SB: Fw: Lime versus Earth - community building

["Carolyn Roberts" <carolyn@ahouseofstraw.com>]

> I've mostly heard of lime as a coating over earthen plasters.  Lime, of
> course, is waterproof and earth is not.  My interest is really in people
> being able to build their own houses and from my perspective, it's a whole
> lot of work to plaster one's own house inside and out.  Parties are
needed.
> Earth is safe for parties with children, adults and the whole
neighborhood;
> lime is not.  When we talk about coating an entire house with earthen
> plasters, then recoating it with lime, we're talking about a whole lot of
> hours of work.  But if I had my choice of mixing asphalt or cement in with
> the earthen plasters for waterproofing - or doing pure earthen plasters
and
> covering them with lime, I'd pick the latter.  Then, I'd figure out who
was
> going to help me lime.  But so far I haven't done that - I built a porch
> that protects the earthen plasters, instead.  I've done the entire inside
of
> my house with pottery clays and I'm really happy with the look, though I'm
> sure lime with lime washes is really lovely, too.
>     Aloha,
>     Carolyn
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
> www.ahouseofstraw.com
> carolyn@ahouseofstraw.com
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Kirk Haines <khaines@enigo.com>
> To: <strawbale@crest.org>
> Sent: Monday, June 24, 2002 10:08 AM
> Subject: SB: Re: Lime versus Earth
>
>
> > > 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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