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chapter five
Chapter 4b: Bamboo test Concluded
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1x3 meter test panel
This surprising surmise suggests that housing for the homeless can be accomplished in the past, present and future at once, which will undoubtedly prove to be a big help for everyone in every time zone. The economics prove ever more astounding the closer one looks. Here are the roots of economics omega three.
Fabric soaked in a container of acrylic and cement slurry first travels over the larger pipe at the top where it is spread and checked for complete coverage. A large brush helps apply material where necessary. Hands efficiently smooth out wrinkles (use gloves).
The fabric is then rolled the opposite direction onto the lower pipe, where the other side is checked for complete coverage. The smaller, black pipe is next used by two people to carry the soaked fabric and then unroll it on the roof mold.
Although this procedure can become large, the smallest possible number of workers has ultimate economics and quality. A bladder pump circulates cement slurry. Even a small pump and fabric treatment tank supply a skilled work crew. A settling tank and disposal site is necessary for cleaning the pump.
Another method: mix with a rotating wand and electric motor (It is clean and easy) (one worker = mix and deliver = supply one busy crew). One important task: clean buckets with fiber directed for use.
This test panel was built in central north america, which has a limited bamboo market. Cull tips of random diameter and wall thickness, as illustrated below, are readily available. Graded construction quality bamboo is available at a cost comparable to high-grade wood. This pricing structure is not intended for general construction.
Some reports indicate that bamboo is as rapidly declining a resource as tree wood lumber, and that may be so. Still, bamboo grows quite rapidly, 6 - 7 years to harvest, and can be farmed in all but the harshest climates.
It is here that one becomes aware that a construction error has occurred. Roof Laboratory workers had not yet located fiber vendors and manually recycled cloth to make fiber. Cost and a haste before impending winter led to recycled paper chopped with a lawn mower. The matrix was imperfect. Unsaturated paper removed necessary water from the mixture. Part of this design is flawed, also.
The roof-ridge and wall-seat were a success.
Ridge Beam
Wall-Seat
Unsaturated chopped paper is visible where the wet mixture pressed against form wood.
Small quantities are best for finish work. This close-up photo of fiber mixed with the cement and acrylic shows a mixture which a mason familiar with standard plaster would instantly be able to use. The fibers range in length from 0.5 - 1.5 centimeters (.20 - .75"). The applied finish plaster is illustrated next. This is finishing fiber plaster, use longer fibers for structure.
