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thanks peter, thats what I was trying to say!<BR>
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The moisture content in some parts could be above the magic 20 percent (roughley) point and you wouldnt always smell or "sense" it. Im going on the evidence Ive seen so far that little animals like capricorn or wood worm or similar seem to be more active when moisture content levels are raised, it seems to encourage them. <BR>
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Im wondering about the wool, ive heard quite a number of people here in France speak out against unprocessed wool, saying that being treated doesnt always work.<BR><BR>
good luck,let us know how you get on<BR>
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Paul<BR><BR><BR><BR>
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> From: peter@tentotwo...<BR>> To: strawbale@amper....muni.cz<BR>> Date: Mon, 22 Oct 2007 18:21:40 +0200<BR>> CC: leanne@aromanature...<BR>> Subject: [Strawbale] Re: Strawbale Digest, Vol 25, Issue 12<BR>> <BR>> Hello Leanne,<BR>> <BR>> I think Paul means with a humidity problem thet your bales may have been too <BR>> humid at one stage or another and maybe still are (deep inside)? To test <BR>> that you need a hay/straw humidity-meter; I've got one, which you can <BR>> borrow, but maybe it's easier to borrow one closer to you; normally straw-, <BR>> hay- or grain-merchants should have one. Ideally you'll find a figure below <BR>> 15% (this is mass percentage NOT relative humidity).<BR>> <BR>> Good luck,<BR>> <BR>> Peter<BR>> <BR>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>> <BR>> Message: 1<BR>> Date: Sun, 21 Oct 2007 21:23:05 +0200<BR>> From: "leanne" <leanne@aromanature...><BR>> Subject: [Strawbale] Re: covered in spots<BR>> To: <strawbale@amper....muni.cz><BR>> Message-ID: <002001c81417$f640bbe0$5e63fea9@o2r1s0><BR>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"<BR>> <BR>> Hello Paul,<BR>> <BR>> > have you got a website with details of your house on it?<BR>> <BR>> We do, but it is in french and not up to date at all, so will post it when<BR>> its more informative!<BR>> <BR>> > Prehaps if you gave us a few more details of how it is built including<BR>> the materials and finishs used and the systems installed, for example<BR>> ventilation, heating etc it would be easier for people here to help diagnose<BR>> the problems.<BR>> <BR>> Timber frame (douglas fir I think in english), straw bale infill, 2 coats of<BR>> earth plaster over the straw (only 1 outside for the moment) consisting of<BR>> earth, sand and chopped straw, terra cotta downstairs and chestnut<BR>> floorboards upstairs, loose cork and egg cartons to insulate between floors,<BR>> sheeps wool in the roof, no heating yet (wood stove to come), no actual<BR>> ventilation system. Almost all finishes such as paint and glue were natural<BR>> (a few were not).<BR>> ><BR>> > Do you have plants or animals around you?<BR>> <BR>> We live in the country, so all of the above around us! Closest neighbors<BR>> have a few horses.<BR>> <BR>> > With a new construction, depending on the materials used, <its quite<BR>> possible for there to be a certain amount of <humidity present within the<BR>> structure initially that you would <not normally "sense", especially when<BR>> using organic building <materials such as strawbales or earth plasters.<BR>> > this should reduce over time as they dry out and equalize with the<BR>> ambiant enviroment.<BR>> ><BR>> > If you think there might be a humidity problem where a <part of the<BR>> structure is not able to dry properly or there is <damp penetration then<BR>> again, depending on the types of <materials used, you would either see mould<BR>> blooms on <surface materials or if it is right inside the structure it might<BR>> <only be detectable with humidity sensoring equipment.<BR>> <BR>> We had mold blooms while the plaster was drying but thats been months now<BR>> and I really don't think we have a humidity problem, but like you say we<BR>> would need a meter to measure that!<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> Leanne in France<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> ------------------------------<BR>> <BR>> _______________________________________________<BR>> Strawbale mailing list<BR>> Strawbale@amper....muni.cz<BR>> http://amper.ped.muni.cz/mailman/listinfo/strawbale<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> End of Strawbale Digest, Vol 25, Issue 12<BR>> *****************************************<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> ____________________________________________________<BR>> European strawbale building discussion list<BR>> <BR>> Send all messages to:<BR>> Strawbale@amper....muni.cz<BR>> <BR>> Archives, subscription options, etc:<BR>> http://amper.ped.muni.cz/mailman/listinfo/strawbale<BR>> ____________________________________________________<BR>> <BR>> <BR><BR><br /><hr />Do you know a place like the back of your hand? Share local knowledge with <a href='http://www.backofmyhand.com' target='_new'>BackOfMyHand.com</a></body>
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