Intro to Natural Plasters – Online

Who is it for?

This introduction is suitable for DIYers, natural building enthusiasts, adobe homeowners, and aspiring builders, and a great foundation for more advanced study in earthen construction.

Prerequisites:

None

Workload:

4 weeks, 6-8 hours per week

Instruction Type:

This is a virtual class held using an online classroom platform hosting reading materials, assignments, podcasts, videos and a discussion board. Instruction is asynchronous with new material introduced on Mondays, and students can participate whenever their schedule allows.

Course Content:

• Relevant reading material on the week’s topic
• Podcast interviews with natural plaster experts from the field
• Video overviews of the week’s project/plan drawings
• Step-by-step, hands-on project videos to get you working in the field
• An integrated discussion forum which can be used for Q&A sessions between the instructor and course participants.

Course Objectives:

Module 1

• Discuss safety in earthen construction.
• Gain an understanding of how earth and lime have been used as building materials in the past – worldwide and in California.
• Gain an understanding of the life cycle of earth and lime building materials.
• Gain an understanding of the basic properties of earth and lime as finishing materials.
• Gain an understanding of how natural walls function and the role that natural/breathable plasters play in natural wall performance.
• Learn how to prep different walls types and substrates for accepting earthen and lime plasters.
• Learn how to locate clay, lime and aggregates for use in earthen and lime plasters.

Module 2

• Learn how to make a ¼” soil screen for prepping soils and aggregates for use in natural plaster work.
• Learn how to prep clay, lime, straw and aggregates and test their suitability for use in earthen and lime plasters and paints.
• Learn starting point recipes for mixing your own base and leveling coat earthen plasters.
• Gain an understanding of how to mix materials for earthen and lime plasters by hand using muck buckets and heavy-duty paddle mixers.
• Obtain an overview of common tools used for applying, leveling and finishing earthen and lime plasters.
• Learn how to apply earthen plaster base and leveling coats to walls using a bucket scoop and trowel.
• Learn how to level/plumb base and leveling earthen plaster coats with a skimming blade and trowel.
• Learn how to prep a base/leveling earthen plaster coat to facilitate finish coat adhesion.

Module 3

• Learn starting point recipes for mixing your own finish coat earthen plasters.
• Learn how to apply earthen plaster finish coats to walls using a hawk and trowel.
• Learn how to apply earthen plaster finish coats to inside and outside corners using a hawk and trowel.
• Learn how to level/plumb earthen plaster finish coats using a skimming blade.
• Learn how to achieve a smooth and even finish plaster surface using a sponge float and re-troweling technique.
• Learn about the advantages of finishing interior earthen plasters with aliz (clay paint).
• Learn how mix, apply and finish a typical New Mexican aliz (clay paint).

Module 4

• Learn starting point recipes for mixing your own finish coat lime plasters.
• Learn about lime safety and job site precautions.
• Learn how to prepare Chemstar Type S Lime for use in lime finish plasters.
• Learn how to mix and apply a finish coat lime plaster.
• Learn how to finish the surface of a lime plaster coat using a sponge and wooden float technique.
• Learn how to prepare and apply a lime/casein paint to your finish lime plaster finish coat.
• Learn how to make casein and mix your own lime/casein paints.

Evaluation Methods:

• Graded Hands-On Project #1 – Collect and Test a Local Soil Sample
• Graded Hands-On Project #2 – Make ¼” Soil Screen + Prepare Two Plaster Test
• Graded Hands-On Project #3 – Plaster Your Test Substrates with an Earthen Finish Coats + Experiment with Clay and Lime/Casein Paint Finishes.
• Graded Hands-On Project #4 – Plaster Your Test Substrates with Earthen and Lime Base/Leveling Coat

Location:

Online

Questions:

Please do not hesitate to reach out to us mud@adobeisnotsoftware.org