Papercreters: [papercreters] Re: The Papercrete Design, Construction, and Maintenance Manual

To get the ball rolling, I propose that we break up the project into
smaller pieces.

Different people can be responsible for assembling the information
and text for each section. They may choose to custom write portions,
or they may choose to search our archives and copy posts that others
have already written about particular topics. If anyone copies old
posts, please keep track of the original authors, it is appropriate
to give them credit. Please provide links to the source text where
appropriate.

Don't restrict your research to our archives. There may be other
websites or literature that can be referenced. This document should
have a very extensive bibliography.

I encourage people to volunteer for several different areas. I'm
nominating a few following people to be responsible for some, but not
all of the sections. Each section will probably have many people
contributing. Some people may want to volunteer for multiple areas.

My nominations:

Overall Document Editors:
Ernie, eepjr24
Gero Bazant
Eric Brandall
slurryguy

1. Architects and Plans:
???????????? seeking volunteers or nominations

2. Inspectors and Building Departments:
Curtis, dbigkahunna

3. Hiring Contractors:
???????????? seeking volunteers or nominations

4. Foundations:
Robert Merrill

5. HVAC:
???????????? seeking volunteers or nominations

6. Plumbing:
edwardbishop

7. Electrical:
Spaceman

8. Doors/Windows:
???????????? seeking volunteers or nominations

9. Papercrete Mix recipes and testing:
slurryguy
bdkcu
aj welmers
jenabenojar

10. Papercrete Handling:
Judith, slinkygidget

11. Papercrete Wall types:
Nick, pcknk

12. Financing:
???????????? seeking volunteers or nominations

13. Time Lines:
???????????? seeking volunteers or nominations

14. Site Security:
???????????? seeking volunteers or nominations

15. Mixers:
Ken, bornofthehorses

16. Pumps and Sprayers:
???????????? seeking volunteers or nominations

17. Anything else I've missed?

To see detailed descriptions, I've left my initial post describing
them completely intact at the bottom of this post.

Please trim it off if you reply to this post.

--- In papercreters@yahoogroups.com, "slurryguy" <slurryguy@...>
wrote:
>
>
>
> I would like to propose a new initiative for everyone in this group.
>
> "The Papercrete Design, Construction, and Maintenance Manual."
>
> What would this manual be?
>
> Well, the document doesn't exist, YET. I propose that we create
this
> document right here inside this group. We just might have fun
doing
> it. It will be a long term project. We would be constantly
updating
> it and improving it as we learn new things. It would be written by
> all of us. It would represent the best that each of us can offer.
>
> I look around at our membership and I see a great deal of expertise
> that could be a great benefit in writing this manual. A lot of
what
> would be inside this manual has been covered in old posts. It may
be
> just a matter of pulling the information together in one big
document.
>
> We have Architects that are members.
> We have a member that teaches classes in Electrical wiring.
> We have members that are professional plumbers.
> We have members that are building inspectors.
> We have members that are professional Heating and Cooling
contractors.
> We have members that are professional foundation contractors.
> Roofers, Framers, Finished carpenters, all are represented here.
>
> We have many members that have built a wide variety of structures.
>
> I hope that we can get significant input from all of these
> specialties.
>
> I would like for us to attempt to collect together all the BEST
> IDEAS. Think of this manual as a big list of Do's and Don'ts when
> building with papercrete.
>
>
>
> 1. We should have a section in the manual about drawing up plans.
> We should not try to teach everyone how to be an architect,
> draftsman, or a structural engineer. There are other books and
> resources for that. We should focus on what special considerations
> are important when dealing with papercrete. How can an individual
> determine if a particular architect can do a quality job with a
> papercrete design? What are appropriate expectations for both
sides
> of an architect/owner relationship? What are appropriate fees?
How
> can an individual determine if someone is unqualified? What does a
> quality set of plans look like? What details on those plans will
> best communicate to other contractors the important details about
the
> papercrete?
>
> 2. We should have a section in the manual about approaching
building
> departments and inspectors. What works? What doesn't? What will
> inspectors be looking for? What should a builder do to have the
best
> chances of a smooth and productive relationship with inspectors
while
> building with papercrete?
>
> 3. A section about selecting qualified contractors and
> subcontractors would be important. What are the right questions to
> ask them? What are warning signs a contractor may not be
qualified?
> How and when should payments be made? What important documents and
> signatures should be gathered before making payments? How can a
> builder best address schedule and time line issues? Where can
> contractors turn to learn about building with papercrete? What is
> appropriate training for employees that will be working with
> papercrete?
>
> 4. We should have a section in the manual about Foundations. What
> types of foundations are used with papercrete? What are the
> advantages and disadvantages of each type? What special measures
> should be taken with each foundation type for it to perform best
with
> a papercrete structure? I recognize that many good books already
> exist about foundations, and I'm not suggesting we re-invent the
> wheel. Our manual should refer to the best documents available
about
> Foundations and how each system should be modified to work the best
> with papercrete. Examples of existing structures built by our
> membership should be cited whenever possible. Where/how should
> materials for the various foundation types be acquired? What are
the
> expected costs? What are the expected fees from contractors? What
> documents and signatures should be acquired before payments are
made?
>
> 5. What makes a good HVAC plan? How should a builder select a
HVAC
> contractor to work on a papercrete house? What makes a good HVAC
> plan? It is common for large holes to be cut in walls to
accommodate
> these systems. What are the best ways to do this? HVAC systems
can
> be potential fire hazards. What are the best methods to protect
> papercrete from any potential hazards. What are the potential
> problems to watch out for? What/Where are the best places to
acquire
> materials and components? What are expected costs? What are
> expected fees? What documents and signatures should be acquired
> before payments are made?
>
> 6. Plumbing is also important. What techniques are best when
> dealing with papercrete? How should pipes be run through or inside
> papercrete walls? What are the best techniques for cutting holes
and
> channels? When should plumbing be run inside a papercrete wall and
> when should it be avoided? How should the pipes be protected from
> nails and screws if someone decides to hang a picture some day? Is
> pipe corrosion with papercrete ingredients a potential problem?
How
> should those issues be addressed? What about leaks and repairs?
How
> can someone select a good plumber? Again, there are many good
books
> about plumbing. We shouldn't reinvent the wheel. Our focus should
> be to illustrate how the best industry practices should be
> incorporated into a papercrete structure. What/where are the best
> places to acquire materials? What are expected costs? What are
> expected fees? What documents and signatures should be acquired
> before payments are made?
>
> 7. Electrical systems tend to get inserted in nearly every wall
and
> ceiling of any structure. Shock and fire hazards are possible.
How
> should someone select an Electrical Contractor? When should
conduit
> be used? What are the best techniques for cutting holes and
> channels? How should the wires be protected from nails and screws
if
> someone decides to hang a picture some day? What/where are the
best
> places to acquire materials? What are expected costs? What are
> expected fees? What documents and signatures should be acquired
> before payments are made?
>
> 8. Doors/Windows. How are they best installed in papercrete
> walls?... similar philosophy and questions like the other systems.
>
> 9. Papercrete Mix recipes. What ingredients and ratios are best
> used in what situations?
>
> 10. Papercrete handling. How to avoid damaging papercrete before
it
> dries. Keeping it dry.
>
> 11. Papercrete wall types. Blocks? Slip-formed? Monolithic
> Pours? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each style?
> Reinforcement? Weatherproofing techniques? What works best? What
> should be avoided?
>
> 12. Finances. How should a builder finance a papercrete project?
> What are appropriate safeguards?
>
> 13. Time lines. What are reasonable expectations for the time
> various phases of a project take?
>
> 14. Site Security. Sadly construction sites are prime targets for
> thieves. How should building materials and tools be kept secured?
> How does a builder protect himself and how do contractors protect
> themselves? How does someone catch and prosecute a thief? How
does
> someone keep a safe worksite? What precautions are appropriate to
> avoid injuries? How can an owner or contractor protect themselves
> from potential lawsuits?
>
> 15. Any other areas I have missed?
>