Slingin' Mud • How We Plaster Our Off-Grid Straw Bale House!

In this video we get down to business Slingin' Mud.
We begin cobbing and explain our recipes used in our #Earthenplaster for our #strawbalehouse. We also have some experiments that will be working through, including the use of natural hydraulic line number 2 as fortification for our plasters. We'll want to be testing its durability and waterproofness.
We got a lot of great suggestions after the last video and we appreciated and implemented two of them as you'll see in this video.
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[@marymccowan6629]

I love the round swiss dot design made with the cob your woman was sitting in front of. I don't know if your married just started watching . Thank Green Dream Project for sharing your name.

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

Thanks Mary. Yes, somehow I got this incredible woman to marry me 18 years ago. ☺️ Thanks for checking out our channel. Jim and Jessica are doing some fabulous work👍

[@marymccowan6629]

I stand corrected your beautiful wife. 😊

[@packymck]

All your video's are two or three years old. Have y'all finished your place? Please do a tour of all your buildings and projects. You two ROCK...

[@desertgal_5042]

Yvonne...I love your garden 😍😍. Your plastering looks amazing. Thanks for sharing.

[@roberteastman1396]

This is so cool. I know it's hard work, but it's really cool.

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

Thanks for watching! It's hard work, and as the monsoon rains arrive, the humidity goes up, but thankfully the temps cool down. Starting at 5am and working until 11am, then 4pm to 7pm is the best timetable for our work in the summer.

[@OW...]

Nice one team, just intime to watch this over evening meal in the UK. So jealous of you, if only we could do this kind of thing in the UK, sadly not allowed, its planning permission for everything, and many many checks by the building inspector to make sure you are following the plans you submitted.

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

Just think of all the historic buildings in the UK. You know, the ones that are 500+ years old. Many of which were built with similar methods and techniques. I remember visiting a 600 year old house in Germany that was, in essence a timber framed Cobb house. It stands today and is so cool! Just remember to duck when entering the front door. Bureaucracy is usually the major stumbling block in any project.

[@HighDesertHomestead]

Awesome Bill, so many people out there want to be seen as having all the answers. Love your humbleness and willingness to grow in knowledge. If all of humanity could learn that not a single person has all the answers and that together we can benefit each others lives the world would be a better place. My hat is off to you brother. You are a great example for some of the KZbin gurus. Adjust and overcome.

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

Thanks Moses. Anytime you think you're the smartest guy in the room, you're in for a rude awakening. Have a great Independence Day! 🇺🇸

[@buildingroots5873]

glad you found a solution to getting the plaster to stick!

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

That slip did the trick. It cut our plastering time by at least 30 %. And when the stuff sticks, it's a lot more fun/satisfying too. 👍🏻

[@buildingroots5873]

@@theupsideofdownsizing nice, i believe it!

[@paulaarthur57]

You are the Picasso of straw bales! I am cheering you on as I watch. I can’t wait to see your beautiful finish. Thank you for sharing you journey.

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

Thanks for those kind words. We have some interesting ideas in the works for our final finishes. But like so many things we do, plans can change and we might end up going in a completely different direction. It keeps the process "fresh".

[@CBsGreenhouseandGarden]

Coming right along. Thanks for showing us how you make and install your plaster. Stay safe and have a Happy 4th Weekend!

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

Thanks CB. We wish you and Rene a Happy 4th of July too! Stay safe 🇺🇸

[@susandaugherty7035]

So happy you were open to suggestions and what a blessing those suggestions were. The house is looking good. We enjoy watching your progress. Keep up the great content.

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

Thanks so much for the kind words and support. It is truly appreciated!

[@jimh4167]

Life's journey is a learning experience

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

So true! ABT..... Always Be Thinking is one of my favorite mottos.

[@RVBadlands2015]

Great job on the earth and plaster. The table is beautiful.

[@ArizonaHighDesertHomestead]

Great work !!! It is going to turn out so beautiful

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

Thank you! We can actually visualize the final product now. 👍🏻

[@rixtrix11]

You're so industrious; this is going to look great!

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

Thanks for your kind words and for watching!

[@danstirm4333]

Your. Such a great couple it is a pleasure watching your progress. prayers for your endeavors, keep up the good work.

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

Thanks for your continued support Dan. Have a great 4th weekend!🇺🇸

[@jamesmerritt7273]

If you had more hands slinging mud you could apply larger area with the clay Slip with a diaphragm pump set up. You’d need a surge bottle, probably an 80/70 hardened steel tip with constant agitation of your slurry.

[@JL-hn6hi]

Gut gemacht !

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

Vielen Dank! Es macht doch Spaß😃

[@darylcampbell3244]

I’m learning right along with you guys! Keep up the good work!

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

That's what it's all about! Helping each other learn asking the way. Thanks for watching!

[@kmw4359]

You guys amaze me on every video. Nice improvement on the clay slip idea - you could start doing a little dance with that brush and slinging clay. 😀 Happy 4th and stay cool & hydrated!

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

I never was much of a dancer, though Yvonne often thinks back to her disco days and smiles. Thanks for watching!❤️

[@waterbodybuilders]

Very cool to meet you collecting clay covered in mud today! Keep up the good work

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

Thanks Nick! Same here. Always good to meet a neighbor who happens to own a backhoe 😉

[@miltonpomales5405]

Stucco, plastering and all similar techniques are very hard for the person that does them. The end product is very rewarding!!!

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

It's true but for us, we haven't plastered in over a year and we were certainly rusty at the beginning. But we're getting into our groove again and, with the addition of the clay slip, we're making good progress. I'm looking forward to the second coat where I get to more clearly define the corners and windows. Yvonne can really kick out the first coat. Her hand application technique is just much better than mine. My job is to make the plaster asap and to keep it coming. But, when it comes to trowel work.... that's when I get to take the lead.

[@miltonpomales5405]

@@theupsideofdownsizing Thats great. Team work is the best thing. I remember when I was a laborer working construction in Puerto Rico and the boss used to teach me how to finish the cement. I has come handy for fixing the stucco here in South Florida!!!

[@Arizona-Desert-Rat-Realty]

Been a long time since we have heard from you, hope all is well with you guys!

[@DJ-uk5mm]

I just stumbled across your channel. I love it I’ve been browsing straw bale and cob channels for the last week to get ideas and I love your format and the way you present in this episode. I also like the way you came across problems and then solve them with the help of your community.What is the name of your concrete mixer it seems to make cob very well?

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

Our mixer is a Kushland and we got it on Home Depot.com. Thanks for checking out our channel.

[@dezfan]

Love it! Watching the progression of the technique to apply the plaster is very educational and oddly entertaining! So in the second or top coat, that’s when the color and final texture is achieved?

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

Exactly. The second coat will have the addition of natural hydraulic lime and a pigment to give it's final color. I will be doing more work with trowels to define the corners and windows. And then, after the second coat is done, we have some decorative applications planned as well.

[@patgaudrault2156]

Have you ever thought of renting a gunite gun that they use to fire the crete into the walls of an inground pool? Plenty of adjustable force to fire the slip or clay mix into the face of the bales and no air pockets; also very fast. And I would imagine that it would not fall out or crack. Just a thought. Home is coming along great. Take care!

[@BobL417]

Good idea, I was going to comment along the same line. Great Minds

[@susandaugherty7035]

I've seen those machines at work!! You are right might be a efficent and fast method in the AZ heat to just get this part of the project done. Good suggestion. My parents had an inground pool built when we were kids it was very cool watch it being built.

[@lmoline63601]

It seems to me that you could use a sheetrock mud hopper to shoot the prep layer on. I have one if you would like to borrow it.

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

Thanks for the offer. I found one on the dreaded Amazon and, after applying a $20 gift card as well as a few dollars in credit card points, we bought it for $6. It'll be here this afternoon. Can't wait to give it a shot! Thanks for watching 😃

[@christineduntzsch5096]

👍👍👍

[@phillip48ful]

👍

[@khamsibq]

The last moment comes

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

It took a while, but we're in our groove now. Thanks for watching!

[@TheSmith79118]

Try a plaster hopper for the clay slip

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

It arrived yesterday and we used it today. It'll be in the next video. 👍🏻👍🏻🇺🇸

[@specialist4luciek425]

How do you prevent the sun from cracking the surface?

[@RogueTS1]

To solve your difficulty with accurate clay measurement without screening simply weigh the buckets of your sifted clay. Then just use an equal weight of un-sifted clay to get the same mass of clay and keep your perfected "Clay Recipe" consistent. If you mistakenly under clay your recipe it will negatively affect what you have developed. Keep up the good work; it is very inspiring.

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

Makes sense. I'll have to check the thrift store for a scale next time I'm in town. Thanks for watching and your comments!👍

[@neogerula]

why not adding some pva glue,not very much, in the water, to the very first clay coating of the walls ?

[@USFOLLOWME]

Walls are looking good, its so great to see a house.

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

Thanks. This step makes a huge visual difference. A house is begining to appear. 👍

[@BrianSmith-gp9xr]

A little sand.? Comes to surface like sandpaper. shapes well..and hardens cement like. Now I learned the Japanese would let ther mix ferment one years.

[@peaceofearth]

Do you have an estimate of how many pounds of clay you used for the initial clay slip layer? We are planning to purchase some dry clay powder for that purpose... Have no idea how many pounds we should order! 25lbs, 50 lbs, 100lbs? Our house is small- 580 square feet.

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

If you mean clay for the sprayed on slip only, probably 50 lbs. Again, that's for the sprayed on slip only, NOT including the clay used for the earthen plaster. Hope this helps.

[@peaceofearth]

@@theupsideofdownsizing yes that helps so much!! Thank you thank you!!

[@RVBadlands2015]

You need a work party.

[@homesweettrailer7565]

Some people pay big bucks for mud facials like that 😂 Think of the 💰you’re saving.

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

If you're interested.....🤣

[@MJ-ge6jz]

Dragging those bodies can be a real nuisance! It is what it is...

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

Dead weight is always heavier....so I've heard🤣

[@tonyv1505]

It's a boy lol

[@affordabledesertliving3487]

Bill great video. Several things I noticed. First thing is excellent way of affirming your subscribers who offer really helpful comments. Really impressed with your shelter logic garage tent. I am now replacing A tarp I put over to protect mine which only lasted six months in the hot Arizona sun. But I still think this is the best inexpensive way to have a garage. Great work on the home. Kudos to you and Yvonne for all the hard work getting that Clay. Also I may have to either rent or get one of those great cement mixers you have. Appreciate your videos as always.

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

Thanks Don. Shelter Logic tents do hold up well as long as you don't buy their "basic" cover. The middle weight material is substancially thicker and holds up much better to the AZ sun. Covering it with a 5 yr warranty tarp (check out our Amazon store) was the best move we've made. We had a tarp fail on is, bit the company not only replaced it, but upgraded up to the heavyweight tarp which now covers out tent. Harbor freight offers a cement mixer but I have heard it's a real nightmare to assemble. And truth be told ever since Harbor Freight changed its coupon policy about 5 months ago, I don't shop there much anymore. Without the coupons, their prices are pretty much on parwith places like Home Depot and Lowes.

[@affordabledesertliving3487]

@@theupsideofdownsizing Bill this is excellent information. By the way the idea for using a garage tent in the first place came by me watching your channel over a year ago now when I was in California. I am DEFINITELY going to check out your Amazon store. Since I bought another cheap one at Ace Hardware and have it on right now I will have the knowledge next time to use a heavy duty one. Fantastic they replaced the tarp when it turned out to be less than sturdy. Thanks for the tip on the cement mixer as well. I will just go straight to lowe, home depot or ace for that one. Hope your getting some rain. Cheers!

[@steveramirez1654]

👍

[@bondpaz]

Wow! Great system. Looks like y’all were dragging a body for a minute there. 😊👍

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

🤣 it did didn't it.

[@onecompass7290]

I advise a sprayer! I did my house with a sprayer and man was it's far superior for coverage and speed. We did go behind the sprayer with trowels to smooth and press it into the bales. I did not use chicken wire as so many do. I have no proof but IMHO chicken wire will eventually cause the plaster to fail from heat and cold causing the wire to expand/contract. My house is still rock solid after 25 years. Congrats on your building and thanks for the video.

[@McKnevil]

Haha thanks for the shout out, I'm just now seeing it. I hope your project is going well. I have so much advice all the time , but I'm such a blabber mouth I've been trying to cut back on giving it! Glad it worked for you though, guess all those ceramic classes I took to avoid academics finally paid off. I've developed some really cool crack repair techniques for earthen plaster aswell, so if you guys end up with cracks either large or micro I might have an idea or two for you to help repair them fairly seamlessly. Thanks again!

[@colinstace1758]

That's a full body workout right there 👍🙂🇦🇺🇺🇲

[@eddiewatson3759]

get a texture gun and spray that on

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

A texture Hopper gun will be delivered today. Looking forward to testing it out 👍🏻 Thanks for the suggestion and for watching!

[@ScottBond-mq1vs]

Is your clay slip thin enough to apply it with a knockdown sprayer? I didn't see any chicken wire on your bails. Is it not needed?

[@benperry1464]

There is an air spray gun called a shults (...i think??) But they use it for spraying rubberized bedliner on trucks it woukd probably work great for the clay slip it can take pretty rough liquids and is pretty cheap to buy

[@soniafossey8204]

the vids are muddled up, i was hoping for episode one to begin with

[@trwsandford]

flag me for horrible comment! because Trigger Warning! High energy use suggestion coming! rent for a day: Big generator, Big air compressor, small diaphragm pump 1/2" or 3/4" should work just fine. Make a big batch of slip, and use that diaphragm pump to spray the slip onto your hay. It will save a ton of time, but will certainly be more money than you were planning on spending. time=money

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

I've thought of buying a stucco sprayer to not only apply the slip but the mud as well. They run like 100-150 bucks but require a BIG compressor either 220v our gasoline. We cannot handle 220v so that's not an option. Gasoline compressor maybe. But then there's the rental cost. Yes, time=money when the "work" is taking you away from something that could be making you more money. But in our case, the labor is about the only thing that really is free. Those damn materials.... They're what's busting the budget. 😉 Look for KZbin videos showing the stucco sprayer. You'll see immediately why I was fascinated with the idea.

[@doolin-yu7cl]

just found you guys, your channel is amazing, love from Ireland

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

Thanks for much!

[@janetcormack923]

how large are the 2 containers of clay? gallon each? 1/2 gallon each? With what do you chop your straw?

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

The clay contain is actually one of those large protein powder containers..... probably a little less than a gallon. We use a Sunjoe leaf mulcher to chop our straw.

[@honthirty_]

Ya know, a little horse poop might make it stick better. And best to avoid aggies.

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

I've heard that too. But an extra container of clay works just as well and is easier to procure.👍🏻

[@TheSmith79118]

Great job guys I can send you some Georgia clay it sticks to everything

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

Thanks for the offer 😉 Georgia clay is not only sticky as all get out, it has beautiful color to it too! I figure 2 tons will get us done inside and out 👍

[@dienekes4364]

I wonder if you could use a drywall texture hopper gun to spray the clay slip on the walls.

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

Keep watching.... great minds think alike. 👍🏻

[@migueldiablito666]

Depending on how thick the clay slip is after you mix it up, I think you may be able to apply it to the bales using an inexpensive HVLP gravity feed air spray gun from Harbor Freight.

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

I was thinking of that option too. I own such a gun with which I painted the house but I would have to run the slip through a strainer just to be sure there wasn't anything like bits of sand that could plug up the orifice. I bought a cheap texture sprayer designed for sheetrock mud. It arrived yesterday and we're going to give it a go this morning. Should be interesting. Thanks for watching!

[@TheMadManPlace]

The messier the better. Ask any kid playing in the mud...

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

I remember playing football as a kid, and we got caught in a real summer downpour. We called the game and did head first ( Pete Rose style) slides through the biggest mudpuddles we could find. 😃🇺🇸🤣

[@DerrynEHahn-ir2jv]

I know it’s hard work but Yvonne you look so happy now your ‘mudding’

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

We're having a great time cause playing in the mud just makes us happy. And the temperatures has cooled off a bit too.😉

[@lanec5672]

Very helpful & informative video!

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

Thanks for watching!

[@LivingthedreamDIY]

Suggestion get a drywall gun they are less then 100.00 you can put your clay slip in it and spray it on the walls. It will save you tons of time

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

Stay tuned. Next video hopefully Tuesday or Wednesday. Great minds think alike. Thanks for watching!

[@LivingthedreamDIY]

I’m glad to see it working so good.

[@martinrudd2380]

i was wondering why you did not use a trowel when applying plaster to the wall?

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

The first coat of earthen plaster needs to be applied with quite a bit of force to achieve a good bond with the bales. While I am able to successfully use a trowel, Yvonne has better luck applying it by hand, and them I go over her work with a trowel to level things out. And FWIW, Yvonne's technique is actually faster than mine.

[@BajanAlan]

Does it matter if there are stones in the clay?

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

Not so much in the first coat, though we do try to avoid them, which is why we originally sifted the clay in the first place. We found that the clay that were harvesting is very pure, and even without sifting it, there's very little aggregate to be found. When it comes to the top coat, we will definitely be shifting the clay once again. Because in the top coat a small pebble can create a scratch in your finish when it catches on a trowel. And there's nothing more frustrating than that.

[@jacobbrozenick8366]

Do you think you had to use the clay slip because you put your bales on their sides instead of having the grain poking out to provide more points of contact for the cob? I’m genuinely curious, I’m buying land soon and my wife and I are planning to build a very similar home.

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

That could have contributed to the difficulty we had applying the first coat of Earth and plaster. Putting your bales on end as we did is not uncommon in warmer climates if you're going to be in a climate with four seasons particularly a heavy or severe winter then of course laying bales flat would be more beneficial but be prepared to use more bales and lose more interior square footage because of the thickness. It also depends on the quality of the straw bales. Our first bales came out of California and looked as if they were plastic drinking straws bundled together the shafts were extremely firm and well-defined. Other bales that we get from a local source have a different texture and accept that first coat of mud much more easily. In any event, the addition of clay slip was a total game changer.

[@jacobbrozenick8366]

@@theupsideofdownsizing thanks for the detailed reply! We are in West Virginia and will probably lay them flat then account for the lost space in the floor plan. I got to the end of your videos and hope you are healthy and well!

[@pecivilwaterandenvior8318]

Excellent video,

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

Thanks for watching!

[@greglastname4453]

Best way to even out your walls is not with a chain saw but with a weed eater

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

Not these bales. I tried a weed whacker and it didn't do the job. The bales were too dense.

[@greglastname4453]

Good to know

[@nicolem376]

Genius!

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

Thank you 🙏

[@jeffbayer1287]

nice

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

Thanks for watching!

[@ericjohnson1008]

Y'all got this, keep up the fight.

[@ericjohnson1008]

Just not a clay slip fight. LOL

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

@@ericjohnson1008 🤣 Yvonne has threatened me with a loaded mason brush but has thankfully shown mercy on this old man.

[@ericjohnson1008]

@@theupsideofdownsizing LOL

[@yagebunce9802]

Another suggestion is, Pre-dip your entire straw bale in a clay slip mixture when building the walls. Then by the time you get to plastering half the job is done.

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

That's an awesome idea. Messy but AWESOME!

[@donnatrimble7439]

I used the Mason brush method when I volunteered on the hopi strawbale build in 2018. I don't think that's anything funner than plastering using the way u guys are doing it

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

It's true! We had times where we were so covered in mud I couldn't even see through my 🤓 I did order a sheetrock mud texture Hopper, which is scheduled to arrive today and hopefully it will be more efficient in applying the clay slip. Thanks for watching!

[@nicolepouchet2479]

No experience building a straw bale / cob house but I love you guys … I wish you well ❤️💕

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

Thanks for watching! You never know what the future holds....straw bale? Maybe😃

[@tedcox716]

Very good instruction! The garden looks amazing! Keep going!

[@theupsideofdownsizing]

Thanks for watching! I'll have to get Yvonne to do a summer garden update. It's amazing what she gets to grow in the middle of the Desert.