Cob: Exterior painting of cob

[Patrick Newberry]

I've painted latex paint on earth plastered walls before, and if the 
latex is a bit watered down I think it would still be somewhat 
breathable. 

The test patch I painted is only partially protected from the elements 
and had been in place for about two years. the only section still 
remaining after two years is the patch I painted. the rest has washed 
off totally. 

(P.S. there was a thread recently about lime and being burned, well I 
got one heck of a burn on my arm while plastering the inside of my 
dome. I mean like blisters and skin pealing off and other such gross 
images.  What I knew before but now I really really know is that one 
batch of plaster can burn a whole lot faster than another batch of lime 
plaster, even when the lime is the the same brand)

Pat. 

> 
> I have a cottage in Devon UK built out of cob in 1625. the outside
> surface has a rough rendering which I wish to paint. I would
> appreciate any advise on which type of paint to use to keep the
> 'breathability' of the walls, and where I can obtain a supply in the
> UK. My coblist email address is derrick at glebe13.freeserve.co.uk
> 
> __ 
"There is No Hope, but I may be wrong."