Patterson Straw Bale Cottage
Wall Durability and Maintenance
2002-2016
2002-3
The walls stood up quite well.
One area got thoroughly wet on the surface from splashing water off the eave in a place that needs a gutter. The top layer of lime plaster fell off in an area about 3' across.
One other area also lost some surface plaster. It is not clear why that occurred. It is near the ground and maybe a melting snow drift allowed water to soak the wall in the spring. The area has been repaired and lime washed. It looks fine and blends well with the adjoining wall.
The wall near this problem area has developed color changes indicating that there are small cracks under the surface. Tapping the wall in these areas makes clear there is some separation of the layers of lime plaster. But the wall is still completely intact and not in need of any repair.
All of the rest of the walls are dry, solid, and show no problems from the weather -- including the areas most exposed to the wind and rain.
Clearly the 3' wide eaves were a help. A gutter is required in at least the one problem area. The concreted window sills are fine. Most of them get little water because of the wide eaves.
2004
About half a cubic foot of straw below a window in the basement got wet and began rotting. Since the inside was unfinished it was easily spotted. It appears that a small leak around the window let water in. The window is the most exposed to winds and rain off the ocean. The shape of the deep set windows makes water coming down the wall funnel toward the window glass.
All other wall areas have shown no problems.
2007
There have not been any problems with the walls since 2004. The original limewash has held up well. We gave some line wash to samll areas which had been splashed by mud or plaster mixing operations but the rest doe not show a need for recoating.
2016
Walls continue to hold up well. No leakage problems. Most of the walls are still a nice bright white. One wall has yellowed a little, probably because the clay layer below the lime plaster has gradually sent clay pigment into the lime plaster. The color change is small and has not motivated me to recoat that wall.