The Reason to use Fibre in Adobe Mixes

Today whilst plastering with Adobe onto a cement block stem wall we encountered a problem. We were aware that using fibre in an adobe mix was necessary to spread the cracks more evenly across a surface but when we started on our second mix and realised we had forgotten to add grass we stood in…

Making Lime Earth Paint

We have recently rendered the whole outside of our house with a natural finish made from clay, sand, cow poo and linseed oil. You can see the whole testing and application process here  Unfortunately, when working with cow poo on a large house, you are going to experience inconsistencies, mainly related to the cow poo….

Can you use Tadelakt on a clay block wall?

If you would like to know whether it is possible to apply the Moroccan, natural bathroom finish ‘Tadelakt’ to a modern material such as a clay block wall, then we have done some small tests just for you. Tadelakt Test Conclusion…for those who just want the answer. Our small test on some blocks resulted as…

Test Your Cob Mix

So you have tested your earth to see the sand and clay content, now you are going to need to do some tests once you have made the cob mix itself. The recommended quantities of sand and clay in a good cob mix are as follows: 75-85% sand 15-25% clay Water Long straw The quantities…

Test and Apply a Natural Finish for Clay Block Wall

before… after… I am currently working together with Eco Caminhos  Brazil on a social project to test and apply a natural finish for the exterior of a local mans house. The man is 90 years old and as fit as any 40 year old. For years he has dreamed of finishing his house with a final…

How to Test your Earth for Cob

If you are thinking of making some cob, for an earthen oven, or for your new home, then you are going to need to start by testing the earth you wish to use. You need to know how much clay and sand are in your earth so you know how much sand or clay to…

How to Test and Make Exterior Render using Cow Poo

The Quick Answer… Find a good ratio of cow poo, sand and clay. We ended up using 1 earth, 1 poo, 2 sand, water and add linseed oil at 4% of total volume to increase water resistence. Remember that the linseed oil will make your mix a lot wetter so maybe better to add that…