Cob: Re: manure use

[Mike Wye]

Cow dung seems to be getting a bad press here.
Cow dung was a common stabiliser in cob buildings in South West England. It
reduces plasticity in a clay based earth.
The trampling and mixing of earth involved both man and beast. There's a
view that where animals were used to trample it was no ones job to take the
dung out ;)
Cow dung and lime putty mixes were used as render in some parts of mainland
Britain.
Cow dung, lime putty and sand mixes were used for internal plastering of
chimneys where high temperatures were likely.
Lots of historical background in "Conservation of Clay and Chalk Buildings"
by Gordon Pearson at www.donhead.com
Mike
Mike Wye & Associates,
Traditional & Ecological Building Products
www.mikewye.co.uk
01409-281644
sales at mikewye.co.uk
----- Original Message -----
From: "*Lootvik*" <lootvik at usermail.com>
To: <coblist at deatech.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2001 7:30 AM
Subject: Cob: manure use


>
> >
> >I have heard that in Southwest North America that the natives used a cow
> >dung as an additive.  They'd add it to the mixture and let it age a
> >while.  Does anybody have any data for the effect of adding cow dung to
> >adobe mud?
> >
> >Darel
>
> The Steens and others warn against using dung in your mud.  I _think_ it's
> the acidity that prevents a hard set--for example it would neutralize
> lime.  Before, I thot it was a good idea because of the digested fibers in
it.
>
> I've seen an earthen plaster that had weathered, sifted horse manure
> added.  It had added lime, but I'm convinced it was completely
> neutralized/useless. It had a hollow/frangible/friable quality after
drying.
>
> *Lootvik*
>
>
>
>