Roofing options

[rainyjim]

Thanks terracore.

[Seeb]

There are many options of laminated cement roofing. But it's going to take more time and engineering than off the shelf products

[Derrick Barnicoat]

some burlap does have chemicals on it…maybe use food grade burlap but perhaps if the cement renders it fully water proof it doesn't matter.

[Rob Tucker]

Why would anyone use burlap? That's pretty funky stuff.

[rainyjim]

I was thinking about using burlap over an ohia frame for walls and a roof. Still scratching my head on the floor though.

I've seen it done by others with rebar frames instead of ohia. I've also seen sone nicely molded gutters using pvs piping to mold the shape of the gutter made from burlap painted with cement.

I'm just trying to think of cheap cheap cheap weather resistant bug resistant materials.


Speaking of which would the cement coating offer the ohia skeleton much protection from moisture and termites?

Am I crazy to try this? I'll try and find pics of the job I saw done with burlap over the rebar.

[rainyjim]

Couldn't find the rebar and burlap structure yet, but here is one with bamboo and burlap that should give you more of an idea of what I am talking about.

http://ferrocement.com/Shelter-2010/post-15-2010.html

[Seeb]

There's a guy that uses latex fortified cement over layers of window screen his got a book I think it's called '' latex habitat ''
Or just go rebar and expanded metal lath footings to roof and shotcrete the thing can even do it with spray shovels or trowels if you got Lots of friends that like Manuel labor

[Jay Bondesen]

I've done rebar and burlap structures before although that was the 70's. But it was 'outlaw' housing and not engineered. It was also polyurethane rather than concrete. Fun to do, not particularly cheap, and non-code compliant on several levels.

Jay

[rainyjim]

Jay, despite that, what do you think about its overall safety ?

And also, anyone, any thoughts on the burlap / cement coating protecting the ohia from moisture/rot and insects/termites ?

[Rob Tucker]

Wood and concrete are not a good mix.... oops there we are with that wood problem again. Simply put the cement coating, as you describe it, would not protect the ohia from moisture/rot and insects/termites.

Jay can comment on safety. Not sure what kind of safety you are referring to.