Clay Slip with Straw, Sawdust or WoodChips ?

Hallo everyone.

I see and read that woodchips and sawdust
are much more easier for light earth buildings
than with straw.  

Easier to mix, Easier to pour into the frame, and so on.

Are there any pitfalls about
sawdust or woodchips instead of straw ?

Thank you. Raymond

Hey Raymond,

Sawdust and wood chips won't provide the tensile strength nor the insulation value of straw.

With any earthen construction method clay is the glue but the interwoven strands of straw(or any fiber) is the primary ingredient preventing it from falling apart. The hollow straw stalks trap air in the wall which provides insulation.

Thank you so much.
In Germany I hear and read that woodchips are being used
since about 20 years, but as I try to figure this out, perhaps
it is all about how much wooden framework is being used
to hold the walls and building together ?
Using less framework would then work for sraw
and using much more would work for woodchips and sawdust.
I also read that woodchips and clayslip dries out quicker
and that one can make 20 inches thick walls to keep the heat out,
my main concern.

I've heard Germany is very big into using mass timber to build large commercial building which is an engineered wood product made from wood particles like chips or sawdust or strands. It's neat because the timbers are extremely stable and can be made very precisely but require lots of processing and binders. There is also no increased insulation value over natural wood.