Wattle Daub Construction  

 

Background: 

• Wattle and daub can be found in many parts of the world, with some structures many hundreds of years old. 

• This method is already in widespread use around the country. 

• However, due to the lack of timber treating and poor or lack of  

      proper damp proofing and the absence of a masonry base wall, this method is not nearly as durable as it should be when        these simple improvements are incorporated.  

 

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Benefits:

• With simple improvements this system can be made much more durable and socially acceptable. 

• The existing skills and resources are commonly available to the informal sector, and just need education and supply of lime. 

• Allow for the use of readily available building rubble and alien vegetation, favouring labour cost over material cost. 

 

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Technical information: 

• Stone, earth clumps or rubble is sourced from recycling dumps placed in a timber frame work. 

• The walls are plastered using clay and lime based plasters. 

• A good foundation & footing i.e. stone, brick etc is used. 

• Boron treated or bio-dynamically harvested timbers are used. 

• Local saplings are nailed or bound to upright poles forming frame work for the wall structure. 

 

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Company Track Record of Work: 

• Stanford, Valley Farm workshop building, Stanford Valley, Western Cape, 2008 

• Impendle Cultural Resource Centre, Old Dargle Road, KZN, 2012