Cob: Re: earth plasters in conventional housing

[dtebb]

Hi Bill,

Are you the Bill from Alberta? Thanks for the information. It sounds as if
the stucco wire mesh would be a good way to go. I am really looking forward
to this experiment. I was able to buy a small bag of fine mica from a
pottery supply warehouse. I believe they ordered the mica in from the
states, but it was fairly cheap. The mica in an aliz finish is beautiful,
giving the wall a slight sparkle (depending on how much mica you use) with
the sunlight or candles. Highly recommended.

Ian

>Hi Ian,
>I did one experiment with a sand lime plaster on a metal skin wall panel but
>I used stucco wire mesh because it has a heavier gauge wire than chicken
>wire but more important the wire in one direction is crimped so it sits off
>the wall by about a quarter of an inch giving some where for the plaster to
>"bite". We used a large headed screw to attach the wire to the back panel to
>transfer the weight of the plaster to the wall. We did two coats and had a
>wonderful texture on the surface. Lime washes are planned for the final
>coat.
>
>Where did you find mica?
>
>Bill Johnston
>-----Original Message-----
>From: dtebb <dtebb at alternatives.com>
>To: coblist at deatech.com <coblist at deatech.com>
>Date: Wednesday, January 02, 2002 1:30 AM
>Subject: Cob: earth plasters in conventional housing
>
>
>>Friends of mine just purchased and gutted an old house, soon to be
>>re-drywalled, painted, etc. We plan to do some experimenting with earthen
>>plasters at least in one room as a demonstration project here in Vancouver.
>>Some of the old drywall will be left in place and in other rooms, the
>>drywall or old plaster was striped to the wood lathe.
>>
>>We plan to use a traditional interior earth plaster either over the drywall
>>or lathe. The plaster that I have worked with is kaolin clay, silica sand,
>>straw fiber, mica, pigments and white glue. I would also like to experiment
>>with something other than white glue.
>>
>>We will begin with some test boards including chicken wire over drywall and
>>lathe, directly on drywall and lathe without chicken wire and a rough coat
>>(perhaps white glue and sand) on the drywall in place of chicken wire.
>>
>>I have only seen one house, Kaki's in Moab, Utah in which the interior of a
>>conventional house was completly redone with natural plasters and paints.
>>It looked beautiful.
>>
>>Does anybody have experience doing this? What did you do? how did it work?
>>Your responses are appreciated.
>>
>>Ian
>>Down to Earth Building Bee
>>
>>
>>