Straw Clay Mix
France
Straw bale clay is a method in which about 30 to 40 cm long straw is mixed with oily loam. The mixture consists of 200 kg of loam per m3 diluted with water and the rest is straw. But the mixture should be covered for at least 24-48 hours before installation. So straw clay is pressed into a prefabricated formwork. The mixture does not need to be completely rammed, the looser the installation, the lighter the material and the higher the insulation value. Do not make walls thicker than 20 cm. Remove formwork immediately upon completion. Install straw clay no later than July of a year, this is necessary because due to slow drying (6-8 weeks drying time).
If straw clay of loam is still damp in late autumn, mold can form. Both straw construction methods require a roof overhang of at least 1 meter and the foundation must also be at least 40 cm high. But after the walls have completely dried, they can be plastered. So straw clay is a very labour-intensive construction method and therefore expensive.
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