[papercreters] Re: Insulation paper...

I am interested in papercrete with insulation paper products. I will be retiring and building in the Texas Hill country and need vermin-proof and fire retardant qualities of papercrete offered by the borate.
My experience with papercrete was nearly 30 years ago and is as follows: we added pulp-prep number 2* from a paper company to a horizontal mortar mixer. We mixed it till things looked homogenous with as little water as possible. At that point we added Portland Hi Early Cement and continued mixing until it started frothing out of the mixer. Taking huge handfuls and trowelfuls we plastered it against expanded metal lathe. The lath was laid over a 3/4 dome frame. We avoided adding too much water as concrete is a crystal and likes to be in high concentrations for best strength. No one was interested in what the paper might add to the mix as we were trying to use up the trash from a paper mill.
Papercrete seems to be a combination of both the stickiness of paper and crystal of concrete. It violates lots of best practices of concrete ( no organic or clay material in your aggregate and sand) so its more art then science. Given the amount of clay in some recipes I dont know whats happening.
I will work with some cellulouse insulation paper and cement in small sizes probably making self watering planters and eventually an insulating 4 by 5 roof on a shed at the retirement house. I will keep you posted on my new experiences.


*pulp-prep number 2- lowest grade cardboard fiber usually used for cheap toilet paper.



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