[Strawbale] Locking bales in place to walls

[Howard Switzer]

Isn't polyurethane foam highly toxic?

Howard Switzer
931-589-6513


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Leanne Rellstab 
  To: bale-on at yahoogroups.com 
  Cc: 'SB List' 
  Sent: Friday, July 14, 2006 10:46 AM
  Subject: [Strawbale] Locking bales in place to walls


  To anyone interested,

  To lock bales in place against beams or each other we are using a shot of 
  polyuerathane foam. I'm sure this will invoke the ire of many. We tried it 
  on one short wall, squirting some into the "T" intersections were bales meet 
  top and bottom and side to side and against our beams. After it cured the 
  wall is incredibly solid, the bales don't move at all. There no air gaps at 
  bale intersections or at bale to wall intersections.

  Our Plasterer said the usual way to fill this void is to mix a course 
  aggragate plaster and fill the void. When I asked if spray foam would work 
  he said it would probably work really well and really lock the bales 
  together. He plasters over foam quite often and it isn't a problem, the bond 
  is fine. Also he said "stuffing" air gaps with loose straw doesn't create a 
  good bonding spot for the plaster so he stuffs the air gaps with plaster 
  instead.

  We are using the modified post and beam method for support of the building 
  walls. Essentially there is a verticle post made of 2x4's and plywood put 
  whereever the engineer said we needed one,they are 17" wide(the width of the 
  bales) . These hold up the "box beam" above, which is made of microlams and 
  plywood.

  Doug 



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