Papercrete Ramblin

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I've been playing at making papercrete blocks as a possible wall between my new bathroom and kitchen. Its very very cheap, good insulation, strong as heck, but on the other hand it needs waterproofing because it soaks moisture up like a sponge. My question is that I need to run water pipes through the wall and I'm not sure about condensation. I'm sure I can waterproof the outside walls but will those inside pipes cause a problem? Any thoughts?

By the way. I found a source of free shredded paper at a local business. I just soak the paper a couple a days, mix in 30% sand and 10% portland cement and mix it by hand in a wheelbarrow. You can sculp with it or make bricks and its un-believibly tough stuff!!....Kirk

-- Kirk Davis (kirkay@yahoo.com), November 29, 2001

Answers

use some type of foal insulation to keep the pipes from touching the walls

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), November 29, 2001.

Kirk, how about running the pipe through a wider bore pipe with an air space in between?? Wouldn't that keep the condensation you might get in the summer time away from the papercrete??

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), November 29, 2001.

Well shoot Diane that'll work! Run the copper pipe thru pvc. Why didn't I think of that. Heck I ought to pay ya consulting fees!!!...Kirk

-- Kirk Davis (kirkay@yahoo.com), November 30, 2001.

Remember, that papercrete is a good insulatior and that condensation occurs when hot meets cold directly. I wouldn't think there would be much if any condensation, although an exterier pipe sure would solve the problem. The more sand you add the less the problem you have with water damage, the less sand the more insulated the wall will be. I would keep the pipes as far away from each other as possible. Good luck OAK

-- OAK (StrugglingOak@aol.com), November 30, 2001.

Oak you sound as if you've done a little work with papercrete? Besides the water is there anything else I need to be concerned with in working with this technique? For an interior wall would you use re- bar?.....Kirk

-- Kirk Davis (kirkay@yahoo.com), December 01, 2001.


Yes, I used papercrete for the chinking on my old hewn logs. The first and only as far as I know. As for rebar or any other reinforcement on an interior wall, I wouldn't bother. Papercrete is fiberous, it holds itself together very well. I think it depends mostly on the mix that you use. You can ask the experts at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/papercretenews/messages about anything you would like to know. I have plans in the future for exterior walls, and my biggest concern IS moisture. OAK

-- OAK (strugglingoak@aol.com), December 01, 2001.

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