find religion! church
kiva! hyvä! iloinen! pikkumaatila
get stung! beehives
be hospitable! host-a-hive
be antisocial! facespace
find religion! church
kiva! hyvä! iloinen! pikkumaatila
get stung! beehives
be hospitable! host-a-hive
be antisocial! facespace
Using a mix of 1:2:2 Lime cement: Sand : Gravel. This is all available from local suppliers/quarry pretty damn cheap. I would also like to add some fibre at this stage horse hair or something, thought about asking at dog grooming parlours or is this a stupid idea.
Tamp down the earth as flat as possible and then in a corner create a 1m 'tile. Initially starting at 35mm. Leave it to cure for about a week. Then jump about on top knock it about a bit and see how strong it is. If it seems OK then carry to build on side of first tile, but basically use a thin strip to separate the 'tiles', so there are no massive areas. Similar to laying flagstones, but it should be cheaper and I'll basically be using the tamped earth as the base layer.
The missing bit that I'm not sure about is the 'sealing of the surface. Any experience with lime cement has always had a dusty surface that I would like to avoid if possible.
I'm puzzled by the question about the soil. If I walk in the garden barefoot I get black feet. The earth floor of the cellar is cold and damp and dry material will draw water out of it. We have laid some old vinyl and carpet to store things on. The vinyl is fine, but the carpet drew water out of the soil. The soil doesn't seem inherently damp, because under the vinyl the floor is very similar to the uncovered part of the cellar. The carpet seemed to pull damp out via some kind of capillary effect. As for the comment about 'being as easy as digging a few inches' I struggled knocking an earth rod into the soil except in one particular point where there had been a leaking pipe for years.
Question about the cardboard floor. I use cardboard in the garden quite a lot and it rots PDQ. How come this didn't.
Jay C. White Cloud wrote:
Using a mix of 1:2:2 Lime cement: Sand : Gravel. This is all available from local suppliers/quarry pretty damn cheap. I would also like to add some fibre at this stage horse hair or something, thought about asking at dog grooming parlours or is this a stupid idea.
Animal fiber use is pretty trich without "lipid treatment" of varring traditional types. I would use either 20mm glass fiber (they should have it) or some kind of plant fiber like cut up hemp rope.
Also ask for the "mix formula" of there "lime cement" I don't care for any OPC. If present then just go with NH5.
Don't know what OPC is, but lime cement is NHL5 which I think means it's more or less pure lime.
Tamp down the earth as flat as possible and then in a corner create a 1m 'tile. Initially starting at 35mm. Leave it to cure for about a week. Then jump about on top knock it about a bit and see how strong it is. If it seems OK then carry to build on side of first tile, but basically use a thin strip to separate the 'tiles', so there are no massive areas. Similar to laying flagstones, but it should be cheaper and I'll basically be using the tamped earth as the base layer.
What are you thinking of using for the thins strips between?
I was thinking of using some old plastic from damaged electrical trunking that I found. It should pull out when partially set. Alternatively I thought of using some thin ply and chiselling it out.
The missing bit that I'm not sure about is the 'sealing of the surface. Any experience with lime cement has always had a dusty surface that I would like to avoid if possible.
Take your pick...
Silicate paint, natural oils, or just wash it real good and see if that takes care of the "chalking.
Thanks. I think one of the issues with Chaux Blanc (lime) is that it will continually scuff and dust. When I've used it on walls it can always be rubbed off. Think I'll try oil, but although I know it will soak in, will it not rub off as well?
I'm puzzled by the question about the soil. If I walk in the garden barefoot I get black feet. The earth floor of the cellar is cold and damp and dry material will draw water out of it. We have laid some old vinyl and carpet to store things on. The vinyl is fine, but the carpet drew water out of the soil. The soil doesn't seem inherently damp, because under the vinyl the floor is very similar to the uncovered part of the cellar. The carpet seemed to pull damp out via some kind of capillary effect. As for the comment about 'being as easy as digging a few inches' I struggled knocking an earth rod into the soil except in one particular point where there had been a leaking pipe for years.
Hard to say without being there...sounds like the carpet was "wicking" present moisture.
That's correct, the carpet not very pleasant ATM.
Question about the cardboard floor. I use cardboard in the garden quite a lot and it rots PDQ. How come this didn't.
You have to have "water" for things to "rot." Dry basement foundation area, sorbic acid and borate...ergo not rotting. Make sense? This is why extended overhangs are a good idea in most architecture, as you want the mositure as far away from the house as you can get.
Tell me how it all turns out. Here is a tiny ad:
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https://permies.com/wiki/143535/videos/Saving-Life-Keepers-Science-Sustainable
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