A presentation on the constrcution techniques by Bamboo construction, Ferrocement, Wattle & Daub techniques, their applications and advantages disadvantages and site images

1. Ferrocement, Bamboo and
Wattle & Daub Techniques
Presented by – Azleen F. Kazi
FO. Y. B. Arch
SE&CM’s COA, JALGAON

2. Ferrocement
What is Ferrocement ?
 Ferro Cement (also called Ferro-concrete) is a rich
or composite mortar plaster applied to both sides
of a thin and well distributed reinforcement layer
(usually a layer metal mesh and closely spaced
thin steel rods). Normally plaster of 1:2 cement
mortar should be applied to a matrix structure
made of weld mesh would round the chicken
mesh.
 Ferro cement componets have high strength as
the cement content is very high (i.e, in the orders
of 700 kg/m3). Since the steel is spread over the
area, the ferro cement components are usually a
homegenious in composition.
 Ferro cement is applied with pressure over the
weld chicken mesh matrix. The mortar holds in
position because of the mechanical interlocking.
So No shuttering is required to cast ferrocement
components.
 Since Ferrocements are made of mortar with
higher cement content, the chances of shrinkage
cracks are high. Ferrocement components are to
be cured for a minimum period of 7 days without
interruption to avoid any shrinkage cracks.
Typical Cross section of ferrocement
Dome construted out of ferrocement

3.  Applications of Ferrocement.
Advantages:
• Raw materials required for Ferrocement construction
are easily available
• The fabrication of the mesh can be done in many
shapes that suits the requirements
• Ferrocements are more durable and are cheaper than
steel and wood
• Application of Ferro-cement doesn’t require any heavy
machinery
Disadvantages:
• Excessive shrinkage due to higher cement content.
Needs constant curing for a period of 7 days to avoid
any shrinkage cracks
• Prone to corrosion of MS rods and GI mesh due to
incomplete coverge of materials by mortar
• Ferro-cement is labour intensive. So it might not be
economical to use ferrocements in places where the
labour costs are high
• As ferro-cement components are usually thin
structures, Buckling is another factor that needs to be
taken into consideration during
1. Used in making boats
2. Used as planks for shelves in housing
projects replacing costly wooden
planks
3. Used in construction of boxes for
water and electrical meters
4. Used in construction of sewage
manhole covers
5. Ferro-cement components are Used
in Rural areas for low cost housing
6. Recently Ferro-cements are used in
some residential and industrial
buildings also
Ferrocement
Typical Cross section of ferrocement
Ferrocement Construction

4. Construction Methods
1. Armature System : The armature system is a framework of tied
reinforcing bars (skeletal steel) to which layers of reinforcing mesh
are attached on each side. Mortar is then applied from one side
and forced through the mesh layers towards the other side, as
shown in Fig 12.5.1. The skeletal steel can assume any shape.
Diameter of the steel bars depends on the size of the structure.
Skeletal steel shall be cut to specified lengths, bent to the proper
profile, and tied in proper sequence. Sufficient embedment
lengths shall be provided to ensure continuity. For bar sizes 6 mm
or less, lap lengths from 230 to 300 mm may be sufficient. The
required number of layers of mesh shall be tied to each side of
the skeletal steel frame. 12.5.2.2
2. Closed‐mould System : The mortar is applied from one side
through several layers of mesh or mesh and rod combinations
that have been stapled or otherwise held in position against the
surface of a closed mould, i.e. a male mould or a female mould.
The mould may remain as a permanent part of the finished
ferrocement structure. If removed, treatment with release agents
may be needed. The use of the closed mould system represented
in Fig 12.5.2 tends to eliminate the use of rods or bars, thus
permitting an essentially all mesh reinforcement. It requires that
plastering be done from one side only. 12.5.2.3

5. Construction Methods
1. Integral‐mould System: An integral mould is first constructed by
application of mortar from one or two sides onto a semi‐rigid
framework made with a minimum number of mesh layers. This
forms, after mortar setting, a rigid but low quality ferrocement
mould onto which further layer of reinforcing mesh and mortar
shall be applied on both sides. Alternatively, the integral mould
may be formed using rigid insulation materials, such as
polystyrene or polyurethane, as the core. A schematic
description of this system is given in Fig 12.5.3. 12.5.2.4
2. Open‐mould System: In the open‐mould system, mortar is
applied from one side through layers of mesh or mesh and rods
attached to an open mould made of a lattice of wood strips. The
form, shown in Fig 12.5.4, is coated with a release agent or
entirely covered with polyethylene sheeting (thereby forming a
closed but nonrigid and transparent mould) to facilitate mould
removal and to permit observation and/or repair during the
mortar application process. This system is similar to the
closed‐mould system in which the mortar is applied from one
side, at least until the mould can be removed. It enables at least
part of the underside of the mould to be viewed and repaired,
where necessary, to ensure complete and thorough
impregnation of the mesh.

6. Some important uses of ferrocement are
as follows:
 Ferro cement planks & panels can be used for construction of beams, columns, floor,
roofs, walls, chajjas and lintels. It can be used in combination with plain cement
concrete or reinforced cement concrete. Ferro cement being a thin material single
piece panel of size up to 4.5m x 4.5m or more can be manufactures as floors and
walls. Large span beams, roofs can also be constructed.
 Ferro cement being crack resistant and anticorrosive material lasts much more than
R.C.C. Quantity requirement of ferrocement in building construction is much less as
compared to R.C.C. Therefore dead load of ferrocement building is reduced by at least
50%. Consequently the foundation cost gets reduced. Ferro cement membrane lining
is used for water proofing of terraces, basements, tanks. Ferro cement water proofing
is the only treatment where reinforcement is used in the form of wire mesh layers
and vibrations are provided in the matrix layers.
 Therefore ferrocement water proofing treatment should generally last longer than
conventional. 9 Ferro cement anticorrosive protective lining for rehabilitation is far
better the gunting. In the case of Gunting there is generally one layer of weld wire
mesh with wires at 3" to 6" spacing and the dia. of wires is form 1.5mm to 2.5mm. In
the case of ferrocement galvanised wire mesh layers with small dia. wires 18 swg to
20 swg, spacing about 12mm center to center are used. Therefore unreinforcement
and consequently least possibility of crack formation.
 Ferro cement is a good material for elevation treatment. Since it is constructed in
these sections, it contributes negligible dead weight, and at the same time it is crack
resistant, water proof and strong. Ferro cement is a very good fire resistant material
having capacity to resist fire up to 750°C for long period of 48 hours and even more.
Ferro cement can be modified to resist even high temperatures, say 1200°C to
1500°C. Ferro cement buildings are better pollution and fire resistant as compared to
RCC. Therefore, ferrocement buildings are preferable to RCC for functional VIP and
strategic buildings.

7. Case study : Shell Retrofit
 The DesignBuilder energy model, including floorplan zones, is shown
in Figure. The wall and roof ferrocement composite is variable XPS
rigid insulation and 75 mm of outside concrete. The ground floor is a
covered but uninsulated 100 mm concrete slab with a U-value of
0.350 W/m2 -K.
 The original slab is not replaced for the retrofit. It’s assumed that the
retrofit has only had the HVAC and DHW components upgraded to
heat pumps. The conditioned floor area is 128 m2 .
 Prior to the retrofit, the walls are assumed to be wooden studs with
plywood sheathing and fiberglass insulation, for a U-value of 0.432
W/m2 -K. The roof is also wooden studs, plywood and asphalt
shingles for a U-value of 0.254 W/m2 -K. Windows are double-pane
with a Uvalue of 2.71 W/m2 -K.
 The existing building is left intact after placing the ferrocement shell,
50 energy model which means that less XPS needs to be added.
Thermal bridging of the soft wooden studs and fiberglass batt
insulation is not directly supported by EnergyPlus.
 In this case, bridging is ignored because it would only increase the
effective U-value by less than 10%. The retrofit baseline also includes
lighting and appliance upgrades that reduce electricity use and heat
gains.

8. A combination of ferrocement and bamboo wall construction

9. BAMBOO

10. Historic use of bamboo for construction
 In its natural form, bamboo as a construction material is traditionally associated with the
cultures of South Asia, East Asia, the South Pacific, Central and South America. In China
and India, bamboo was used to hold up simple suspension bridges, either by making
cables of split bamboo or twisting whole culms of sufficiently pliable bamboo together.
One such bridge in the area of Qian-Xian is referenced in writings dating back to 960 AD
and may have stood since as far back as the third century BC, due largely to continuous
maintenance.
 Bamboo has also long been used as scaffolding; the practice has been banned in China
for buildings over six stories, but is still in continuous use for skyscrapers in Hong
Kong. In the Philippines, the nipa hut is a fairly typical example of the most basic sort
of housing where bamboo is used; the walls are split and woven bamboo, and bamboo
slats and poles may be used as its support. In Japanese architecture, bamboo is used
primarily as a supplemental and/or decorative element in buildings such as fencing,
fountains, grates and gutters, largely due to the ready abundance of quality timber.
 In parts of India, bamboo is used for drying clothes indoors, both as a rod high up near
the ceiling to hang clothes on, and as a stick wielded with acquired expert skill to hoist,
spread, and to take down the clothes when dry. It is also commonly used to make
ladders, which apart from their normal function, are also used for carrying bodies in
funerals. In Maharashtra, the bamboo groves and forests are called Veluvana, the
name velu for bamboo is most likely from Sanskrit, while vana means forest.
Furthermore, bamboo is also used to create flagpoles for saffron-
coloured, Hindu religious flags, which can be seen fluttering across India, especially
in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
 In Central and South America, bamboo has formed an essential part of the construction
culture. Vernacular forms of housing such as bahareque have developed that use
bamboo in highly seismic areas. When well-maintained and in good condition, these
have been found to perform surprisingly well in earthquakes.
Bamboo scaffolding can reach great heights.

11. Modern use of bamboo round poles for construction
 Over the past few decades, there has been a growing
interest in using bamboo round poles for construction,
primarily because of its sustainability. Famous bamboo
architects and builders include Simón Velez, Marcelo
Villegas, Oscar Hidalgo-López, Jörg Stamm, Vo Trong
Nghia, Elora Hardy and John Hardy. To date, the most
high profile bamboo construction projects have tended
to be in Vietnam, Bali (Indonesia), China and Colombia.
 The greatest advancements in structural use of bamboo
have been in Colombia, where Universities have been
conducting significant research into element and joint
design and large high profile buildings and bridges have
been constructed. In Brazil, bamboo have been studied
for more than 40 years at the Pontifical Catholic
University of Rio de Janeiro PUC-Rio for structural
applications.
 Some important results are: the bamboo bicycles, the
bamboo space structure with rigid steel joints, the
deployable bamboo structure pavilions and the active
bending bamboo amphitheater structure with flexible
joints
Bamboo
Transcends

12. Modern use of laminated bamboo for construction
 Bamboo can be cut and laminated into sheets and planks.
This process involves cutting stalks into thin strips, planing
them flat, and drying the strips; they are then glued,
pressed and finished.
 Long used in China and Japan, entrepreneurs started
developing and selling laminated bamboo flooring in the
West during the mid-1990s; products made from bamboo
laminate, including flooring, cabinetry, furniture and even
decorations, are currently surging in popularity,
transitioning from the boutique market to mainstream
providers such as Home Depot.
 The bamboo goods industry (which also includes small
goods, fabric, etc.) is expected to be worth $25 billion by
2012.
 The quality of bamboo laminate varies among
manufacturers and varies according to the maturity of the
plant from which it was harvested (six years being
considered the optimum).
Taichung World Flora Expo

13. Case Study
 Bamboo was used for the structural members of the India
pavilion at Expo 2010 in Shanghai. The pavilion is the
world’s largest bamboo dome, about 34 m (112 ft) in
diameter, with bamboo beams/members overlaid with a
ferro-concrete slab, waterproofing, copper plate, solar PV
panels, a small windmill, and live plants. A total of 30 km
(19 mi) of bamboo was used.
 The dome is supported on 18-m-long steel piles and a
series of steel ring beams. The bamboo was treated with
borax and boric acid as a fire retardant and insecticide and
bent in the required shape. The bamboo sections were
joined with reinforcement bars and concrete mortar to
achieve the necessary lengths.
 Bamboo has been used successfully for housing in Costa
Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Colombia, Mexico, Nepal and
the Philippines. An appropriate way of using bamboo for
housing is considered to be "bahareque encemendato", or
"improved bahareque"/"engineered bahareque". This
method takes the Latin America vernacular construction
system bahareque (a derivative of wattle and daub and
engineers it, making it considerably more durable and
resistant to earthquakes and typhoons.

14. Kontum Indochine Cafe
by Vo Trong Nghia Architects

15. Kontum Indochine Cafe by Vo Trong Nghia Architects
 Fifteen conical bamboo columns support the
roof of this waterside cafe designed by Vo
Trong Nghia Architects at a hotel in central
Vietnam. Referencing the shapes of typical
Vietnamese fishing baskets, the top-heavy
bamboo structures form a grid between the
tables of the open-air dining room, which
functions as the restaurant and banqueting
hall for the Kontum Indochine Hotel.
 Vo Throng nghia Architects designed the
restaurant without any walls, allowing
uninterrupted views across the surrounding
shallow pools of water, and beyond
that towards the neighbouring river and
distant mountains.
 The roof of the structure is clad with bamboo
but also contains layers of thatch and fibre-
reinforced plastic. In some places the plastic
panels are exposed, allowing natural light to
permeate the canopy.

16.  There's no air conditioning, but the
architects explain that the surrounding
waters and the shade of the overhanging
roof help to keep the space cool, even in
the hottest seasons.
 "By providing shadow under the bamboo
roof and maximising the cool air flow across
the water surface of the lake, the open-air
indoor space successfully operates without
using air conditioning," they say.
 All of the fixings for the columns are made
from bamboo rather than steel and were
constructed using traditional techniques,
such as smoke-drying and the use of
bamboo nails.
 "The challenge of the project is to respect
the nature of bamboo as a material and to
create a distinctive space unique to
bamboo," say the architects. "The bamboo
columns create an inner lining, giving the
impression of being in a bamboo forest.“
 Bridges cross the water to provide access to
the cafe from three sides, plus a concrete
and stone kitchen is positioned at the back.
Kontum Indochine Cafe by Vo Trong Nghia Architects

17. WATTLE AND DAUB
WALLS

18. INTRODUCTION
I. A Wattle is a woven lattice of willow or hazel
striplings (young, thin branches).
II. Daub is a sticky mixture of subsoil, day and
straw, sand or animal hair, very similar to cob.
III. Wattle and daub is a composite building
method used for making walls and buildings,
in which a woven lattice of wooden strips
called wattle is daubed with a sticky material
usually made of some combination of wet soil,
clay, sand, animal dung and straw.
IV. Wattle and daub has been used for at least
6,000 years and is still an important
construction method in many parts of the
world.
V. Many historic buildings include wattle and
daub construction, and the technique is
becoming popular again in more developed
areas as a low-impact sustainable
building technique.
Wattle and daub in wooden frames.

19. HISTORY
I. The wattle and daub technique was used already in
the Neolithic period.
II. It was common for houses of a Linear
pottery and Rössen cultures of Central Europe, but is also
found in Western Asia (Çatalhöyük, Shillourokambos) as well
as in North America (Mississippian culture) and South
America (Brazil).
III. In Africa it is common in the architecture of traditional
houses such as those of the Ashanti people.
IV. Its usage dates back at least 6000 years.
V. There are suggestions that construction techniques such
as lath and plaster and even cob may have evolved from
wattle and daub.
VI. Fragments from prehistoric wattle and daub buildings have
been found in Africa, Europe, Mesoamerica and North
America.
VII. A review of English architecture especially reveals that the
sophistication of this craft is dependent on the various styles
of timber frame housing.
A wattle and daub house as used by Native
Americans during the Mississippian period

20. Styles of infill panels
There were two popular choices for wattle and daub infill
paneling:
1) Close-studded paneling
2) Square paneling
1. Close-studding
 Close-studding panels create a much more narrow space
between the timbers: anywhere from 7 to 16 inches (18 to
40 cm). For this style of panel, weaving is too difficult, so the
wattles run horizontally and are known as ledgers.
 The ledgers are sprung into each upright timber (stud) through
a system of augered holes on one side and short chiseled
grooves along the other. The holes (along with holes of square
paneling) are drilled at a slight angle towards the outer face of
each stud.
 This allows room for upright hazels to be tied to ledgers from
the inside of the building. The horizontal ledgers are placed
every two to three feet (0.6 to 0.9 metres) with whole hazel
rods positioned upright top to bottom and lashed to the
ledgers.
 These hazel rods are generally tied a finger widths apart with
6–8 rods each with a 16-inch (40 cm) width. Gaps allow key
formation for drying.
A woven wattle gate keeps animals out of the 15th
century cabbage patch (Tacuinum Sanitatis, Rouen)

21. 2. SQUARE PANELS
 Square panels are large, wide panels typical
of some later timber frame houses. These
panels may be square in shape, or sometimes
triangular to accommodate arched or
decorative bracing. This style does require
wattles to be woven for better support of the
daub.
 To insert wattles in a square panel several
steps are required. First, a series of evenly
spaced holes are drilled along the middle of
the inner face of each upper timber.
 Next, a continuous groove is cut along the
middle of each inner face of the lower timber
in each panel.
 Vertical slender timbers, known as staves, are
then inserted and these hold the whole panel
within the timber frame. The staves are
positioned into the holes and then sprung
into the grooves. They must be placed with
sufficient gaps to weave the flexible
horizontal wattles.
Wattle panel

22. Advantages of wattle daub walls
 Simple construction
 Made of naturally occurring,
abundant materials.
 Highly durable if properly
constructed concerning it's
structure, but also considering
climate and location.
 Historically proven method. Failure
possibilities and causes are well-
known.
 Highly sustainable
 Villages/houses could be
constructed with help from
community members/families.
 If properly designed regarding
orientation and ventilation, the high
thermal mass of these buildings
could be used as an advantage.
Strategies vary depending on
climate.
 Proper design, planning and
construction can make
maintenance costs irrele
Wattle and daub construction in the
Dominican Republic.
Disadvantages of wattle daub walls
 Most problems arise from improper design and
construction, and these disadvantages can be
dramatically decreased with good planning.
Other disadvantages are relative.
 Although construction and design are relatively
simple, they can be quite labor-intensive,
especially the assembling of the wattle panels.
 Drying of the daub can take a long time,
depending on climate and humidity, although
good planning usually resolves this problem.
 Little information available on the installation
of regulated fittings, such as electricity and
plumbing elements. Likewise, the installation
of standardized fittings such as pre-made
windows and doors could be a problem, since
most are designed to fit into a frame of specific
dimensions, usually made of cement.(More
applicable to developed countries or cities.)
 It is highly recommended to limit the contact
of the walls with water to a minimum, mostly
through the foundations and roof.

23. Construction
The key components in creating a wattle and daub building are the
frame, the wattle panel, and daub.
The Frame
The first step in creating a building using wattle and daub is the creation
of the frame. The frame should provide the correct detailing necessary
to accept and hold the staves of the wattle panel. Two of the most
common frameworks are close studding and parallel bracing. Close
studding creates narrow spacing between the timbers and allows for
support of the wattle. Parallel bracing uses diagonal bracing to offer
support to the wattle.
Materials
Wood
Wood is an abundant renewable resource provided that it is used
rationally. Wood is also physically and mechanically resistant.
Wood should be cut when the sap contents is at its lowest and during
the dry season. The reason for cutting wood during this time is that it
reduces the possibility of attacks by insects.
After cutting the wood it should be left out to dry. Drying the wood
improves the structural integrity and helps with humidity control.
Wood should also be preserved in order to repel biological and
environmental elements
The frame of a structure before applying wattle and daub.

24. Cane/Bamboo
Like wood, Cane/Bamboo is an abundant renewable resource. It is also
easy to manually work with.
Cane/Bamboo must be cut at adult age and during the dry season.
Adult age will depend on the species used.
Drying is needed to avoid cracks and dimensional changes (shrinking)
during construction.
Preservation of this material is great due to the space between the
fibers. Soaking the poles in a salt, lime, or asphalt solution can greatly
reduce the negative effects of biological and environmental elements.
Wattle Panels
The wattle panel consists of two main components; staves and withies
(small malleable twigs or bamboo battens). Staves are used to help
support the wattle panels. It’s important that the staves are not too
thick. If the staves are too thick then it will be hard to work the withies
around them and increases the possibility of breaking the withies. The
withies are woven around the staves to form a basket like design. The
withies should enter in alternate directions to make them self-
anchoring, further strengthening and supporting the wattle panel.
Once the wattle panels are constructed the daub can be applied.
Construction
A mud and stud wall in Tumby Woodside, Lincolnshire
Example of pierrotage construction in Ste Geneviève, Missouri.

25. Daub
The word, daub, is derived from the old French term dauber, which means to plaster.
Daub is primarily composed of earthen materials such as silt, sand, clay, and dirt. Earth
can be a good building material due to its plasticity and compactability. However,
earth does also have cohesive qualities which can be troublesome in humid regions
and regions with great seasonal variations. Earth with large amounts of clay has higher
cohesive qualities. To reduce cohesion, straw and sand can be added.
Plastering
The frame and wattle panels should be dusted before applying daub to the walls.
Moreover the wall should be dry. These steps will help to insure that the daub will
adhere to the panels.
The next step is to plaster an underlay. The purpose of the underlay is to help level out
the walls imperfections for the finishing layer.
After the underlay is plastered, incisions should be made along the wall using wire
brush or nails. The incisions will help increase the adhesion of the second layer.
Once the underlay has dried, apply the final finishing layer to the wall. The second
layer should consist of more sandy earth to help reduce cohesion of the daub.
Finally, paint on a solution of chalk or lime to create a seal. The seal will further
protect the walls from biological and environmental elements.
Construction
The durability of wattle and daub is illustrated by this
wall, still standing after fire burnt the roof off.
A wattle and daub panel in need of repair