Mudding the walls - inside and out

The 1st coat up high on the East wall

The weekend when we put up some of the straw bale walls we were keen to start mudding. Once secure with straps the mud was slapped on the outside. Given it was well soaked earth and wet straw mixture it smelt a bit and the teenagers did not like it at all. The mixture was different each time.

 Another weekend of friends and family assisting with the build to ensure our house progresses. The external walls get one coat of render , firstly to arm reach height and slowly with scaffolding made from straw bales the west, north and south walls have been rendered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 During the next week end, Mr I want to build a straw bale house used his $400 render head he had bought from America. There were 5 large spray holes with  a scoop  for the render. Every scoop (about  1/3 of a bucket) had to be cleaned out due to the stones. Half a wall was completed and the compressor packed it in. – To this day the scoop has not been used again neither the compressor – not sure which one does not work.

 

 

 A few more working bees had been arranged and given it was cold we started rendering inside walls. One of my friends suggested cow poo and Mr I want to build a straw bale house leaped to the idea making the kids (under 10years of age) collect cow dung from the paddocks.

 

The mixture of cow poo, lime, straw and mud caused some issues when swallowed, splashed in eyes and the least popular burning of skin under the gloves. – Lime burns when its wet.

 

Learning over the weekends of incidences an eye bath with water in a squirt bottle was now common attributes on site.

 

In one day the eye wash was used at least 5 times and the water bottle once to was poo out of someone’s mouth. Hope this is not a lingering memory.