Re: SB: SB Questions

["Kirk Haines" <khaines@enigo.com>]

> 1)  When I "reply" to someone on this list, my email goes only to that
> person, not the list, right?  How do you guys respond to the list?  Hit
> "forward" instead?

Depends on your mail agent.  There will be both a "From:" and a "Reply-
To:" header in the email.  You should have commands that let you reply to
the addresses in one or both of those.  See if there is a Reply-All or
something like that in your mail program.

> 2)  In case nobody else got the message, I'm starting small, with a 10
> X 10 sheep shelter, then maybe other outbuildings or a garage if it
> goes well.  I pretty much have my little plan together, but I'm not
> sure what I'm going to do when it comes to putting the stucco wire on.
> I will start on the outside, secure it at the bottom, throw it over the
> top of the wall, crease it, pull it tight on the inside and secure it
> at the bottom.  Fine.  But what happen in the corners?  I end up with a
> half a bale uncovered throughout the entire height.  How do you suggest
> I cover that piece with wire?

Don't use stucco wire at all.  Apply the stucco directly to the bales.

> 4)  The stucco mixture.  I was planning something like 6:2:1,
> sand:portlandcement:lime.  What do you think?   Would you change the
> recipe for the second coat?

A topic that has been discussed many times.  In general, the less portland
cement that you use in the mix, the better it will be for the straw long
term, due to the relative impermanence of portland cement stuccos to water
vapor.  I didn't start out here, but over the years that I have been
researching SB building, I have become more and more convinced that for
most structures an earthen plaster with a lime finish coat is the way to
go.  Then, if one lives someplace where even with ample roof overhangs,
storm driven rain can be blasted onto a wall, go over the finish coat with
a siloxane based waterproofer.

> 6)  On the list I read about some guy having some possible mold
> problems on his "earthen" floor or something.  His floor was made with,
> I don't know, gravel and fines, and chopped straw, and ..........  why
> the heck would anyone want to make a house floor out of that?

Nice floors for some applications can be made out of clay.  They can be
attractive and comfortable.


Kirk Haines




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