Editing Mud (section)

== Building and construction ==
[[File:Punjabi Home.JPG|thumb|[[earthen plaster|Mud plastered]] home in [[Pakistan]]]]
[[File:Fortaleza de Bam, Irán, 2016-09-23, DD 09.jpg|thumb|The [[Arg e Bam]] citadel in Iran, the largest adobe building in the world]]

=== Adhesive ===
In the [[construction]] industry, mud is a semi-fluid material that can be used to coat, seal, or adhere materials.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Mahajan |first=Bhushan |date=2020-06-01 |title=15 Types Of Building Materials Used In Construction |url=https://civiconcepts.com/blog/types-of-building-materials |access-date=2023-10-21 |language=en-GB}}</ref> The term "mud" can be used for various semi-fluid materials used in construction including [[slurry]], [[mortar (masonry)|mortar]], [[plaster]], [[stucco]], and [[concrete]].<ref name=":0" />

=== Material ===
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Mud, [[Cob (material)|cob]], [[adobe]], [[clay]], and many other names are historically used synonymously to mean a mixture of [[subsoil]] and water possibly with the addition of stones, [[gravel]], [[straw]], [[Lime (material)|lime]], and/or [[bitumen]]. This material was used in a variety of ways to build [[wall]]s, [[floor]]s and even [[roof]]s. For [[thousand]]s of [[year]]s it was common in most parts of the [[earth|world]] to build walls using [[mudbrick]]s or the [[wattle and daub]], [[rammed earth]] or [[cob (material)|cob]] techniques and cover the surfaces with earthen plaster.

==== Mudbrick ====
{{Main|Mudbrick}}
[[File:Amran.jpg|upright|thumb|Mud house in [['Amran]], Yemen]]
Mud can be made into mud bricks, also called [[adobe]], by mixing mud with water, placing the mixture into [[molding (process)|moulds]] and then allowing it to dry in open [[air]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yourhome.gov.au/materials/mud-brick|title=Mud brick|last=admin_666|date=29 July 2013|work=yourhome.gov.au}}</ref> [[Straw]] is sometimes used as a [[binder (material)|binder]] within the [[bricks]], as it makes them a [[Composite material|composite]]. When the brick would otherwise break, the straw will redistribute the force throughout the brick, decreasing the chance of [[Structural integrity and failure|breakage]].<ref>Smith, Michael G. ''The Cobber’s Companion: How to Build Your Own Earthen Home''. Cottage Grove: Cob Cottage, 1998. Print.</ref> Such buildings must be protected from [[groundwater]], usually by building upon a masonry, fired brick, rock or rubble foundation, and also from wind-driven rain in damp [[climate]]s, usually by deep roof overhangs. In extremely dry climates a well-drained flat roof may be protected with a well-prepared ([[Puddling (engineering)|puddled]]) and properly maintained dried mud coating, viable as the mud will expand when [[moisture|moistened]] and so become more water-resistant.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nps.gov/tps/how-to-preserve/briefs/5-adobe-buildings.htm|title=Preservation Brief 5: Preservation of Historic Adobe Buildings|work=nps.gov}}</ref> Adobe mudbricks were commonly used by the [[Pueblo]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Indians]] to build their homes and other necessary structures. In some countries there are entire cities made of mud brick houses.
[[Cow dung]] and [[biomass]] are added to regulate indoor climate.<ref>[https://www.tudelft.nl/2020/citg/bricks-made-out-of-mud-and-cow-dung-to-regulate-indoor-climate Bricks made out of mud and cow-dung to regulate indoor climate]</ref>

==== Fired brick ====
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Mud that is mostly clay, or a mixture of clay and sand may be used for [[ceramic]]s, of which one form is the common fired [[brick]]. Fired brick are more durable but consume much more [[energy]] to produce.

==== Stabilized mud ====
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Stabilized mud (earth, soil) is mud which has had a binder such as cement or bitumen added. Examples are [[mudcrete]], landcrete, and [[soil cement]].