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VOLVOX Clay Décor Paint for Clay, Straw and Earth Building
Construction
Mr Hans Willi Babka talks about painting clay bale and
earth buildings:
“VOLVOX Clay Décor was developed for the modern clay/earth
building industry. As clay/earth walls should retain the thermal,
room climate regulating and toxin eliminating function, walls and
ceilings should have a protective paint that does not solidify or
seal the minerals in the building material.”
“In Australia, it is common for clay/straw/earth construction
companies to recommend that walls are solidified with mineral
paints such as silicate paints. Sadly, this results in the
beneficial qualities of clay and earth being compromised. We have
visited straw bale clay rendered dwellings finished with silicate
paint. The hard crust that silicate paint produces also makes the
surface water repellent and reduces the "breathe ability"
dramatically. VOLVOX also manufactures silicate paint, but
acknowledges that potassium silicate (waterglass) paints are not
recommended for coating clay/earth walls. Silicate paints are more
suited to sealing cement/lime/sand render surfaces.
Silicate paint is not for clay, Hans says. Clay needs to breathe
more as it can absorb incredible amounts of moisture and it needs
the ability to release it.”
Information Source: Reported notes of a presentation by Mr Hans
Willi Babka, General Manager & Chief Chemist ecotec Naturfarben
GmbH, during his visit to Colours By Nature, Australia, May
2008.
Related notes: VOLVOX Clay Décor –
The Difference | 