Roundhouse & Papercrete, Discuss please

Hay All.
Ive been thinking stuff over, and would enjoy your thoughts and input please.

I have the logs and such to use for the frame & roof of round house, would enjoy putting a Reciprocal living roof via a pond liner nothing to big say diameter of 16' to 24', the thing i was wondering about was the wall fill, and insulation, Cob Yes wonderful stuff, but labor intensive for me alone.
I got to thinking papercrete the other day, i can get Bales of cardboard for free,(i know cardboards not the best, but hay its free) and i can get sand for free, so the only thing i would be out is the cement, i have most everything to build a mobile mixer, and have a trash pump, to pump the stuff, i cant think of any major purchase i would have to make to use papercrete, i was thinking slip form the walls and pump the papercrete into the forms and let set "rinse, wash, & repeat"
could everyone please post there thoughts, ideas, comments, flaws, plans anything that you think i might need to know:)

I am sure im missing something but i cant think of it right now, im on lunch and wanted to get this down while i could :)

You might want to experiment using that paper mixed with slaked lime instead of portland cement.  If I am incorrect in my understanding let me know but as insulation adding plain slaked lime will give you a fire retardant insulation without using cement.  Since it is not structural you only need to make the paper flame retardant.  I think it is a great way to recycle the paper.

Hello Dave
Thanks for the reply
I am not familiar with slacked lime substituted for the cement got any more info, or websites for me to look at? you are correct in that what im planing would not be structural, only need it for non load bearing walls, it was my impression though that papercrete was fairly fire proof in its regular mixing.?

Dave Bennett wrote:
You might want to experiment using that paper mixed with slaked lime instead of portland cement.  If I am incorrect in my understanding let me know but as insulation adding plain slaked lime will give you a fire retardant insulation without using cement.  Since it is not structural you only need to make the paper flame retardant.  I think it is a great way to recycle the paper.

There is a web site you should visit. This guy has built this type of dwelling. He's a variable cornucopia for this type of building system.

http://www.daycreek.com/dc/html/journalmenu.htm

He has a forum to discuss these matters as well.

Hope this helps.....

Check my buddy out here:

http://masongreenstar.com/customproducts.html

Started on a small building PC house a few years back, then took my PDC and haven't gotten back on it.
Next up on my work list. Have the foundation done just need to put the blocks together.

Also working on doing a hoop house that's turning out nice. Using a bit of pulped paper and woodchips plus cement.
Sets up nice...could see doing a house with it.

video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BviWmwzwJp0

PC is some good stuff if you don't mind a bit of cement.

ape99

Cement is not in any way a green building material.  Slaked lime is lime that has been soaked in water.  That stuff that is sold by nurseries and garden centers as pelletized lime is Slaked Lime.  It is non reactive.  Mixing it with paper in a cement mixer will coat the paper in what is essentially limestone.  It is nearly impossible to set the paper on fire even after it is thoroughly dry. 
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/oct/12/climatechange

    Clay is also a good binder and fireproofs the material. Dave is right about the cement. The production of cement accounts for 9% of worldwide carbon emmisions. If I was going to use clay slip I'd do it with straw or wood chips rather than cardboard. Dries faster-Easier to mix.

Oh, for sure cement is not green. But it's a useful product and used sparingly I'm OK with it. I've used less building my hoop house lower walls than is wasted in most small projects. Use lime as well.

Have thought about doing a slip straw, but with woodchips, type build. Maybe when I build a small mushroom fruiting shack I'll try that with lime plaster. Should be interesting.

ape99