[Greenbuilding] Light Clay Walls

[JOHN SALMEN]

Thanks Mike,

I'm encouraged to see this thread developing (thanks to the eye candy that
you are providing). I've long been a convert to an interior clay finish
(starting with milk/clay paint recipes that I worked on for a while) - there
is a quality to the air and the eye that is pretty hard to describe. 

I've been playing with wax paints (encaustic) for a bit - started with it as
I used to do encaustic painting as a youth but in terms of building finishes
I thought it could playfully do something in a kitchen/bath type area both
as a phase change material (coping with quick temp change) and with excess
moisture in those areas as an 'antifungal'. There is some interesting info
about permeability (thanks to the citrus industry and others) and a lot of
info and anecdote about antifungal properties. Nice aesthetic ast well. Hard
to quantify the flammability aspect.

Was curious if anyone else was playing with ingredients.

John




JOHN SALMEN ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
4465 UPHILL RD,. DUNCAN, B.C.  CANADA, V9L 6M7
PH 250 748 7672 FAX 250 748 7612 CELL 250 246 8541
terrain at shaw.ca


-----Original Message-----
From: Michael O'Brien [mailto:obrien at hevanet.com] 
Sent: October 20, 2010 6:53 PM
To: JOHN SALMEN
Cc: 'Chris Koehn'; greenbuilding at lists.bioenergylists.org
Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] Light Clay Walls

Hi, all--

I uploaded a few photos of a light-clay house in Corbett, Oregon.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeobrienpdx/5100607299/

Best,

Mike
On Oct 20, 2010, at 8:30 AM, JOHN SALMEN wrote:

> It can be accepted in bc under section 5 of the code. "is not required
where
> it can be shown that uncontrolled vapour diffusion will not adversely
affect
> any of ...'health,use,operation'"
> 
> As this does not form part of section 9 a building inspector would
normally
> and reasonably require some LOA (letter of assurance)to hang their hat on
-
> in the form of a schedule D form (building envelope design review and
field
> review) which specifically limits the work to a registered architect or
> engineer with a practice/experience or education focused in that work.
> 
> Air barriers are also defined in section 5 as a leakage rate not greater
> than basically a sheet of drywall with the option of increasing that rate
> (if it doesn't adversely affect....)
> 
> Now the CVRD has allowed this type of wall/building locally and others
have
> been built legally. Kris Dick eng. of building alternatives inc. I think
has
> been the lead eng. for these projects but there may be other professionals
> around. 
> 
> Mike, is the claymix being relied upon for lateral bracing as well?
> 
> Best
> john
> 
> 
> JOHN SALMEN ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
> 4465 UPHILL RD,. DUNCAN, B.C.  CANADA, V9L 6M7
> PH 250 748 7672 FAX 250 748 7612 CELL 250 246 8541
> terrain at shaw.ca
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: greenbuilding-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org
> [mailto:greenbuilding-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org] On Behalf Of
Michael
> O'Brien
> Sent: October 19, 2010 9:25 PM
> To: Chris Koehn
> Cc: greenbuilding at lists.bioenergylists.org
> Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] Light Clay Walls
> 
> Hi, Chris--
> 
> I haven't tried the slip form, but the lath is double duty--it acts as a
> form to keep the light clay mix in place while it dries and then as a
> supporting substrate for the clay plaster. It might work to apply the
> plaster directly to the dry light clay but am not sure, haven't actually
> tried that.
> 
> Our code also has a 1 perm vapor retarder, but this is a non-permitted
> building--in Portland, anything 200 SF or less does not need a permit.
Great
> for small experiments!
> 
> Our code guys are usually accepting of high mass walls without VRs, as
they
> have learned more building science and understand how they work.
> 
> I'll post a couple more photos of such a house tomorrow.
> 
> Best,
> 
> Mike
> 
> On Oct 19, 2010, at 6:50 PM, Chris Koehn wrote:
> 
>> Yes Mike, thanks for the pictures.
>> I was interested to see lathe being used instead of the slip form
> technique I see EcoNest using. Care to comment on the comparison?
>> I'm also keen to learn of folk's experiences with code officials,
> primarily related to breathing walls. Here in BC the code calls for a
vapour
> barrier, which is antithetical to this technique as I understand it. 
>> 
>> Cheers,
>> 
>> Chris
>> TimberGuides
>> Van Isle
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
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> 
> Mike O'Brien Photography
> 1905 N Alberta Street
> Portland, Oregon 97217
> 
> 
> 
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