It is a very impactful ingredient and so that must be taken into consideration when making a choice. Another down side is the environmental impact of cement. They do not breathe well and are likely to trap moisture within the walls, causing rotting in the bales. All of that does not outweigh the negatives of using cement based plasters on bale homes. It is also true that the materials are readily available in most markets as are skilled crews to apply them. It is true that cement based plasters and stuccos are perhaps the most commonly used material for stucco crews and this means that the cost, therefore, is usually low when compared to lime or even clay if you hire the plaster out. I use it on all my buildings and I believe it is worth the cost however, if you are on a tight budget, it may be hard to fit in.Īlthough cement plaster is very strong and has great values for both compressive and shear strength, I would not recommend using it on your straw bale home. It is quite expensive and only available from a few distributors around the World. The biggest drawback to lime (NHL) is the price. If you want to change the color or freshen it up, you can apply a lime wash to the finish coat at any time. Lime is very durable and can be left alone once the plaster is complete. You can buy plaster at (be sure to let them know you heard about them from Lime, especially NHL is relatively flexible and can actually heal cracks on its own in some cases. I prefer Natural Hydraulic Lime (NHL) as it is simple to use and provides a great finish. Depending on the type of lime you choose, it can be very easy to work with. It is not quite as strong as cement based plasters for compressive and shear strength, yet it is considerably stronger than clay plaster. Lime plaster is one step up in strength from clay and is my top choice. This becomes important in the scratch coat for strength and in the finish coat for consistency of the finish appearance. Finally, getting the right ratios of materials: clay and sand mostly, can be difficult and is somewhat of a science. It is not as strong as other plasters when considering shear and compressive strength which lessens the strength of the overall wall assembly.
Direct water on the plaster can affect the finish negatively. Regular maintenance is a must as its durability is low. The downside of clay plaster is that it does not last as long as other plasters. The plaster can be repaired easily without “burn marks” by simply misting down the affected area and reapplying the plaster. The application of clay plaster is easier than conventional plasters for an inexperienced person. The decision is ultimately yours and I hope the information below will help you decide.Ĭlay plaster breathes well and can be inexpensive if the materials are available on site. Below I will give some pros and cons to Clay, Lime and Cement based plasters. The plaster is the thing that most people will notice about your home, so make a wise and well informed decision. There are many decision to be made and many details to consider in those decisions. I will try and give a quick outline here to get you all started on the path of inquiry. There are so many things to consider when choosing a plaster for your straw bale home.
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