[Strawbale] Stucco overhead?

[Speireag Alden]

Sgrìobh Rob Tom:

>By "keying" I mean that the plaster needs to be pressed through the 
>perforations whereupon it will swell slightly larger than the 
>perforations on the backside of the lath so that when the plaster 
>hardens, it is mechanically locked to the lath.
>
>I suspect that the fibres in the plaster are making it difficult for 
>you to press the mud through the perforations thereby preventing 
>plaster from grabbing.

     I agree.

>Another thing is that expanded metal lath has a "grain" where if you 
>apply the plaster with the grain, it tends to to not key properly.

     Interesting.  I see exactly what you mean, as I picture it, but 
it had never occurred to me.  I'll check and see how I have it 
installed.

>Plastering overhead isn't the easiest thing to do in the best of 
>circumstances.
>
>Since you are dealing with a rapidly-closing weather window, I 
>wonder if it might be possible for you to form and pre-cast the 
>panels indoors and then after they've cured, simply cart them out, 
>jack them into place and attach them with the appropriate screws in 
>the same manner as fibreglass mesh-faced cement mortar boards (aka 
>cement backer board) ?

     That's a good idea, but this lath is serving as partial formwork 
for an arch, which anchors above and behind an existing beam.  I 
think I'm going to have to struggle along, and if it comes to it, 
tack up some plastic for the winter.  Looks like temperatures will 
drop back down on Sunday night.

     Parts of it I can reach in from the other side.  I'll try that, 
too.  Gravity will be working to help me, then.

-Speireag.

-- 
The chill's in the air
Even so, we are gaining
on Old Man Winter.

-Speireag.