Monday, February 11, 2008

[papercreters] Re: Questions about formulas & R Value for Robert Merrill

Yes, Bob, I can't tell you how much you have helped and possibly kept
us from making some bad mistakes down the road.

Right now, we are in very early experimenting. We do hope to cover
the barn for cosmetic reasons more than anything. Right now, all I
am doing is grabbing a couple of handfuls of each mix, squeaze a bit
of the excess water out and smear it on the barn to see if it would
stick. These last two mixes stick much better than our former
mixtures.

You explained very clearly why the two walls shrunk away from each
other. We put $450 worth of gravel in our barn. Rains have been
washing the gravel out from under the walls so we have been mixing
experimental batches of papercrete, different formulas, and currently
with no other use for the papercrete, pouring them in a crude mold
around the edge made from a 2x6 either nailed or just held in place
by some concrete blocks. Hope that explains our current crude baby
steps.

However, if you hadn't said what you said, we probably would have
made the mistake of using it for the entire structures to cut down on
water problems. Thanks for directing our steps away from a big
mistake there.

Connie

Thanks again, Robert.--- In papercreters@yahoogroups.com, "Robert
Merrill" <robertmerrill1953@...> wrote:
>
>
> Hi There;
>
> <<<<<<<<<< sticking better to the side of our metal barn
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>
> <<<<<<<<<< poured and even tamped down next to each other>>>>>>>>>>>
>
> I am having trouble understanding what you are doing? The first
line
> makes me think that you are applying it like a stucco to the metal
> siding of your barn? The second line sounds like you are filling
> molds..... do you have a sketch?
>
> <<<<<<<<<< the addition of the sand and clay affect the R-value
> >>>>>>>>>>
>
> It would be nothing more than a guess about R-Value changes
without
> scientifically calculating every aspect. It would also be hard to
> understand the value in the mass factor that is added. The fire
> retarding improvement of these added materials well justifies the
> insignificant r-value change in my book. A need for a plan that has
> definable performance goals and expectations would help you discern
> ultimate wall thickness. None of the mix designs I use have ever
> exceeded R-3 per inch......... none have fallen below R-2 per". My
> argument for using P/C to encapsulate R-45 strawbales gains
credibility
> when one tries to acheive that performance making a bazzillion
baches of
> F/C that take all summer to apply. The main bales are always
installed
> in one day and are coated by the end of the week!?
>
> <<<<<<<<<<< they shrunk away from each other >>>>>>>>>>>
>
> The cracking / shrinkage is the end result of the latex causing
> premature curing. Latex speeds the cure time significantly. To use
a 3
> coat method of application traditional stucco method will add to the
> bonding ability and reduce cure related problems. Then the final -
3rd-
> color texture coat is the only one with latex. I would never
recommend
> latex added to block making across the board. The cost is an issue
as
> well as curing / shrinkage issues..... sooo only if their is a
> specified need. Blocks ultimately will get a protective coating
> anyway... and this is where water resistance is dealt with.
>
> Hope this helps............. Bob M.
>
>
> --- In papercreters@yahoogroups.com, "Robert & Connie" <losee04@>
> wrote:
> >
> > Hi, Robert.
> >
> > In our last 2 batches of papercrete, we used your formula w/the
> > paper, concrete, lime, sand and clay. Per your suggestion it
adheres
> > better, we do find it is sticking better to the side of our metal
> > barn in our two small experimental spots.
> >
> > We found it fascinating that the small addition of the clay
changed
> > the color into a bit of a natural adobe color--love it.
> >
> > My question is, do you know how much the addition of the sand and
> > clay affect the R-value of the papercrete?
> >
> > We made a second batch as above but this time added about 1.5
cups of
> > latex paint. Does anyone know how this affects the R-value?
> >
> > Even though the two batches were poured and even tamped down next
to
> > each other within about 1 1/2 hours or less of each other, they
> > shrunk away from each other, leaving a significant gap between the
> > two "logs" or two small retaining walls. Does anyone have an
> > explanation of this? Why would such a small amount of latex make
> > such a big difference?
> >
> > Connie
> >
>



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