[GSBN] building in Haiti

Tue Mar 1 20:11:48 UTC 2011

Hi, folks, we've got a bit of a debate going as to what constitutes a  
security barrier, which is fine by me, but I for one would really like  
to hear more about lime plasters over earth.

Answers so far, as well as my experience, suggest that LoE (lime over  
earth) systems work very well if, and only if, you have a familiar and  
consistent mix of lime, clay, straw, etc.  All of the ingredients are  
finicky (you can't just substitute one lime for another, or one clay  
for another), all depend on careful workmanship (application, curing,  
scratching, etc.), none are for newbies.

In Haiti, though we will have one or two pros running things (maybe  
some of y'all), we will be working with a Haitian crew of unknown  
skill, using clay, sand and lime whose properties and behavior are  
unknown.

Are we crazy to even contemplate a LoE system?  Remember, this will be  
a very public house seen and scrutinized by a lot of people and  
organizations.  There's no room for screwups or excuses.  If it  
cracks, or delaminates, or in some other way fails, the whole project  
looks bad.

We'd rather look good.  Any further advice would be much appreciated.

PS to Graeme North:  thanks for the tips, I know that cintoflex is  
good stuff, and may even be available in Haiti.  And prayers for New  
Zealand, you guys got hit hard.  Prayers for Haiti, too;  a year after  
their earthquake, the city and country still look like it happened a  
week ago, there's that little recovery.  Poverty, dysfunctional  
government, and a lack of infrastructure is a fairly deadly  
combination that even the most noble and intelligent people (as are  
Haitians) can barely overcome.

Thanks,

Bruce King, PE
Director of EBNet
Ecological Building Network
the art and science of building well
bruce at ecobuildnetwork.org
PO Box 6397
San Rafael, CA 94903 USA
(415) 987-7271
follow us on Twitter: @EBNetwork

On Mar 1, 2011, at 11:43 AM, Andy Horn wrote:

> Hi Martin
> I agree it is more about securing the windows and doors.
>
> Plaster aside, for anyone who has not yet tried – but getting  
> through a wall of straw is no mean feat.
>
> I once got called in to look at saving storm wrecked load bearing SB  
> after the guys building had left for a long weekend without covering  
> up ……so I helped with cutting out chunks of un-plastered wall, so as  
> to retrofit in sets of load bearing timber posts. Armed with a  
> chainsaw you would be surprised at just how difficult it was.
>
>
> Andy Horn
>
>
>
>
> From: GSBN-bounces at greenbuilder.com [mailto:GSBN-bounces at greenbuilder.com 
> ] On Behalf Of martin hammer
> Sent: 01 March 2011 05:54 AM
> To: (private, with public archives) Global Straw Building Network
> Subject: Re: [GSBN] building in Haiti
>
> Bruce, all,
>
> Although on the EBNet Haiti team (in addition to the BWB SB Haiti  
> team), I'll jump into the GSBN forum with a couple thoughts on the  
> plaster and the security issue.
>
> The security concern will be greater in some locations than others.   
> Generally, the more urban the greater the concern.  It seems obvious  
> that both in perception and as a physical obstacle, mesh reinforced  
> cement plaster would be the most secure plaster, and I’ll say  
> probably secure enough.  (Notwithstanding Derek’s proposed method of  
> breaking and entering, that still takes time, effort, makes noise,  
> etc, and thus is a deterrent).  In some cases clay, or lime plaster  
> may not be enough, in other cases it will.  Installing a second  
> plaster on the inside face of the bamboo framing would provide  
> additional security (real and perceived).
>
> For the Home Expo building I suggest installing a cement plaster  
> (with up to 50% lime if you can get your hands on it) on half the  
> building, and a clay plaster with a durable finish on the other  
> half.  With and without a second plaster on the interior.  Let  
> people see how they both feel, look, and sound, and allow them to  
> decide which would work for their circumstance.
>
> Cordaid, a Dutch organization, built a prototype wood-framed house  
> in Leogane, Haiti with no less than 7 enclosure-finish systems.  (I  
> can send photos, if you haven't seen it already.)  I think it goes  
> too far to the point of being chaotic/confusing.  But a couple  
> variations in one prototype building seems valid to me.  Looking at  
> opposite corners you might only see one finish at a time.
>
> In terms of security, doors and windows (shutters?) will probably be  
> a greater point of vulnerability than the wall enclosure system.  I  
> would show how that can be addressed on at least one opening.
>
> Also, although security can be a serious issue in parts of Haiti  
> (and other places in the world!), there of course is much more to  
> consider about this building . . .
>
> Martin Hammer
>
>
> On 2/28/11 6:15 PM, "Andrew Webb" <andrew at thegreenwebb.com> wrote:
>
> > Except perhaps in perception - concrete may be less tempting to  
> try to
> > break through than clay (if it is obviously clay) even if doing so  
> is
> > just as easy.  The finish and the image it projects is likely a  
> factor.
> >
> > -Andrew Webb
> >
> > On 1/03/2011 11:41 AM, john rehorn wrote:
> >> Good point, Derek.  Thick clay or lime would be as good a 'vandal  
> wall' as
> >> one inch of cementatious.
> >>
> >> John Reho
> >>
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