[Strawbale] Sound Barrier Fence

[Jon Van Eck]

Rob Tom wrote: 
...Something that might work is to stack up automobile tires to make the

wall. (Michigan = auto industry = lots of old tires ?)...


I also suggested the use of tires when I was presenting the idea to the
group and was only met with apprehension.  There seems to be a consensus
in this area that the tires are toxic and will continually leach their
toxicity into the neighborhood.  My thoughts were these...I'm pretty
sure tires don't breakdown that easily, given the millions and millions
that have been piled up in junk yards throughout the world since their
inception.  Plus, wont the act of sealing the tires in with plaster act
as an encapsulant?  


Rob Tom wrote:
...Mesh could then be tacked to the sides (treads) and then plastered.  
Although, it'd be nice to come up with something other than lime or  
Portland cement plaster for the "cladding".


Would you use earth to fill the voids where the tires come together,
then put mesh over and then plaster? I know it would be cool to leave
some of the undulations from the tires in the wall, but my hope was that
part of the charm of the wall would be the various sculptural creations
each person would bring to the project.   Also, if I can talk them into
using tires (which totally makes sense) what would be the best finishing
surface?

Thanks for all of the great suggestions!
~ Jon