Wattle and daub experimental workshop: durability testing after 14 years of uninterrupted use

Abstract

An important factor to analyze when studying the useful lifetime of earth constructions is the detection of any constructive pathologies that may occur; an important consideration when building a house; yet in Argentina information on building with wattle and daub is scarce. This paper describes a durability test conducted on an experimental workshop built with wattle and daub technology in 2004, in the city of Mendoza, Argentina. The building has a floor area of 33.63 m2 (5.70 m x 5.90 m), and houses an experimental workshop for thermal energy research and the construction of solar equipment. During the 14 years that the workshop has been in use, the wattle and daub walls have been exposed to various environmental forces, such as rain, wind, and earthquakes. However, its thermal behavior has remained constant over time, maintaining a difference in temperature of 5.8ºC between the inside and outside without auxiliary heating. In general, the construction has been well-preserved and serves the purpose for which it was built, thus proving that wattle and daub constructions will remain in optimum condition for at least 14 years with minimal maintenance required to prevent surface materials from deteriorating.