Fence or Wall ideas

[jwv]

OK, I need ideas for a wall around our lot-at least the south side just to have a bit of privacy. I've thought of cob, corrugated, bamboo (too expensive).  Please help and the more photos, links and experiences the better!

http://www.intabas.com/images/wall.jpg This is beautiful but man, I'm tired!

Judy

[jwv]

Bump

[glenn-k]

I've been thinking on this, Judy.  One is thin shell concrete cast in a sand and pea gravel pile flat on the ground - reinforce with jute landscape netting.  Probably too much work.  Panels could be any size or shape you could handle.  2'x4'?  Just an idea.

Rammed earth - probably as much work as cob but cool.

[Sassy]

Looked at your blog - your walls look awesome!  Great job at plastering.   Let me know how the new plaster recipe works.  The rammed earth walls Glenn has done are nice but have to be stabilized with cement.... The pic of the wall you posted - is that cob?  All of that requires so much lot of work as you well know - especially if you are mixing by hand (or foot!)  but does look so nice....

[jwv]

For some reason I can't visualize the thin shell concrete thing-do you mean make a mold with the sand, cut jute fencing in the size wanted and then pour the concrete over the jute?

I like the idea of rammed earth and after you make the form, it's just "rinse and repeat".  We don't need that much wall.

This is another nice cob wall http://www.rawfoodsbible.com/barefootbuilder/others%20work-%20modern_files/image034.jpg

Keep thinking.

Judy

[glenn-k]

You can see the rammed earth on my RV Garage or El Cheapo Carport.  About 5 to 7% cement added to stabilize or a hat and shoes if not stabilized but maybe annual repairs.  I mix with the Bobcat and ram with the pneumatic tamper.  Shovels -wheelbarrows - buckets and a stick with a rock on the end for a tamp can also be used.  

I have only done one thinshell casting - the mushroom over the clay oven, but Bo Atkinson does it a lot.  That is where I got the idea.

http://www.midcoast.com/%7Ebo/SandCastStone.html

Do it in your sand pile.  Bo puts the slurry down on the shaped sand pile - as things get bigger he adds reinforcement to it.  He uses wire also for reinforcement.  Probably about 7 days aging before you lift your creation - lift tabs - ropes heavy wires would help.

I used burlap in the mushroom - jute landscape netting would work too.

[Amanda_931]

I'm reading Gary Paul Nabham's Coming Home to Eat

He talks about planting an ocotillo wall.

If you want something that "looks barren as rebar" for a good deal of the year.

Picture (and mention of a fence or wall) here:

http://www.desertusa.com/nov96/du_ocotillo.html

[jwv]

I like the Bo Atkinson page-lots of ideas to get me further into trouble.  We decided yesterday-enough with the thinking (as it usually leads to dreaded "field changes") until we get moved in-then we can start again!

"Don't think: you can only hurt the ball club." –Crash Davis (Bull Durham)

Amanda, we had a ocotillo fence (small) at the other house and it ain't cheap but is an option. Ocotillos are protected, so I can't just go dig them up.

Thanks for all the ides.

Judy

Amanda, I really enjoyed that book.

[glenn-k]

I question some of his reinforcement  techniques but very creative and it seems to work for him,

[Amanda_931]

I'm about half way through now.  A lot more pleasant than, say, Mike Davis' Planet of Slums.