[Cob] Earthen floor cracks--Help!

[David Knowlton]

mix up a batch of the same stuff - a litle thinner. keep washing it over the 
whole
floor. this will fill in the cracks. also, in radiant systems embedded in 
plaster - cracking
indicated too little plaster over the coils. too much plaster - and no heat 
comes
through. good luck

david in tampa


>From: "GlobalCirclenet" <webmaster at globalcircle.net>
>To: coblist at deatech.com
>Subject: Re: [Cob] Earthen floor cracks--Help!
>Date: Mon, 13 Sep 2004 19:58:33 -0600
>
>
>Well, Dorothy, it looks like we're not in Kansas anymore ;-)
>
>paul at largocreekfarms.com
>http://medicinehill.net
>*********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********
>
>On 9/14/2004 at 1:12 AM dorethy at juno.com wrote:
>
> >I've just finished the 3rd layer of earthen floor.  The first, over a
> >radiant heat coil system, was about 3 1/2 inches deep; the second, about 
>1
> >1/2"; and the final (I thought!) layer about 5/8".  All went on well, and
> >they all cracked a bit.  I wasn't worried about the first and second
> >layer, but I don't know what to do now.
> >
> >I was all set to put on 4 coats of linseed oil and have it done in two
> >weeks or so.  This layer went down over 4 days, so the first one may be
> >dry enough to walk on.  Alas, that probably also means that it is too 
>late
> >to add more mix and expect to be able to smooth over the cracks without
> >ruining the lovely surface I had.
> >
> >I feel sure the mix did not have too much clay.  My recipe was 4 parts
> >finely screened sand to 1 part clay, plus a couple good handsful finely
> >screened chopped straw and a couple handsful strained horse & cow manure,
> >with just enough water to be trowelable.  It's a dark, reddish chocolate
> >brown, and I love it, but am so disappointed it cracked at every section
> >line, almost; and I was so careful to roughen the edges and force enough
> >mix into those joined edges.
> >
> >Any ideas?  Thanks!
> >
> >Dorethy from Kansas
> >
> >
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