How to build a wattle and daub structure
When humans first began to create shelter, they started with wattle and daub. Well, wattle and daub came after those cave and cliff and other architectural experiments that didn't really work in the long run.
The process is rather simple:
1. Build you a wall. You will then be faced with sticks or posts with totally empty spaces in between. As the empty spaces offer exactly zero protection against wind and rain and nosy neighbors wanting to see how clean your house is, you'll want to fill these in somehow.
2. Weave woven rods or sticks around the timbers to create a somewhat solid screen. This is called the wattle. I am too lazy to look up the origin of the word but I bet it came from somewhere. I may add this later. Or not.
3. Then, mix you up some clay, or a sand and straw mix, or heck, whatever you have handy that isn't food related as that will eventually stink. This mess is called the daub. This word too has some origin, which you will not find here right at this moment.
4. Once your daub is roughly the consistency of cookie dough, smear it all onto the wattle. Make sure it sticks and covers all the neighbor-peaking, wind-rattling holes.
Ta da! Climb inside and relish all your hard work. Prepare for it to look rather ugly from the inside.
The process is rather simple:
1. Build you a wall. You will then be faced with sticks or posts with totally empty spaces in between. As the empty spaces offer exactly zero protection against wind and rain and nosy neighbors wanting to see how clean your house is, you'll want to fill these in somehow.
2. Weave woven rods or sticks around the timbers to create a somewhat solid screen. This is called the wattle. I am too lazy to look up the origin of the word but I bet it came from somewhere. I may add this later. Or not.
3. Then, mix you up some clay, or a sand and straw mix, or heck, whatever you have handy that isn't food related as that will eventually stink. This mess is called the daub. This word too has some origin, which you will not find here right at this moment.
4. Once your daub is roughly the consistency of cookie dough, smear it all onto the wattle. Make sure it sticks and covers all the neighbor-peaking, wind-rattling holes.
Ta da! Climb inside and relish all your hard work. Prepare for it to look rather ugly from the inside.
