Cob: Fw: 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*
> >
> >
> >
> >
>