[Strawbale] waterproofing the bathroom

[Barbara Jones]

Re: [Strawbale] waterproofing the bathroomHi Rikki
I agree with Herbert's thinking. You'd be best with some sort of rigid board that does not deform when wet to fix your tiles to such as heraklith, or there are some clay boards available commercially but not necessarily in your part of Spain. I'd try to only tile the bits that get direct splash from water and leave the rest breathable, and then there should be no need to leave an air gap. The problem with gaps is that the mice like to live in them. If the straw is loadbearing and therefore under compression, as long as you gave it a close haircut before plastering (to reduce bounce) I would think you could fix tiles directly onto the walls as you do for other wall systems. As far as I know, this hasn't been tried before, but let us know if you do it!
Best wishes and good luck
Barbara

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  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Herbert Gruber 
  To: strawbale at amper....muni.cz 
  Sent: Monday, January 13, 2003 6:29 PM
  Subject: Re: [Strawbale] waterproofing the bathroom


  Dear Rikki
  Knauf is a gypsum-board, the problem is, that such boards (even the cement-boards) tend to make a bow, 
  when you fix the tiles on it or glue it to the wall (in combination with water).
  Better work with Heraklith-boards (3 - 5 cm, magnesium-glued) and fix the tiles with cement-based tile-glue (Fliesenkleber).
  You need no space between board and straw. You only need space when you have two materials - one cold (like stone) and the other warm (like strawbale) because of water-condensation or as a ventilation-space. In the last  case you had to make holes above ground and under the ceiling, so that the air could circulate. But in this case the damp would go in the bales. 
  So: Make no ventilation space.

  Best wishes
  Herbert



    HI! 

    I am thinking of putting panels of  pladur or knauf (a type of cement board) covered with tiles in the bathroom to protect the bales from the water of the shower (not yet installed), but i was wondering if I should put a layer of plaster under the board? Also, should I leave an air space between  the board and the bale wall, or should they touch? Does it matter?  

    any comments or alternative ideas are appreciated; I haven´t started the work there yet, so I  am open to other suggestions  . . .


    MAY THE wings OF LIBERTY NEVER LOSE A SINGLE FEATHER! 
    love , RIKKI 


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