houseThe family of 9 lives in a one room houseMost children sleep in bunk bedsMost children sleep in bunk beds

The twins sleep in hammocksThe twins sleep in hammocks

Ariel view shows typical designAriel view shows typical designTwo bedrooms, bathroom, family room / kitchenTwo bedrooms, bathroom, family room / kitchen

Bedroom

Bedroom

Family RoomKitchen

Bathroom

A low-tech blimp provided on-site aerial photographyA low-tech blimp provided on-site aerial photography

Houses are constructed of brick with excellent insulation valueIn this climate, houses have neither heating or cooling systems

Amecameca is situated at the base of an active volcanoAmecameca is situated at the base of an active volcanoHouses are built to withstand seismic activityHouses are built to withstand seismic activity

Rebar reinforces the brick housesRebar reinforces the brick housesHorizontally, vertically and at wall jointsHorizontally, vertically and at wall joints

Mortar is mixed by hand

Soaking bricks in water keeps the mortar from drying too fast

Corner posts and string help build straight, plumb walls

“Butter” one end of each brickThen set it on a bed of mortar

Tongue must be held just rightFor best results when setting brick

Use a trowel or rubber mallet to nudge bricks into position

Scrape away excess mortarThen tool the joints smooth

Building Walls!!!

Bucket and brick scaffold

Holding down the scaffold

Need to reach from both sides!!

Electrical wires will run through plastic conduitBoxes are mortared into holes cut into the brick

Current house has a Current house has a babaññoo with a manual flush system with a manual flush systemBut no running water!But no running water!

Surface mounted water supply lines on earlier Habitat housesSurface mounted water supply lines on earlier Habitat houses

Installing waste lines before pouring the bathroom floorInstalling waste lines before pouring the bathroom floor

Very thin PVC -Schedule 10, perhaps?

Cutting copper pipe with a badly-worn tool

Preparing copper hot & cold supply linesPreparing copper hot & cold supply linesWill be embedded in the floor and wallWill be embedded in the floor and wall

Global Village Team taught the families how to work with copper piping. They previously had no

plumbing skills.

Pressure testing the pipes

Mounting supply line on outside of rear wall

Is it plumb, Dale?

Plumbing embedded in wall

Shower valves & conduit for kitchen electric outletYes, the wall is level!

Water supply lines were retrofit in David’s houseWe cut channels into the brick

Pipes were cut to fit and soldered into the channels

Channels will be grouted with mortar and may be covered with decorative tile

Floor prep included leveling the dirt, wetting & tamping

Concrete was then poured and finished

Hand mixing concrete for David’s floorLaura’s favorite job!

Adjusting a door frameErik, where is your dust mask?

Where do youwant that hole?

Exterior door installation

Setting interior doors

The finished look

A Joyous Celebration

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