SB: RE: did I miss something???

[Valle Kincaid <vkincaid@TreanorArchitects.com>]

i dunno.
i mean sure straw compresses over time, but decompose?  i don't think so. 
if it does, you did something wrong.  it will only decompose if it gets wet
and stays wet.  I suppose if you use a cement plaster inside and out and it
cracks and water gets in, it can't breathe, therefore the straw gets wet and
stays wet. Perhaps then it would decompose.....so just use earthen plaster
or lime plaster and, poof, no decomposition.

-----Original Message-----
From: Jo Wilhelm [mailto:home_place@juno.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2001 8:41 AM
To: strawbale@crest.org
Subject: SB: did I miss something???


I read this paragraph from David Wagner with a certain amount of
incredulity.

""We do not know.  Diddly.  Only recently did we rediscover the stucco
is actually bearing most of the load as the straw distributes it.  In
hindsight it is obvious; after the stucco hardens, straw continues to
compress and to slowly decompose while the stucco stays relatively
rigid and bears more and more of the load.  Why is it disturbing we
only recently rediscovered this?""

It seems to fly in the face of all we have been able to ascertain from
the century old structures in Nebraska. Would anyone care to comment on
this and fill me in if I've missed the reports that show me straw 
"continues to compress and slowly decompose......"

TIA!

JoMaMa


Jo Wilhelm 
home_place@juno.com   830/868-7077 www.the-home-place.com
Tours, workshops, seminars and speakers are all available from THE HOME
PLACE-
A sustainable living demonstration center in the hill country of central
Texas.

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