Comments on: WHAT WAS I THINKING ?????

By: Judith

Judith — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:57:28 +0000

Hello Valencia, how exciting. I would be happy to help in any way I can. When I started using papercrete I had in mind developing a curriculum for young women so they could build their own homes. It is a simple material to make and to use although it is messy at times and heavy stuff to be lifting to the high areas, but it is so much easier and more fun with a group. Several years ago I attended a papercrete symposium in Tuscon, AZ. It was the final project of a student in Applied Anthropolgy wherein a group of students taught people in the Mexican town of Nogales to use papercrete. They have built several houses.

So keep me informed as you progress and don;t hesitate to ask questions along the way. If I don;t know the answer to something I can find out.

By: Valencia Kaiser

Valencia Kaiser — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 06:50:01 +0000

Hi Judith

I live in South Africa and have a programme where we help specifically impoverished ladies from the squater camps (shack-villages). We are in the process of starting up a home building project. We are very interested in building with papercrete blocks. Will you be willing to assist us via email?

Kind Regards,

Valencia Kaiser
+27 82 371 3178

By: Judith

Judith — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 00:45:52 +0000

Good for you. It’s fun to fool around with mixes and recipes. Just remember to write down what you are doing so that when you get a really good one you will know what you did. I write this from experience. I have so many times neglected to so this and have had to go back and start over.

By: Judith

Judith — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 00:43:01 +0000

It is light weight and can be cheap…… but I wouldn’t say it is easy. Simple yes, but make no mistake – this is laborious work. i don’t mean to sound negative but I am writing this after 2 days of shoveling road base for my floor. I got 3 tons off the trailer and went right back for 3 more to be offloaded tomorrow. Thanks for reading the blog and sending a comment. I love comments.

By: vaibhavkanadia

vaibhavkanadia — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:48:44 +0000

I am also trying to adopt it by preparing various mixes and testing it.

By: vaibhavkanadia

vaibhavkanadia — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:46:00 +0000

This is a great thinking because ond can construct a cheaper and light weight structure, easily by using papercrete.

By: Elisia

Elisia — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 14:59:40 +0000

There must be something in the air for us 60ish women to be involved in projects like this. I started building a papercrete pyramid this year. Also trial and error. I’m making my second experimental block today. I’m using a tire foundation in a dug out hill (by hand). The blocks of the actual pyramid will be made of paper.
I see that you have a stack of blocks. Have you started making a structure yet?

By: Teresa

Teresa — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:52:06 +0000

OK! This just might work…I live in Central Texas. What do you think? And where does a person begin? Thank you for your blog!

By: Judith

Judith — Tue, 11 May 2010 14:51:14 +0000

No I never have. I try to keep things simple but will look into it. Thanks for the suggestion.

By: charlene

charlene — Tue, 11 May 2010 06:26:07 +0000

have you ever used aluminite and plastic cement.