Substitute organic fibers for steel to reinforce concrete. The natural fiber in this picture is jute, processed into burlap. The rope is cotton.

Plant fiber is an agricultural product. It is a sustainable resource. It is harvested, transported to cleaning and processing, then transported world-wide as bales of fiber. Natural fiber has many industrial uses. Hemp, flax, bamboo, coconut fiber, and others too many to list; all are well known as reinforcement in composite materials.

Cotton rope with sufficient tension for a straight line for connection of cloth panels of one Meter width.

Artists paint on fibers. Automobile and airplane manufacturers use fibers to make light composite materials to replace steel and other metals. Bio-fiber is included in plastic parts. "Composite Materials" is the general heading for a very long list.

Fiber choice varies depending on economics and availability; therefor, the ferrocement.com Roof Laboratory works with various fiber types. Bio-fiber enhanced reinforced concrete (Bercaly blend) is part of roof molds currently being constructed at the lab.

Cloth panels joined at cotton rope using hog rings.

Set to a 1 x 2 meter frame and suspended en el modo de Antonio Gaudí.

Place the end panels.

Apply the first layer of acrylic and cement (with brush).

Turn over and apply inside (wait for one or two days). Cover cotton rope with fabric strips 5 - 10 cm wide (after inside is completed). Shade from sun. Shelter from drying wind.

Turn over once again, apply second layer on outside and clean-up.

Notice that this little roof is supported only at each corner. It supports a load and has excellent conga tone. It is one layer of burlap with cotton rope as dimensional displacement, which geometrically adds to reinforcement. Totally impermeable.