I am wondering if anybody has seen insulation added to the exterior of a building using wire mesh and straw. I am thinking of wrapping a small building with flakes of straw held in place with wire mesh (chicken wire) and plastered over with natural plaster. Any links, ideas for alternatives are much appreciated.
You add the straw to the clay plaster, not plaster over loose straw. The straw addition has been proven to pass moisture better (increase perm rating) than clay alone and stiffen it, and it increases the insulation value a little, not much. Straw is only a really good insulation and a moisture manager when it's density is between 5 -12 PCF in a tied bale, more insulation at the lower on the order of r-30-50. I would not expect as good performance out of a loose fill, or batt. The bale pore size plays a large benefit for vapor diffusion and drainage, one of the best out there if you don't mind the large footprint on the ground.
