We now have completed two other houses, using this technology,for clients in New Mexico and Southern Colorado and are currently building our own in Western Colorado. Our research into adobe building surprised us in several ways. First, the perceived costs of working in traditional adobe, especially in western Colorado, was higher than expected while the actual costs were lower. This system was developed by a man who is a structural and thermal engineer, has been in the adobe construction business for 50 years and has been designing and building hydraulic adobe presses for the past 32 years. It must be kept in mind that the price was for this house and a specific set of circumstances.
Costs can be much less or much more.
This eliminates much of the thermal inefficiency due temperature differentials with the extremes of the night air. The wall surfaces are fairly flat eliminating the excessive use of stucco or plaster while retaining the traditional technique that produces the soft undulating look so unique to adobe structures. This is way more mass than is necessary with the use of proper insulation. You won't find a skilled worker willing to move this weight on a continual basis. The cavity wall is the key to functionality.