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Dig
clay subsoil. Soak overnight. Mash to the consistency of
thick lumpy gravy. Gently push through a garden sieve to remove lumps.
(Using a stout stick with a rounded end helps prolong the life of the
sieve.) Pick out stones. Sieved clay should be the
thickness of Greek yoghurt.
Sieve your sand. With our Boulder
Clay we have found that one part clay
to five parts sand makes a good and durable render. Your mix should be
stiff
enough to hold its shape. Ratio and consistency will improve with
practice.
Clay
render looks great on top of wattle and daub (damp down first to get
good key).
Once applied the render remains workable for several days (depending on
the weather). If you don't like the finished panel, add water, remove
and re-use. Clay render is the ultimate in natural building materials
and sustainability.
The benefits of using clay render
are:-
- Free 'waste' material
- Easy to use
- No special tools or
skills needed
- Recyclable
- After use will return
to the earth
- Non-polluting
- Hygroscopic
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