Our house will have a lime render outside and a clay render inside. We have been busy filling the gaps between bales and between the window frames and the bales with cob. The process is a slurry coat which is just clay and water like a thick shake applied to the straw bale. This can be done with a render pump which will arrive soon. So in the meantime we have been applying it by hand. Making those mud pies as a child has come in handy.
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The cob coat is 3 clay, 3 sand and 2 large buckets of finely cut straw.
Water can be 2 - 3 buckets depending on how much the straw and clay
absorb. Again this cob mix is being applied by hand around the windows
and doors.
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In the picture below I have started to fill around the windows. I
managed a 50mm thickness before stopping since I ran out of cob. Nick
says if it starts to fall away then leave it to dry before continuing.
Nick has completed several window edges already by hand- beautifully
curved. Above the top plate more straw biscuits have been placed and
cobbed over to create a creature free barrier and to add extra weight to
compress the bales further. This is left to settle for a few days and
then the gripples are tighted once more.
If you are interested in learning these skills for your project, then we are having a Render Working Bee on the Saturday May 1, 2010 and Sunday May 2, 2010. Nick and Roger will be there again imparting their wisdom. We'll cater the food and if you wish to camp in the house overnight you are most welcome. No smoking inside the house please. If you wish to come for only one day that's ok too. Please contact us for further details.
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