Cob: plastering adobes, clarification

Sat Mar 3 12:37:49 PST 2001

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<P>Thanks for clarifying John.&nbsp; I was refering to "earthen" plasters in my response to the original message.&nbsp; I also believe, like Annike(sp?) that portland stucco did not work with adobe or any earthen structure.</P>
<P>Thanks</P>
<P>BenGraham<BR><BR></P></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>&gt;From: John Fordice <OTHERFISH at HOME.COM>
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Reply-To: otherfish at home.com 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;To: ben graham <BENFRANKG at HOTMAIL.COM>
<DIV></DIV>&gt;CC: adobe50 at hotmail.com, coblist at deatech.com 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Subject: Re: Cob: plastering adobes 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Date: Fri, 02 Mar 2001 17:48:54 -0800 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Experience has shown the use of portland cement plaster (commonly known 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;as stucco) to be detrimental to earth walls. 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;As I understand it, what happens is: The stucco will develop cracks ( 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;as stucco does ) &amp; this will let water into the wall. Since the stucco 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;passes water vapor more slowly that the earth wall, the moisture will 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;tend to collect in the outer portion of the earth wall. When the wall 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;cools at night or in cold weather, the moisture that has thus been thus 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;essentially trapped in the wall will then condense on the backside 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;(earth wall contact side) of the stucco and cause a softening of the 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;earth wall it that point. This ultimately results in a spalling off of 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;the outer layer of the earth wall and a loss of bond between the wall at 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;the stucco covering. The stucco then is free to crack even more, 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;aggravating the condition &amp; it eventually comes loose and takes a 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;portion of the outer surface of the wall with it. 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;So the stucco which was put on the wall to protect it, actually damages 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;the wall &amp; makes for greater erosion of the wall than if it had been 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;left un plastered. 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;If you wish to plaster cob, use an earth or lime sand plaster. 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;ben graham wrote: 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; Laura, 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; I think you have the right idea. Plastering adobe is just like 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; plastering cob. All the in between brick spaces actually support the 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; plaster better, so no lath is necessary. 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; Best 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; Ben Graham 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;From: "Laura Guldin" 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;Reply-To: "Laura Guldin" 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;To: coblist at deatech.com 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;Subject: Cob: plastering adobes 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;Date: Thu, 01 Mar 2001 22:31:54 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt; 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;Hello yaall, 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;I am in Texas visiting my friend who's building an adobe. She's 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;cement 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;stuccoing the outside (not my idea) and I am talking to her about 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;earth 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;plastering the inside. The adobes are cement stuccoed together. 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;Anything 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;special about adobes.? She put lathing on the outside adobes. I 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;don't want 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;to do that. 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;Any ideas or hints? Is it pretty much like plastering cob? 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;Thank you kindly 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;Ulani 
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