Papercreters: [papercreters] New-bee

Monday, October 27, 2008

[papercreters] New-bee

Hi folks,
Was just given this site by a person in another earth building
site. I live in the Northwest corner of Louisiana. I would love
to try my hand at earthbag dome building. The first big problem is
how to water proof for this area. Would love to not have to put a
roof on it if i can get around it.
We have high humidity, episodes of daily rains followed by weeks
with no rain and have more days in the 100+ then in freezing.
When i get a bit more time i hope to look back at previous post.
But was thinking i would throw out my main issue from the go-get.
glenna

> I have been reading about making roofs with cement/latex/wood glue
> impregnated fabric {fiberglass fly screens}.
> It seems reasonably feasible to mount board vertically into the
dome
> about 3- 4" away from the exterior and building up the skin. You
would
> have to fabricate a vent at the apex to create the chimney affect.
>
> The thing is dry in 12 hours, would totally water proof the
building ,
> add tremendous strength , and last at least ten years. Probably
much
> longer if it was power washed and re coated every few years, you
could
> even change colors. ANd it is cheap!
> Where I live there are trees for the asking so I am thinking about
> testing the idea by building a carport with the roof and one end
and
> one outside wall that way. If I am happy I may forgo the papercrete
> and build a canopy to cover the house , the carport and the
workshop
> and build a flat roofed timber frame {Southwest Style} . Then make
the
> walls that way {non-load bearing} and fill them with clay dipped
straw
> bales to save all that plastering and making the papercrete.
Actually
> I would have to make one wall , lay the bales, then build the other
> one. Might still use papercrete but if the fabric roof works it
makes
> the biggest problem, keeping the papercrete dry, disappear.
> The dome is cool, it might be the double skin would make it more
so.
>