[Strawbale] Sound Barrier Fence

[Rob Tom]

On Thu, 13 Mar 2008 09:47:08 -0400, Jon Van Eck <vaneckj at ewashtenaw.org>  
wrote:

>
> Rob Tom wrote:
> >  ...Something that might work is to stack up automobile tires to make  
> the
> >  wall. (Michigan = auto industry = lots of old tires ?)...
>
> There seems to be a consensus in this area that the tires are toxicand  
> will continually leach their toxicity into the neighborhood.

I suspect that the consequences of any leachate would be negligible in  
comparison to the effects of the thousands of automobiles that would pass  
by the sound barrier daily, all of which I might add, are riding on rubber  
tires that are leaving small bits of rubber in the neighbourhood as the  
rubber wears off of the tires (in addition to the combustion emissions  
pollution, crud leaks/drips) etc.

But if research proves that the leachate does pose significant concerns,  
perhaps a liner could be placed under the tire wall to collect any  
leachate and direct it towards collection/storage points where it would  
later be sucked up and taken to the municipal waste facility to be treated  
with their leachate ?

> 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?

One could but the mesh need not follow the contours of the tires. It could  
be pulled taut to provide an undulation-free plastering substrate. In  
fact, voids behind the plaster skin would be beneficial since they would  
faciliate drainage and drying of the plaster, reducing the chances of  
frost damage to the plaster.

The plaster would need to be thicker than just a cosmetic finish.

Another thought just came to mind. Some gardeners in Cold Climates plant  
things like tomatoes inside of tires claiming that the tires help to warm  
the roots and retain moisture, ultimately making for healthier plants and  
higher yields.

Perhaps the tire wall could do double duty as a long planter alongside of  
the highway ?


-- 
=== * ===
Rob Tom
Kanata, Ontario, Canada
< A r c h i L o g i c  at chaffY a h o o  dot  c a >
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