Tuesday, April 02, 2013

Sand and Paper

In January I started to fill sandbags. I started by buying 25. Then another 25. Then another 25.
I wanted to build a New Patio Wall using unconventional materials. Cheap materials too.
I staggered the sand bags as I stacked them, using old barbed wire in between the layers to prevent any shifting. The polyethylene bags are strong but will fail under prolonged exposure to our brutal sun. So I had to cover it somehow.


So I settled on using Papercrete.
I shred the paper, soak it overnight in water, mix it with mixing bit attached to an electric drill, add cement, mix again, and use a garden trowel to apply it.




I just throw it at the wall and it sticks! Dries nice and hard.


Upon close inspection, you can see the paper bits.


Papercrete should be quite long lasting in my dry climate.
I only have a few more buckets left to finish the entire wall. Papercrete will take paint which is good because the grayish white is maybe not the most attractive.

Just another adventure on the Double Barrel Ranch. This time an adventure in sand and paper.