[Strawbale] Frank T's plastic webbing for SB

[Barbara Roemer & Glenn Miller]

Kathy wrote:
> 
> I was looking at Frank T's website (www.livingsol.com).  One of the  pics was
> of the strawbales being covered with plastic netting, which I thought  was
> really good.  We originally thought we'd use chicken wire, but now my  hubby
> thinks he wants to use some kind of 4" steel fence material.  Our  structure
> will 
> be a post/beam.  Just wondering how the webbing, or netting  held up on that
> 2003 SB house.  Not sure what kind of plaster was used on  it.  Does it react
> differently depending on what kind of plaster you  use?  Can you use that
> plastic netting with lime plaster and also with  concrete plaster?  I'm
> thinking, 
> once the plaster is stuck to the straw and  dried, does it really matter if
> the material is plastic or steel, or aluminum or  even burlap?  As long as
> there 
> is no chemical reaction it should be ok,  right?
> I told ya my wheels were turning!


Well, yes, it does matter if the netting is plastic or steel or aluminum or
burlap, since embodied energy is a big consideration.  It's not as clear cut
as we'd all like, since hemp netting is imported (thanks to our crazy US
ag/drug laws).  Tepping Marr Engineering in Berkeley provided specs on hemp
netting for Royce and Marie Hays's house in Nevada City, CA last year, a
permitted post and beam infill.  I believe something will come up in the
archives, or if not here, then on the Yahoo SB R Us archive.  Search on
'hemp netting.' 

Barbara