[Strawbale] Cement vs. clay (was "trashcrete")

[Shody Ryon]

Hi H.W.
I think you are in the right place for exploring
ideas. If you are going to build structures I think it
might be hard to do here. Once you compare the price
of R 19 fiberglass to R 2(0 somthing or higher?) SB
you might be glad you spent a little time
investigating alternatives.
I could be wrong, but it sounds to me like you care
about the environment, after all, what is the
environment? I do not know anyone that would lay in
the sun to rest in the middle of a very hot day, or
lay in water puddle to rest on a rainy day.
When having the responsibility of building a structure
as you describe, I do not judge you for choosing the
tried and true methods. I imagine peoples lives and
economic futures depend on you getting the project
done right. I hope designer and engineers can lead us
away from destroying the planet soon. I am speaking to
them, not to you changing the design of your project
now.
I assume there are some briliant desginers on this
list. I wish I were one of them!
Do you know about rebar benders? I am going to need to
get one in the next few days. I saw the $25 one at
home depot, which I think I will pass on and a $300
one at white cap, which I just might purchase. THen I
will be ordering concrete and a pumper truck for my
job too. I think I need 3000 psi concrete, but I will
see if I can have the maximum amount (25%) of fly ash
allowed by the city for foundations added to the mix.
IF construction costs can be reduced while quality
such as R value can be increased then money that was
going to be spent on fiberglass insulation, etc. could
be spent on solar water heaing systems, AGS heating
systems, rain water collection, composting toilets,
branch grey water systems which would lower monthly
operating costs. I have heard rumors of low cost SBs
in Oregon and Wanshington state, Perhaps I could
deliver them to you? I do not think the truck I can
use (biodiesel) is big enough, It is aprox 8' x 8' x
20' box truck, but it has a pallet jack and an
oversized 3300 lbs capacity lift gate though.
Shody

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
http://mail.yahoo.com