That stuff still crops up in the hands of old-timey electricians and
plumbers around here--it's called "oakum" and it's a handy joint sealer and
pipe isolator. I don't know how well it would work for a chemically
sensitive person, though.
Mike
>I sent this to the strawbale list by mistake. I imagine it is also
>relevant over there, although nobody responded yet.
>
>Marc Rosenbaum posted a request for natural sealants. I had a thought last
>night, not based on any experience, but just one of those middle of the
>night epiphanies. A few years back I recall visiting a maritime museum in
>Quebec City. Back in the golden age of wooden shipbuilding, the hulls were
>sealed with some form of organic fibre batting (cotton or hemp I assume),
>and I believe, impregnated with a sticky pitch such as pine tar. I am
>wondering if this might be a viable alternative to polyethylene backer rod.
>I am assuming of course, that its ability to keep out water suggests that
>it would also be an effective air barrier. Whether it would have adequate
>elasticity in various temperatures and humidities, I don't know. The life
>span may be another issue; perhaps it woulld have to be monitored and
>replaced more frequently. I also don't know what kind of reaction pine tar
>or similar resins might produce (I'm allergic to far more organic
>substances than synthetic, as far as I know). I would imagine such a
>traditional approach to sealing must have been tried before somewhere.
>Does anybody have any knowledge or experience with this idea?
>
>Greg Kiloh, B.E.S., M.L.Arch
>Eikos Environmental Design
>2915 15th Ave.
>Regina SK CDN
>S4T 1S8
>757-2392
>gkiloh@cableregina.com
>
>
>
>
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__________________________________________________________________
This greenbuilding dialogue is sponsored by Oikos (www.oikos.com)
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send e-mail to greenbuilding-request@crest.org.
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