Southwest/Adobe style homes (foundation, colors, rooms, warm)

[brokencrayola]

I know I don't live in an area where you see these type homes at all, but I LOVE the southwest adobe style homes. I love the colors, the look, the flat type roofs, the kivas, beams, walls around the homes etc. They really intrigue me. Does anyone here live in a home like that? Are there cons to these homes? Do those solid adobe type walls around the homes keep out snakes or scorpions? Are they energy efficient because of the materials used to make them? Any info would be interesting!

[jhlcomp]

Real adobe is an excellent insulator; it keeps rooms cooler in summer and warmer in winter. I stayed in a couple and really loved the experience.

[goldengrain]

I love the look of these, too, and wanted to purchase one, but I called various building inspectors in the local towns of the area and they discouraged me.

I also saw an interview with people who purchased one (expensive). They said it was a money pit, but they loved the house and could afford to pay the help they needed for upkeep.

Adobe Masters News Page

The above is written by a person who often repairs such homes, and he considers them a high maintenance buiding project.
I heard that they are not so terribly sound and you must keep patching them up, each year.
The reason they were built in the first place is that the materials were all at hand and they were (originally) inexpensive to build.

All that said, there is this 'green building' movement now and perhaps there are new types of materials to build them with.
I would interview a lot of people first, if you are considering owning one.

I also found out that stucco is only suitable to hot, dry climates and even the new sorts of stucco, with plastic or rubber blended into it, is a headache, cracks, and must be often repaired. If you let the cracks go for too long, the house develops moisture problems, which can be a really bad job.

Another thing I discovered - I was looking at something in StGeorge, Utah or the Vegas area - these people have exterminators in 3 or 4 times a year to keep out the snakes and scorpions.

Then, there was something about people in these areas hosing down the foundation of their homes daily. It seems it gets so hot and there is so much pressure on the foundations that they start breaking down into a sandy substance. Hosing regularly prevents this.

I love the pueblo look, though. See if you can rent.