Cob: Portland cement stucco

[W]

     I have heard (second-hand, I haven't checked into it personally) that here in California, code requires straw-bale structures to have a cement stucco exterior.  As I understand it, the condensing moisture tends to collect at the base of the wall, causing the straw to rot at the base.  This "code" seems to me to be an almost-intentional blow to the natural building movement.
I wish to reiterate :do NOT use cement stucco on earthen/straw building!  Big problems, possibly life-threatening, will arise (or befall, as the case may be...)
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PeaceLoveLightLifeBeautyTruth
W.

*Slavery is Freedom

On Sat, 03 Mar 2001 10:25:26  
 BOB LUITWEILER wrote:
>As I understand it there is another source of cob-softening-moisuture
>besides cracks in the Portland stucco.  When the house is warm inside
>and the air outside cold, the water vapor in the warm air passes into
>the wall until it reaches the dew point temperature.  That is the
>temperature at which the air can no longer hold all its moisture. (Cool
>air holds less moisture then warm air)  At this lower temperature the
>air in the wall turns some of its vapor into water, condenses it in
>other words.
>
>If the adobe or cob wall has an impervious surface the moisture can not
>evaporate to the outside,  through it,  and it becomes trapped in the
>mud and builds up softening the wall until the surface crumbles off.
>
>Bob Luitweiler
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