Avoiding plaster burn marks when building a straw bale house is important and easy if you know what causes them and what to do about them.
Tag Archives | Lime Putty
Michel Couvreux: An Expert’s Discussion of Natural Hydraulic Lime
I recently asked my friend Michel Couvreux of TransMineral, USA to write a guest piece about lime and the many confusing aspects of choosing and/or working with the right material for a straw bale house.
The Importance of Protecting Natural Plaster During Installation
The importance of protecting natural plaster can’t be over stated. It’s not the same as conventional stucco and it needs specific conditions for application.
Plastering Tip for Straw Bale Walls
Plastering has a lot of challenges to it from mixing recipes to application techniques. Some challenges may not be obvious from the start, so be sure to spend some time learning what you need to know before you jump in. Today I spoke with a client who had spilled Natural Hydraulic Lime (NHL) all over their […]
Finish Plaster Texture Options
There are a lot of finish plaster texture options available for your straw bale home and knowing which one is best for you can be difficult. The best decisions are based on understanding the combination of application-technical difficulty, personal aesthetics, durability, crack hiding ability, and material availability.
Share Your Straw Bale House Experience
If you have a straw bale house and are willing to share your experience with an international master program, then please fill out the following questionnaire.
Metal In Straw Bale Wall Assemblies
I know that the topic of metal in straw bale wall assemblies is a contentious one, and that is precisely why I want to bring it up and talk about it with you all. I have been saying for years that the use of welded wire mesh and plaster lath is essential to a quality bale house, and that sentiment has not changed. I want to quickly share my thoughts about using metal mesh and lath, and then hear from those of you who either agree or disagree with the practice.
The Benefits of Using a Commercial Plaster Sprayer
Most of us don’t have a commercial plaster spraying machine lying around, so we can’t just run out to the garage and turn it on. That said, if you have access to a commercial sprayer, it’s an incredible machine that will speed your process up dramatically. You have seen me post in the past about sprayers that we as consumers can use with great effectivity. I am still a big fan of these sprayers and highly recommend them; however, the commercial sprayer shown here, and others like it, is a big step up in power and production.
Upcoming Straw Bale Workshops
With my 2014 workshop schedule complete, I am looking to finalize my 2015 schedule. If you are interested in hosting or participating in 2015, it’s time to get excited and get in touch. In the meantime, check out these two workshops presented by CASBA.
Plastering Overhead in a Straw Bale House
Plastering straw bale window and door wells can be difficult, but the end result is beautiful. Learn some important tips on how to do it in this article.