Cob: Lime Render on Cob

[D.J. Henman]

Lime putty should also not be applied during freezing spells.  The 
chemical reactions and molecule alignments required for the strongest 
bonding are altered and degraded.
Darel

Amanda, you are referred to a saturated hydrated lime, that is not going 
to go through the curing and hardening process.  I would, myself still 
keep it from freezing if possible.  I am referring to lime putty applied 
to a wall and when it starts its hardening process and how the weather 
affect this and not the storing of a lime putty.

Darel

Amanda Peck wrote:

> Seems like LIME PUTTY should be protected from freezing.  But I can't 
> think of a link just this moment.  But if you had your barrels of lime 
> inside, no particular problem for doing it inside in the winter.  

Unless it freezes inside.  Distringuish between heavy saturated hydrated 
lime and a  mixed lime mortar being applied and needs to go through the 
drying and hardening process.

> Outside, maybe. The southern part of North Carolina where I grew 
> up--the Sandhills--has winter resorts with lots of golf courses. If 
> you can play golf comfortably I expect you could plaster.
>
> There might be some humidity problems as well.  Humidity is relative,

Relative humitiy is a measurement we use, but the amount of water vapor 
is fixed at any certain time.
You are right that warmer air "can" hold more water vapor.

> so the air will hold a lot more moisture when it's warm than when it's 
> cold.  Walls, including your plaster, will not dry as well in cold 
> weather as they will in relatively dry warm weather.  Not sure about 
> the hot and extremely humid weather we're having right now. 

Good point. I forgot about this.  If its too bad a fan might need to be 
used.  If you do thin layers it shouldn't be a problem.   This might be 
more a problem with cob walls.  They might take too long to dry out and 
a mold could start to grow thereon.

> Even if you're using an earth plaster, won't be able to do much with a 
> frozen mass, and besides it would be horrible working outside with wet 
> mud when it's 34 degrees (Farenheit) out.

True enough.

Darel