Earthen Plasters:

Earthen plasters are placed on top of strabale, cob walls, adobe bricks and also conventionally finished drywall. It can even be applied on ceilings. The plaster is usually followed by a clay paint.

What is earthen plasters made of?
Just that - a plaster composed of the earth. Traditionally, builders would have found adobe, added water to it, and then put the mud on the wall. Currently, MudCrafters engineer adobe to make a consistent, quality product. This is finer mixutre of clay, sand and straw, plus using an additive of wheat-paste and manure to increase elasticity.

What is the difference between clay paints and earthen plasters?
Earthen plasters are thicker in body and is troweled. It also gives mass to the wall, and builds texture and shapes in the wall itself. In contrast, a clay paint is a decorative color coating and sealant, and while thinner, it can alter the tint of the plaster slightly to reach the desired color.

How is an earthen plaster applied?
Generally, the plaster is aplied with a hawk and trowel, yet many home-builders can play in the mud by using their hands. Yet to add efficiency on larger projects, we use a phuematically-powered pump for a spray application. In addition to moving lots of material, the sprayer achieves maximum adhesion to strawbale, essential for a lasting quality product. We typically apply two coats, one for a scratch coat and buildout, and the second for a finish texture and shape.