Hyper-Wattle walls! Patti Stouter succeeds again

http://www.buildsimple.org/


Hyper-wattle is a hybrid between light clay and straw bale. It can make a one story structural wall in regions without snow.

It is a light material to build with, so although it takes time it is not exhausting. It provides some insulation and some thermal mass. Ideal for warm and cool climates!

Simple Earth Structures is becoming a non-profit under the new name of Build Simple Inc.

We are still working with earthbag and other inexpensive sustainable building techniques like Ubuntu-blox (http://recycledplasticblockhouses.com/ ) and hyper-wattle. Our services include designs, consultation, and training. We are still focusing on structural testing of these natural materials. By late August we should have more information about the strength of earthbag buildings.

Until our 501c3 application is completed, donations can be received through New Covenant Church, Albuquerque.

For more information while this website is under construction, see our existing websites:

www.SimpleEarthStructure.com and

www.SimpleStructures.net

Seeking a site for a small hyper-wattle test building

in a warm, humid climate. We would be pleased to provide infill walls replacing temporary wood or tarp siding under an existing roof for an aid-type building (orphanage house, shelter, latrine).

(Hyper wattle dried well in NY, but the next step is to prove it's longevity in a humid climate.) For high termite regions like Haiti, the straw included should only be insect resistant vetiver grass.i

I appreciate Gail's encouraging post, and the mention of the Strawjet people. I need to talk to them. I could see their logs for vertical reinforcing with hyperwattle infill.
My testing has been slowed this year by moving twice and helping with my husband's business. But I was able to create a sturdy banco or bench and wall using straw wattle, and formed a nubian vault of straw wattle.

I've tested the vault for thermal performance- about r3 and also thermal mass characteristics. I intend to see how much compressive strength the vault has. It's a small span, but those figures could be used by engineers to figure out how much round pole reinforcement would be needed for a room-size vault. Waterproofing could be done by Grancrete, and or attaching purlins and a roof.

I have tentative plans to use straw wattle with other new techniques early in 2013 to form the upper walls of a dormitory for my friends at the Haiti Christian Development Project near Gonaives, Haiti. This will be for their agriculture school.

I'm finally getting more information on my main web site.
Check out the video and 12 page pdf featured on the straw wattle page at <http://buildsimple.org/straw-w.php>; There's also a link to pictures of my test structures to date.