As you can imagine things seem to be speading up with the in and out of unfolding spring! This week saw the opening of peach, pear and cherry blossoms. A slight snow came through with dipping temperatures, but, I think that because the earth had warmed many blossoms remain on the trees. Time will tell if they suffered andy dmaage. On the build site, I found trout lilly, mullien, emerging may apple, and a scattering of violets and dandelion. There is also an amazing blackberry patch!
Doings for an Aircrete Build
Following
up on the question, "What am I, Patricia, doing for my aircrete
build?”
Before
deciding that aircrete was the perfect thing for my home needs, and before
seeking out a builder, I began researching every web resource I could find having
any information pertaining to aircrete with Domegaia and its resources as my
starting point.
"It is waterproof,
fireproof, and insect proof. It offers good thermal and acoustic insulation. It
will not rot, warp, or corrode. Unlike concrete which is hard, heavy, cold and
difficult to work with, AirCrete is easy to work with. It dries overnight and
can be cut, carved, drilled and shaped with wood-working tools. It accepts
nails and screws and is easily repaired. It has good compressive strength to
make excellent foundations, sub floors, building blocks, poured walls, domes or
whatever. It can be molded or formed into practically any shape." - DomeGaia
So what is aircrete? Aircrete is a lightweight concrete that is infused
with air bubbles throughout and in some recipes is referred to as cellular
concrete, foam concrete and aerated concrete; which are much used in
commercial/industrial concrete building projects globally. Domegaia’s
developments have made this medium accessible to every person!
So, why is aircrete
great? It is very strong, it’s extremely
slow to absorb moisture unlike regular concrete and its lighter in weight and
most can use this system to build, sustainably and for considerably less cost.
 |
| Bender |
I’ve
looked at everything I can find, from historical concrete builds that remain
today to new concrete conpositions, and now regularly, wanderer the trails of
modern building styles evolving in the aerated concrete build world. Every few days, I search out sites that include
concrete organizations, scientific industrial reviews, builders, contractors, green
building sites, DIY’s, Youtube, reference resources, etc, My gathering, thanks to web resources,
includes US, Canada, Australia, Amsterdam, Africa, UK and other parts of the EU
building with aircrete, aerated concrete, autoclaved concrete, foamcrete, etc.,
with a focus on dome building and architecture.
When
researching on the web, I have learned to copy the search address to be sure to
get back to a potential list to investigate because I have found that
sometimes, using previous search terms or phrases get very different results.
 |
| Little Dragon |
With
all of my gathering, I have so many bits of information tossing about inside my
head, and within my notes. Now my task
is to connect these information strands into something I can understand and
share satisfactorily with others. After
weeks of research, mostly to assure myself that this could be real, I ordered
the Domegaia prospectus, which I had to learn was a file download.
From
the moment I decided on going forward with the build, I began seeking a
builder. I found a few potentials before
returning to one of my first considerations.
A few weeks later, after vetting his questions regarding materials and
design and anything, including how I was to be involved because of the weird
allergies, and how it was going to work having someone represent me on the
build site.
Next,
I purchased my Bender, Blender and Little Dragon; and I want to try everything
out. But I must be patient until I have
set up an area where I can be on site and then begin the process of making
bricks.
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| Blender with Little Dragon - Domegaia |
Chris
and I went out this week for eyes on the site!
I felt excited and clear and very pleased at the ease of
communication. This is helped by the
fact of having been acquainted for over three decades, and in life, he is a
very easy going person and he does wonderful builds! I was advised as to the next steps to consider
and act upon, and lots of things to think about. I’m working out the layout for home, choosing
foundation location and of course getting the last details regarding septic
system and receive the build permit.
In
my wildest, I never imagined that I would become excited, even passionate, and
effusive about concrete in any form other than as an art piece. I find myself often laughing at myself because
for my effusiveness. I realize that I have set out on another
amazing life adventure!
To
all questions regarding my “weird allergies”, yes, they are potentially
threatening and much will be to clear as a friend launches a crowd funding
campaign on my behalf. I will post a
link to that once it’s live and replace the donation button with a connection
to that.
This
Blog is to focus on the aircrete build.
I hope that I will convey information so that it will be of use to
others who decide to build with aircrete.
May much be well with you!
Patricia
