erica anntag:dayonedesign.net,2011:suscol-srawbale-project-part-2/13142631022009-07-21T00:30:29-07:002011-08-25T02:05:02-07:002009-07-20T22:24:00-07:00<img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/SmVbNF4Ht3I/AAAAAAAAA_A/5Kc4f1LixY0/s320/suscol_0072.jpg"> So much has happened with this project since I last wrote! <img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/SmVejDyPnsI/AAAAAAAABAY/qGOXu_SVL5c/s320/suscol_9863.jpg"> Building a stone facing at the base of the building <img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/SmVejzxIDeI/AAAAAAAABA4/V2ny0uchlAU/s320/suscol_9879.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/SmVejs9NacI/AAAAAAAABAw/LGaemEvZHhM/s320/suscol_9873.jpg"> Sculpting window bays around the 'paned' glass windows using Heavy Clay Straw. This has turned out to be a wonderful medium. You get the strength and formability of cob, yet can build quite thin and apply layers horizontally. The mixture is about 1:1 of clay and straw with no sand. I sculpted a retaining form and filled the center space with Very Light Clay Straw. <img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/SmVejcxXfFI/AAAAAAAABAo/2TKgInbQdmw/s320/suscol_9887.jpg"> <img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/SmVb-MFQ79I/AAAAAAAAA_Y/Cx10ZhiytEM/s320/suscol_9992.jpg"> Amazingly, we got no cracks! Only a continuous shrinkage and gap to fill at the top once it dried <img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/SmVejeLtSkI/AAAAAAAABAg/b9j6IHJsVUk/s320/suscol_9907.jpg"> We also sculpted the doorway using the same technique. <img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/SmVb9-Hk9SI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/7uY9bQBG6jw/s320/suscol_0017.jpg"> Base coat plaster on the inside <img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/SmVb9qBsQmI/AAAAAAAAA_I/YcACW--cJos/s320/suscol_0060.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/SmVdLdGHpKI/AAAAAAAABAQ/psik8Bha1g4/s320/suscol_9976.jpg"> We are using sheep's wool for insulating the roof. We dried it out in the sun and then stuffed it into the ceiling cavity as much as possible. <img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/SmVdLdJfo6I/AAAAAAAABAI/KYD5Opb8O6I/s320/suscol_9875.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/SmVk0JHYzVI/AAAAAAAABBA/3CQtLnxuI1w/s320/suscol_0252.jpg"> Closed in the ceiling with drywall and covered it with reed matting, for the classic, reed-plaster finish. <img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/SmVli1HgMbI/AAAAAAAABBI/aKlYThsyEZI/s320/suscol_0355.jpg"> <img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/SmVb-_T6KHI/AAAAAAAAA_o/SPt42ELMY3g/s320/suscol_0357.jpg"> Sculpting the molding around the slylight openings. <img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/SmVb-QKbkRI/AAAAAAAAA_g/Bq3Yon4jUoQ/s320/suscol_0363.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/SmVdK2Z5kEI/AAAAAAAABAA/-YIJWOOTfKQ/s320/suscol_9974.jpg"> On the outside of the building, I trimmed the roof-edge in a pattern to make the drip edge more decorative. Not the most fun job in the hot sun. <img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/SmVdK-N-q_I/AAAAAAAAA_4/cSSpXJMgbDo/s320/suscol_9996.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/SmVdKnub4zI/AAAAAAAAA_w/ydALTTnzuWw/s320/suscol_9985.jpg">Bob torches down the roofing, even hotter I am sure! <img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/SmVbMx2ZGHI/AAAAAAAAA-4/pj7inc4NECk/s1600-h/suscol_0248.jpg" thumb="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/SmVbMx2ZGHI/AAAAAAAAA-4/pj7inc4NECk/s320/suscol_0248.jpg"> We line the roof edge with fist-sized rocks. These will retain the soil on the low-profile living roof. <img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/SmVbMmo0rVI/AAAAAAAAA-w/-0o4kgTS1G8/s1600-h/suscol_0256.jpg" thumb="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__8dbxhS6eos/SmVbMmo0rVI/AAAAAAAAA-w/-0o4kgTS1G8/s320/suscol_0256.jpg">