Credits: 3
Format: Online (6 Weeks)
Workload: 6-8 hours/week
Fee: $350
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Description: This course covers the fundamentals of finishing interior and exterior adobe block walls with natural plasters and paints. We focus on mixing and applying earthen plasters, lime plasters and clay or lime/casein paints.

Topic Overview: historical overview of interior and exterior finishes for adobe structures in New Mexico, importance of respiratory and eye safety when preparing and mixing plasters and paints, overview of earthen plaster characteristics, helpful tools and materials for plastering, importance of work site and material organization for plaster work, window and door opening reinforcement, adobe wall preparation to facilitate maximum earthen plaster adhesion, locating and testing clay soil for earthen plasters, locating and testing aggregates for earthen and lime plasters, preparing lime putty, fiber (straw) preparation and chopping techniques, sifting and mixing soil and aggregates for earthen plasters, wheat paste production for strengthening earthen plasters, casein production for lime paints, natural exterior earthen plaster stabilization techniques (dung), hand application, techniques of earthen plasters (base coats, patching), hawk & trowel application of earthen and lime plasters (leveling and finish coats), basic earthen plaster ingredients and recipes, basic lime plaster ingredients and recipes, calculating surface area and materials needed, troubleshooting earthen and lime plasters (cracking, adhesion problems, etc.)