[Strawbale] plaster mixes: what is your favourite recipe?

[Speireag Alden]

Sgrìobh Matthew Chase:

>I'm wondering if anyone who has ever applied plaster of any kind to a
>straw bale wall would be willing to share their favourite recipes with
>me.

     One scoop of lime putty.  Three scoops of sand.  Add just enough 
water to make it workable.

>I am currently working on a research project to test the moisture
>related properties of various plasters (predominantly earthen plasters
>but lime and cement-lime plasters too) for application to straw bale
>structures, including their behaviour in a simulated wind-driven rain
>scenario.

     So far, there is no visible wear on my house.  There's also not a 
lot of wind-driven rain hitting the walls, but it happens a bit 
several times a year, especially on the east wall.

>Of specific interest are the various and many additives which people
>add to plasters based on claims of improved performance in workability,
>durability, and moisture protection.

     Sometimes I add chopped straw or glass fibers.  The chopped straw 
works okay to prevent cracking, and the glass fibers work very well. 
The glass fibers also make it more difficult to take the stuff apart, 
later.

     There you have it.

-Speireag.

-- 
Anger, if not restrained, is frequently more hurtful to us than the 
injury that provokes it.
--Lucius Annaeus Seneca, philosopher (BCE 3-65 CE)