Can You Make Survival Cement?

[Undertaker]

POSTED BY: SURVIVAL CURATOR SEPTEMBER 6, 2015

Have you ever heard of survival cement, or cob? If you’re stuck in the wilderness and need a strong, reliable structure, or find yourself in dire straights but have no building materials at hand, cob could be a true lifesaver. It’s an efficient way to use the resources around you to establish a safety for yourself, your family, or any others around you.

http://survivalcurator.com/can-you-make-survival-cement/

 

[Brent S]

POSTED BY: SURVIVAL CURATOR SEPTEMBER 6, 2015

Have you ever heard of survival cement, or cob? If you’re stuck in the wilderness and need a strong, reliable structure, or find yourself in dire straights but have no building materials at hand, cob could be a true lifesaver. It’s an efficient way to use the resources around you to establish a safety for yourself, your family, or any others around you.

http://survivalcurator.com/can-you-make-survival-cement/

I've seen some amazing structures built of cob. As they pointed out, it's a lot more substantial than a tent.

 

[user 6493]

interesting,I would think the dryer it gets the harder it gets

 

[SheilaT.]

Some of Englands oldest buildings are made of this substance. We call it Wattle and Daub. Cottages built in the 1500's are still standing and lived in today.

http://naturalhomes.org/timeline/wherwellcottages.htm

However, I don't think they fared so well in your more agressive climate and termites were a killer for the structures.

 

[Brent S]

Some of Englands oldest buildings are made of this substance. We call it Wattle and Daub. Cottages built in the 1500's are still standing and lived in today.

http://naturalhomes.org/timeline/wherwellcottages.htm

However, I don't think they fared so well in your more agressive climate and termites were a killer for the structures.

As dry as we've been here it would last longer than the pyramids! That is a point though I hadn't really thought about. With all the moisture in England I'm suprised it holds up so well.

 

[SheilaT.]

I often wonder why European settlers abandoned their traditional building materials and methods such as wattle and daub when they arrived in USA.

 

[Silent Earth]

A simple DIY cement can be made by collecting and burning sea shells off moluscs etc then mixing the ash with sand.

 

[Brent S]

A simple DIY cement can be made by collecting and burning sea shells off moluscs etc then mixing the ash with sand.

The fort in st Augustine was made with that, and is still standing since the 1700's.

 

[Brent S]

I often wonder why European settlers abandoned their traditional building materials and methods such as wattle and daub when they arrived in USA.[/QUO
I guess the climate dictates where and when it can work. Building codes don't like stuff like that as it dosent keep the local businesses going. No one would be buying lumber, plywood, etc. and keeping all the wheels turning.

 

[Silent Earth]

Even rammed earth works well if mixed with straw and the house has a large overhanging roof.

 

[Undertaker]

Even rammed earth works well if mixed with straw and the house has a large overhanging roof.

Wasn't that the way they make mud homes by mixing it with straw?

 

[Silent Earth]

Wasn't that the way they make mud homes by mixing it with straw?

Yup Straw and often horse hair and mud. So long as its the right type of mud. Often they would coat it with a breathable rendering of a lime based plaster.

 

[Morgwino]

Problem with most of these more substantial shelters is the amount of time and energy going into making them... plus, if you're trying to lay low in a SHTF type of situation, It'd be hard to hide the activity while building, though I suppose the shelter itself wouldn't be any more or less conspicuous than a tent.

 

[DrHenley]

Wattle and daub evolved into lath and plaster. Reed mat was sometimes used as the lath, so in that case it was very, very similar.

 

[Brent S]

Wattle and daub evolved into lath and plaster. Reed mat was sometimes used as the lath, so in that case it was very, very similar.

One of the first houses I remodeled was built in the 20's. All the interior was made with wood lathe strips with about a 1/4" gap between them, and plaster spread on them. The plaster was two coats, with a rough coat underneath that had horse hair in it. The top coat was a smoother mix of plaster. It was an incredibly tough system. You could slam something into it with no damage at all. I just can't get over how labor intensive it would have been to build.

 

[Kenprep1979]

native americans in the kentucky/ohio region use to mix natural clay with sand or shell and form pottery than fire harden it . Same could be applied into brick maybe add straw to strengthen it .