Simple Construct

Simple Construct

Naturally Healthy Homes specializing in high-performance straw bale building and natural building
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New article about straw bale and fire-resistance

I was happy to contribute to this article about the remarkable fire-resistance of straw bale buildings: https://onezero.medium.com/people-are-future-proofing-their-homes-with-straw-e25b470f5474

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Thoughts on begrudgingly coming to love lime plaster

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The lime plaster is finished on the straw bale hou The lime plaster is finished on the straw bale house in Bonsall. Mostly crisp lines with just enough wobble to remind you it’s a handmade wall. There’s a Truth Window in case skeptical guests don’t believe your walls are made of straw. The plaster color is amazingly neutral, not quite yellow beige, not quite green, not quite gray. Looking forward to seeing it with all the trim and furnishings.
Lime plastered hood vent for a 1930’s bungalow. Lime plastered hood vent for a 1930’s bungalow. The owner wanted more authenticity than veneered drywall so we plastered full thickness lime over wood lath.
From shaggy, fuzzy straw bales to smooth, white li From shaggy, fuzzy straw bales to smooth, white lime plaster
There are so many colors in the dramatic stone hea There are so many colors in the dramatic stone hearth under the sauna wood stove. I can’t quite decide which black/gray/green lime plaster looks best. Opinion?
Sauna ceiling: 60 year old redwood originally used Sauna ceiling: 60 year old redwood originally used as roof decking milled down to make a beautiful new ceiling for the wood-fired, straw-insulated sauna. All that’s left to do is plaster the walls and install the stove, hopefully in time for the first cool, rainy Saturday.
Lime plaster for a charming powder bathroom. What Lime plaster for a charming powder bathroom. What to call this color? Is it mauve or pink or tan or? The closest paint color match is called “Dead Salmon”, but that’s not appealing.
Pretty pink polished lime plaster for a girls’ b Pretty pink polished lime plaster for a girls’ bedroom
Serene green/gray lime plaster with subtle movemen Serene green/gray lime plaster with subtle movement for this lovely bathroom remodel
Carved lime plaster fireplace surround Carved lime plaster fireplace surround
And now for something completely different: stacki And now for something completely different: stacking straw bales. These images look out of place on our page these days but this is where we came from. Straw bale building led us to learn about plaster. Every few years, we do a straw bale job and it reconnects us with our roots. We can get good quality wheat bales locally that are very dry (the moisture meter doesn’t read below 14.5%) and easy to work with. And now we get to plaster them!
Ah, summer time! Finally screened in the porch on Ah, summer time! Finally screened in the porch on the straw-clay, earth plaster, and tadelakt shower building that we built ten years ago. Taking a semi-outdoor shower at the end of a hot day and sitting on the porch with a beer and my honey is my favorite way to relax.
Mmmmm mossy green lime plaster wall Mmmmm mossy green lime plaster wall
The biggest #tadelaktshower we've done so far is l The biggest #tadelaktshower we've done so far is looking pretty. The soft lines of the pebble floor are a nice counterpoint to the sharp lines of the plaster. As always, I can't wait to see it with the fixtures and glass installed.
Sleek, minimal, illuminated #tadelakt shower Sleek, minimal, illuminated #tadelakt shower
Starting to get silky smooth and shiny in the big Starting to get silky smooth and shiny in the big shower. Even the ceiling (ouch, btw)
It was a joy to install craft plaster in this spac It was a joy to install craft plaster in this spacious, beautifully designed bathroom.
Interesting challenge matching new lime plaster to Interesting challenge matching new lime plaster to 10-year-old gypsum plaster on the interior of a straw bale home. The client remodeled the kitchen and needed the dining room wall to match the other walls, which were plastered in a different style than we're used to. After some trial and error, we found a good color match. Then we experimented with our technique: adding dry joints and chatter then burnishing with an old non-stainless trowel. The second pic shows the existing plaster on the left and the new plaster on the right.
This might be my favorite shower that we've "tadel This might be my favorite shower that we've "tadelakt-ed" recently. The client wanted lots of movement and a range of tones and colors - white, cream, gray - to echo the variation in the floor tile. Having the window in the shower requires serious waterproofing but you can't beat the natural light.
Saturday studio session serves up several striped Saturday studio session serves up several striped samples, from subtle to surreal
What do we mean by “craft plaster”? Craft plas What do we mean by “craft plaster”? Craft plaster is like craft beer. The craft beer movement uses more traditional brewing methods, emphasizing quality over quantity. Small, independently owned breweries know the traditions and compete based on unique flavors made with high-quality ingredients. We mix our plasters in custom batches for each project. We know what's in our plasters and why it's there. Our plasters are made with pure ingredients: lime, clay, sand, mineral pigment, and a touch of cellulose. We know our craft and we customize the installation process to get the desired results. In a time when the term “plaster” has become almost meaningless because of products that claim to be plaster but are more similar to synthetic paint, all of the terms lose meaning. What is Venetian plaster today? What is Marmorino or Tadelakt? They are ancient techniques based on knowledge of the craft and the materials. They shouldn’t be something that comes from the paint store and smells like acrylic, but, sadly, that is what most installers are now using. Synthetic products are faster and more foolproof than traditional materials and methods, but the end product is an approximation of the original. We are proud to offer unique, high-quality, bespoke finishes installed by artisans who know the traditions and techniques. It’s not the most inexpensive option. It’s not the fastest option. It’s the craft option.
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Builders specializing in high-performance natural homes with a focus on carbon-smart green building practices, straw bale building, energy efficiency, natural finishes, clay & lime plaster, and sustainable materials for new & existing homes in San Diego County, CA, General Contractors License #B1053512, a Benefit Corporation
email: info@simpleconstruct.net or call: (619) 342-6709
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