tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post5694492380393528365..comments2024-03-25T12:02:57.319-04:00Comments on Build Naturally...Blog: Clay Plastering Strawbales - FIRST COATSigi Kokohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02416038446988725892noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-40527680593077345622016-10-10T14:06:01.815-04:002016-10-10T14:06:01.815-04:00Thank you. This is more complicated than I thought...Thank you. This is more complicated than I thought it would be so I appreciate any help I can get. I’m battling time now as well with winter coming. And for whatever reason I can’t get my clay to be clay anymore instead of watery clay. Very frustrating.Stephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14987765703020733778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-37598599087535314602016-10-09T09:37:13.492-04:002016-10-09T09:37:13.492-04:00clay plaster can take days or weeks to dry. dryin...clay plaster can take days or weeks to dry. drying time depends on the following variables:<br />1. how warm it is (warmer = faster drying)<br />2. how humid it is (less humid = faster drying)<br />3. how much airflow there is (more airflow = faster drying)<br /><br />When you are plastering clay over clay, it also depends on what your substrate is, how damp it was when you plastered, and how absorbent it is.<br /><br />It doesn't really matter on how much water you've added to your plaster, since wetter plaster will also inherently be applied thinner (and so dries more quickly).<br /><br />Hope that helps.Sigi Kokohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02416038446988725892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-59090647461621307342016-10-08T10:40:15.135-04:002016-10-08T10:40:15.135-04:00I’m very confused by all the contradicting informa...I’m very confused by all the contradicting information about plastering strawbales. Yours has been the most helpful and simple!! Last night I tested a spot with clay and it won’t dry. Too much water?? One person on permies said clay takes weeks to dry. Help?Stephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14987765703020733778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-37163879040209659732016-08-31T21:34:54.862-04:002016-08-31T21:34:54.862-04:00depends so much of the variables...thickness of th...depends so much of the variables...thickness of the clay plaster, humidity, temperature, air flow, etc. That said, an averagely thick plaster applied in average temperatures should be dry enough for the next coat in about 1 to 3 weeks. The final coat takes less time...usually a few days. Hope that helps!Sigi Kokohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02416038446988725892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-61221880757994331352016-08-31T21:02:21.763-04:002016-08-31T21:02:21.763-04:00... oh, one more thing, if I may.
To ease my anxi...... oh, one more thing, if I may.<br /><br />To ease my anxieties: any ballpark estimate to drying time, in the fall?<br />I realize a million factors (temp, wind, sun) come into play, but I just don't have any idea what type of timeframe I could be looking at.<br /><br />Thanks so very much!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01158238101440869161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-6774871588177852862016-08-16T17:16:00.632-04:002016-08-16T17:16:00.632-04:00Thank you so much Sigi,
I really appreciate this a...Thank you so much Sigi,<br />I really appreciate this advice!<br />:)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01158238101440869161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-79393518630364854622016-08-16T17:15:02.253-04:002016-08-16T17:15:02.253-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01158238101440869161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-51156615259498610672016-08-14T14:15:26.008-04:002016-08-14T14:15:26.008-04:00Hi Jenna,
I'm so glad to hear that this info i...Hi Jenna,<br />I'm so glad to hear that this info is useful to you! Sounds like you have a spectacular house underway. For your questions:<br />1) If I use siding, I only coat the straw with clay...usually a single coat, worked into the straw pretty well. If you want it to look nice, you can go 2 coats...but that's bonus.<br />2) You absolutely do not want any plaster to freeze when wet (or even damp). If it freezes, you will see crazing cracks all through the surface, and what's happened is that all the sticky clay bonds have been broken when the water expands from freezing. This makes your plaster weaker. So I try to apply when you know your plaster can dry completely without risk of freezing.<br />3) For sure! I've had many many clients do this. A couple tricks to help your sanity & comfort: if you can, stockpile your sifted clay inside so it's not cold, and you can also use warm water to mix the plaster so it's not miserably cold.<br /><br />best of luck to you!Sigi Kokohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02416038446988725892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-75362555266628139192016-08-14T11:50:25.312-04:002016-08-14T11:50:25.312-04:00Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful, help...Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful, helpful & clear information.<br />I'd mega-appreciate some of your insights/guidance with my situation...?<br /><br />We live in Eastern Canada (zone 4), and the timing for our bale installation will be Autumn- when the temperatures will change. <br />We intend to clay plaster the exterior walls & install wood siding with a vented rainscreen. Our interior walls will also be clay plaster.<br /><br />I'm wondering:<br />1) Should we do all 3 regular clay plaster layers for the exterior, (given it will also be sided), or is there a different technique for plastering in this case?<br /><br />2) Given the upcoming cold, are there risks/limitations in completing the exterior plaster before winter?<br /><br />3) If we can get the exterior done in autumn, would it be possible to then do the interior plaster as winter sets in- with a woodstove as our heatsource? (Or might wood heat be too drying and mess up the curing process)?<br /><br />Appreciate your time, if you're able.<br />Cheers!<br />JennaAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01158238101440869161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-49910529494915292092016-02-22T09:33:09.411-05:002016-02-22T09:33:09.411-05:00For finish plaster: calculate the total wall area ...For finish plaster: calculate the total wall area (width x height), divide by 200, and that's how many 50-lb bags of dry kaolin clay you would need. If you are using other clay or doing coats besides the finish plaster, then you'd have to experiment with your particular materials to calculate the recipe and the quantities.<br />Sigi Kokohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02416038446988725892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-47877133941502417982016-02-22T08:06:59.900-05:002016-02-22T08:06:59.900-05:00How much clay is needed for a 10x10 room. Approxi...How much clay is needed for a 10x10 room. Approximately. ..."Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12766654332705679502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-75884294721279616822015-08-06T07:03:00.226-04:002015-08-06T07:03:00.226-04:00thanks! Glad it was helpful to you. :)thanks! Glad it was helpful to you. :)Sigi Kokohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02416038446988725892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-47915332633512005562015-08-06T03:59:45.308-04:002015-08-06T03:59:45.308-04:00A very good informative post....Sigi your knowledg...A very good informative post....Sigi your knowledge of the strawbale wall plastering is marvellous i tell you. You have clearly explained each and every minute requirement of plastering a strawbale wall ..really nice.....i like it....Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07216722485102306510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-85882742568639213632013-08-15T12:09:11.376-04:002013-08-15T12:09:11.376-04:00Sorry for the recipe confusion. I just changed th...Sorry for the recipe confusion. I just changed the recipe in the post with actual measurements, so hopefully it's clear. Basically, one 50-lb bag of dry clay makes just under two 5-gallon buckets of clay putty. And the recipe is for one 5-gallon bucket of clay putty. So, your 50-lb bag should make enough plaster to cover 200 SF of wall. Obviously, it depends on thickness too...<br />Hope that helps.Sigi Kokohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02416038446988725892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-15608206310079675132013-08-14T23:15:17.497-04:002013-08-14T23:15:17.497-04:00Thanks again! You set my mind at ease. We have fin...Thanks again! You set my mind at ease. We have finally had some sunny weather and everything is dried out and smelling fresh.<br /><br />Can you give me an idea of how much coverage I will get from a 50 lb bag of dry clay? I know it will vary depending on how much sand I add and how thick the coat is, etc..., but a ball park figure would be very helpful. Also, what thickness do you recommend for the different coats? <br /><br />Your finish coat recipe using kaolin clay appears to cover 100 sq ft with only one cup of clay... I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around that... so maybe I'm reading it wrong?Dublin Dunnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09284442254745086374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-44236907504749405592013-08-12T18:40:55.527-04:002013-08-12T18:40:55.527-04:00you have to actually experiment with adding lime. ...you have to actually experiment with adding lime. There is some secondary reaction that I don't fully understand but that involves the lime and magnesium in the clay that can change the properties of the plaster. Also, lime is caustic, so if you add it, you need to wear gloves to work with the plaster. For borax, I usually add it to my wheat paste, which I do add to finish plaster, but I don't worry about it for any other coat. If you just let the walls dry completely, the mold will die, and you can just brush it off before you begin your next coat. If you really want to kill the spores, you can wash the walls with a mixture of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, but I usually don't go to the trouble...Sigi Kokohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02416038446988725892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-5942667943201700242013-08-12T16:16:05.610-04:002013-08-12T16:16:05.610-04:00That helps greatly! Thanks so much.
One more que...That helps greatly! Thanks so much. <br /><br />One more question... I have read of people adding small amounts of lime or borax to their clay mix in order to prevent mold growth. Do you recommend either of these, and if so, how much?<br /><br />Because of the humidity these past few wks, we have some small spots of green mold on the inside walls. I'm confident its only a surface thing, because our bales have never been rained on, and I expect it to be fine when we trim the bales... What do you think? This is why I want to add something to the clay mix to prevent mold growth.<br /><br /> Dublin Dunnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09284442254745086374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-45219835224994260772013-08-12T11:34:50.714-04:002013-08-12T11:34:50.714-04:00For the first coats that you will not see, I would...For the first coats that you will not see, I would just get the cheapest clay they sell. Probably Red Art Clay or Gray Ball Clay. For the finish coat, you can select a clay based on color, or select white kaolin and pigment it any color you like. Does that help? (in other words, all pottery clay is sticky enough to make plaster with, so pick based on cost & color...and then you have to figure out sand proportions depending on the exact clay)Sigi Kokohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02416038446988725892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-69123831841969811812013-08-11T17:40:26.944-04:002013-08-11T17:40:26.944-04:00I have located a ceramic supply store, but they ha...I have located a ceramic supply store, but they have so many varieties that it's a bit overwhelming trying to choose!Dublin Dunnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09284442254745086374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-90171539567098560522013-08-11T17:36:58.419-04:002013-08-11T17:36:58.419-04:00Thanks so much for the advice.
I know using site ...Thanks so much for the advice.<br /><br />I know using site clay is ideal, but since we have harvested our own wood to build the post and beam structure, we are a bit tired, so we would rather take the easy route and use bagged clay. I've not been able to find any info on specific varieties that are good for plastering. I have seen gray ball clay recommended for the base coat, but that's about it... Perhaps you could point me in the right direction. Dublin Dunnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09284442254745086374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-29681889478915617742013-08-10T01:00:09.198-04:002013-08-10T01:00:09.198-04:00yes, yes, for sure, you can do clay on the outside...yes, yes, for sure, you can do clay on the outside. The only downside is erosion over time if the clay gets rained on. If you have good overhangs to protect your plaster or if you don't mind the occasional replastering (or repair plastering), then I would definitely do clay on the outside. Just don't do clay base plaster with lime over it. Commit to one or the other.<br /><br />For the burlap, I have done burlap to limited extent with lime, but really for significant joints like wood-to-straw, you want well done metal lathing.<br /><br />Good luck! Let me know how it goes!Sigi Kokohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02416038446988725892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-19644570719395065072013-08-09T16:23:45.480-04:002013-08-09T16:23:45.480-04:00Thanks so much. Do you consider clay plaster on th...Thanks so much. Do you consider clay plaster on the exterior to be acceptable if I have a wrap around porch that will prevent nearly all rain splash back? It's been raining nonstop for 3 wks and my unplastered bales are still dry. Only a wild and windy storm or maybe blowing snow can reach the walls. I'm thinking now that clay plaster would be way simpler to apply. I have ordered a roll of burlap already. Does burlap not work well with lime?Dublin Dunnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09284442254745086374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-67138282422089638142013-08-08T23:51:08.938-04:002013-08-08T23:51:08.938-04:00For lime on the exterior, the preparation is actua...For lime on the exterior, the preparation is actually pretty specific. You need to lath any joints between dissimilar materials, for example. Otherwise you will have cracks just from normal movement and expansion/contraction. If you have never done lathing before, I would get a stucco expert in your area to help you understand proper installation. Then you will need to wet your straw with a hose before you apply the lime. Be sure your lime is protected from wind and sun that will dry it out. And be sure not to exceed 1/2" thickness for your lime. It needs access to air in order to cure.<br /><br />For interior walls, I actually like to use site clay for all 3 coats. That is always my preference. The only reason to do kaolin is if you want a different color. Hope this helps!Sigi Kokohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02416038446988725892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-50748614427561445182013-08-04T17:52:36.651-04:002013-08-04T17:52:36.651-04:00I am preparing to put the first coat of lime plast...I am preparing to put the first coat of lime plaster on my exterior strawbale walls. Do you have any specific advice for lime, that would be different than the method for clay? <br /><br />Am I correct in my thinking that I don't need to worry about applying the burlap to window/wood edges until the second coat? <br /><br />I understand the lime needs 6 wks to cure before the first hard freeze. How crucial is it to get all 3 coats on the exterior the first year? I do have a wrap around porch, so rain/snow will rarely if ever blow onto the walls.<br /><br />In regards to the interior walls. I want to be able to have color (besides brown) on my walls. So, would you suggest using native clay for the first 2 coats and a bagged kaolin clay for the 3rd? Or would it be just as effective to use native clay for all 3 coats and then use a lime paint over top? I'm curious about the pros and cons. I may consider using bagged clay for all 3 coats if it isn't too pricey. Could you tell me how many sq ft a 50 lb bag of clay would cover?<br /> Dublin Dunnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09284442254745086374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-8235075335407199812012-01-01T10:32:05.820-05:002012-01-01T10:32:05.820-05:00Hi Bongo, and thanks for your question.
For findin...Hi Bongo, and thanks for your question.<br />For finding the right kind of clay, I'm not sure where you live, so not sure how to advise there. If you want to purchase dry bagged clay, I recommend trying to find a local ceramic supply retailer.<br /><br />As for mixing in the cold...I would mix inside. If you are using site soil and your ground freezes, then I would sift your clay before it freezes, and then either bring it inside on a tarp or cover it to prevent rain from re-clumping the sifted soil. For mixing itself, I would just do that task completely inside. You can add warm water if you are using clay-soil and it is cold. Or you can bring several days' worth of sifted soil inside to warm up.<br /><br />Hope this helps. Let me know if I have spawned additional questions!<br />SigiSigi Kokohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02416038446988725892noreply@blogger.com