rahmi hidayat

Anyone? any thoughts or opinion?

Thanks John!

We plan to put the posts in the ground, using lime mortar. I’ve read that lime is alkaline so theoretically should be okay with steel. What do you think?

Not yet decided what section steel we’d use. But it seems what’s used locally here is the hollow center kind. We are okay to pay more for quality, if there’s better option.

Does anyone know if using steel frame is compatible with wattle and daub construction?

Our idea is to have the roof resting on steel frame and build the walls with wattle and daub. Our question is if it’s okay to ‘encase’ the steel pillars in mud mix? Would it reduce the integrity of the steel? Corrosion, rust etc?

Thanks.

Thanks Phil!
So only 1 coat? My understanding is 1 coat wouldn't make much of a difference in the color?

Hi all, hoping to get some advice here.

We're almost done constructing out wattle and daub cottage in South India, and now monsoon is about to hit hard. So I thought of leaving the plastering work for when monsoon is over (in 3-4 months). However I really want to brighten up the interior look until then, as it is now it've very dark with the brown mud shade. Plus we have many trees around that blocks the sunlight. So lightening up the interior is really important for me.

Can I lime wash the interior, putting 4-5 coats as I've read, to change the shade into 'white'?
Will this cause a problem for me later when I do the interior plastering (other earthen plaster/lime plaster)?

Thanks!

Got it, thanks!

Thanks Glenn, so to be clear, if an oval structure with 16ft straight walls doesn't need a buttress, then our oval structure with 15ft straight wall also doesn't need a buttress, correct?

Thanks Orin!

Thanks for the reply Glenn! I just saw this now.

"Short loft walls, or even no walls at all above the loft floor, combined with a steep roof for loft space, will be strongest."
So I've decided to put the first floor at 7ft, and then 3ft wall, then pitched roof above loft. Does this sound okay? 3ft wall so we can have a bit more head space above.

The loft is only going to be a half loft.

For an oval shaped earthbag, measuring 15ft x 30ft, would I need buttresses on the long wall?
I was looking this plan by Owen Geiger, and it doesn't seem like there's a buttress, even though the floor plan size is much larger. Thanks!

http://www.earthbagbuilding.com/plans/englishcottage.htm