In this session I will introduce you how to render a straw bale house using the render method that we have used for over 10 years without failure. This will include:

• Why we do not recommend cement render
• The theory of creating a good earthen/lime render recipe
• Using your own soil in the render
• Choosing sand
• Testing sand for clay content in order to decide which sand to purchase as a base for your render.
• Determining good sand for your render
• A list of things to do prior rendering
• Description of the three coats of render and the process of applying each coat of render
• Why do we not put wire netting over the straw bales
• Creating test recipes of render
• Render for bushfire zones
• Filling hollows after the second coat of render
• A time comparison of hand rendering versus pump application of the render
• How much cracking of the second coat of render is OK
• Creating a textured surface on the second coat of render to provide a key for the top coat of render
• How to finish internal corners of rendered walls
• The results of bad render and what to avoid when applying render
• How to get a very flat and even rendered straw bale wall