SB: Re: Lime versus Earth

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

> With all this discussion of the hazards of lime, the question that pops
> into my mind is "why lime in the first place?"  (This isn't rhetoric--
> it's a serious question.)  I've heard that lime plaster has some
> bug-deterrent qualities, but I also read about a test between straw
> bales coated respectively with cement, lime and earth plasters, and the
> bales with earth were in the best shape after sitting there for a
> number of years.  I'd like to hear the opinions out there!  While
> you're at it, if you have any opinions on cement floors vs. adobe
> floors, I'd like to hear those, too.

Lime plasters are harder and more resistant to weather exposure.  They
look nice, too.

Right now all of my lime plaster work is in the context of a 120 year old
stone house that we are repointing, and will eventually be replastering
on the inside.  However, when I finally do get around to the straw bale
home, my personal plan, assuming I can find a source for decent clay, is
to earth plaster the straw, and then to put a lime topcoat on it.
Interestingly, this is similar to how the plaster was done in the old
house that I am speaking of.  We're repointing it, now, and it looks like
they used a LOT of mud both for mortar and for filler on the inner parts
of the stone walls, and then used a (lean) lime mortar on the inside and
outside joints.  Inside of the house, they used a lime plaster on the
walls, and then just finish coated it with a gypsum plaster.

Kirk Haines





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