Cob: hair/alternative materials/additives.

[Charmaine R Taylor]

Horse and cow hair were used extensively in pure lime and sand plasters
and mortars.  Goat hair is used now in modern times, but human hair is
too fine and weak, the body hair of the horse not the mane or tail-too
springy- were combed and used.  polypropylene fibers are now avail in
little sacks for $3.00 apiece, and lime plasterers use it, as do cement
folks.

There is a well documented history thru the Historic Scotland people,
with cob clay lime and all types of building  researched and put into
booklets. most of it is for restoration purposes, as they found the old
materials do best- no cement is ever used, or polyfiber.

Charmaine  Taylor/ Taylor Publishing  << eyeing the neighbor's shaggy
goats
http://www.dirtcheapbuilder.com
http://www.papercrete.com
PO Box 375, Cutten CA 95534