Cob: Clay Infill Walls

Sat Oct 6 10:58:58 PDT 2001

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We are currently building clay/straw infill walls in a 19x17 structure =
that will be our bedroom.  Its going well, SLOWLY, but we have a few =
concerns that I was hoping for your opinions on.
We live in Vermont, and weather is beginning to change from warm to =
cool, to soon cold. We plan to expediate the drying process by putting =
the air ducts from the oil furnace directly into the room and blowing =
hot air.  But, we wonder if this will be enough to dry the walls before =
winter?  Should they be completely dry before plastering? How long on =
average does a 12" wall like this take?
Also. we have noticed some small mold/mildew spores sprouting on the =
undried surfaces, after taking off the forms. Not lots, but even a few =
make me nervous.  Is this normal, or a bad sign?
Finally, the exterior of the walls are built against plywood, as it was =
orginally intended to be a garage.  We have drilled 3/4" holes =
throughout the plywood to give ventilation, as well as packing this wall =
side largely with straw and very little clay.  Bad idea? =20
Thanks for any advice,
Jen and Pavel Cherkasov
Montpelier VT

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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>We are currently building clay/straw =
infill walls=20
in a 19x17 structure that will be our bedroom.&nbsp; Its going well, =
SLOWLY, but=20
we have a few concerns that I was hoping for your opinions =
on.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>We live in Vermont, and weather is =
beginning to=20
change from warm to cool, to soon cold. We plan to expediate the drying =
process=20
by putting the air ducts from the oil furnace directly into the room and =
blowing=20
hot air.&nbsp; But, we wonder if this will be enough to dry the walls =
before=20
winter?&nbsp; Should they be completely dry before plastering?&nbsp;How =
long on=20
average does a 12" wall like this take?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Also. we have noticed some small =
mold/mildew spores=20
sprouting on the undried surfaces, after taking off the forms. Not lots, =
but=20
even a few make me nervous.&nbsp; Is this normal, or a bad =
sign?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Finally, the exterior of the walls are =
built=20
against plywood, as it was orginally intended to be a garage.&nbsp; We =
have=20
drilled 3/4" holes throughout the plywood to give ventilation, as well =
as=20
packing this wall side largely with straw and very little clay.&nbsp; =
Bad=20
idea?&nbsp; </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Thanks for any advice,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Jen and Pavel Cherkasov</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Montpelier =
VT</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>

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