[GSBN] Control joints (was Re: Lime plaster and expansion joints)

[John Swearingen]

John, what's your fibre mesh?  And how do you assure that a crack along the
wood would not allow water to (eventually) get inside the bale wall...how
does it escape without doing harm?

John

On Tue, Feb 10, 2009 at 5:51 PM, John Glassford <jacksflat at gmail.com> wrote:

> G ' day
>
> Just an idea.  What we are doing is this; with houses anyhow.  We are using
> a hybrid method combining the bales and the window and door frames to
> support the roof.  The frames usually 250mm x 50mm go the full height of the
> wall and after compression; done by all thread in pairs every 1.8 metres;
> these frames are then locked into the top plate.
>
> Thus we have a perfect expansion joint wherever windows and doors are
> located.  We then render to the frames and cover the edge with skirts or
> architraves.  The wall is now protected for water penetration even if the
> render has a crack where it joins the timber.  We find that using this
> method we have not experienced any cracking on the vertical.
>
> With walls with no windows and doors over 3 metres long you would expect
> cracks in cement renders and our experience is such.  We do not get any
> cracking in earthen renders with plenty of straw or chaff.  However these
> earthen renders are not easy to apply with a pump.  So for commercial
> buildings and the like we use lime and sand which we pump on.  We then apply
> a fibre mesh to the second coat and to date zero cracking even in walls 24
> metres long and 5.4 m high.
>
> I will post some photos to the web site below one day soon.
>
> Kind regards
> The Straw Wolf
> Huff 'n' Puff Constructions
> http://www.glassford.com.au
> 61 2 6927 6027
> In Australia (02) 6927 6027
>
> The Orphan Rescue Kit Africa
> http://theork.com
>
> Mountains of the Moon 2010
> http://www.mountainsofthemoon.org
>
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>


-- 
John Swearingen

Skillful Means
www.skillful-means.com
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