 | Appropriate Building Materials: a Catalogue of Potential Solutions (SKAT, 1988, 430 p.) |
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Earth reel roofs
KEYWORDS:
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Special properties |
Heavy, high thermal capacity roof |
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Economical aspects |
Low cost |
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Stability |
Good |
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Skills required |
Experience in earth construction |
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Equipment required |
Standard construction equipment |
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Resistance to earthquake |
Low |
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Resistance to hurricane |
Good |
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Resistance to rain |
Depends on finishing coat |
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Resistance to insects |
Low |
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Climatic stability |
Hot dry or highland climates |
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Stage of experience |
Traditional |
SHORT DESCRIPTION:
· This roof construction system is suitable for sloping and flat roofs.
· Its density and heat retaining capacity make it well suited for hot dry or highland regions, where days are hot and nights are cool.
· The main component is a reel, made by rolling long vegetable fibrous material (generally straw) and a wet clayey soil around a wooden spindle (3 - 5 cm 0, 80 - 100 cm long).
· The reels are laid between the timber purlins when still moist and pressed against each other, the space between them being filled with a fibre-soil mix.
· After drying, the cracks are filled with a mud slurry, on top of which a 2 cm layer of soil, stabilized with finely chopped fibres and lime is applied.
· Finally, the roof is covered with a bitumen roofing felt and a layer of sand or fine gravel.
· On account of the large proportion of vegetable fibres and timber, the risk of termite attack is great.
Further information: Bibl. 02.19, 23.24.
Preparation of Earth Reels and
Construction of Roof (Drawings: Vorhauer, Bibl.
23.24)
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