Terra Cotta Block Construction - Need Info
Laurie
14 years ago
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Comments (9)
calliope
14 years agocalliope
14 years agoRelated Discussions
Can terra cotta balls be substituted for hydrotons?
Comments (10)Such clay balls are produced here in Thailand by some non profit organisations. The actuall disadvantage compared to EXPANDED clay is their weight. Porosity and other aspects depend on composition and fiering temperatures. I am actually a professional potter and was thinking of cheap additives and use of low-tech techniques to make the clay lighter. I haven't explored the topic so far because energy is expensive and I have kinda bigger fish, or let's say different kind of fish to frie. Fiber, simple paper (news paper) fibre may be a solution, coconut dust and fibre or saw dust as well. I had considered Rice hulls as well. These particles and fibers will burn out during firing and obviously make the clay lighter and more porous. Don't be afraid of bursting, the clay pellets can handle it if normal low firing techniques are used. If you are low firing in a wood kiln, there is no problem at all, only electric and gas ovens may suffer from smoke development. The lower you fire, (around 700-850 °C), the more porosity you'll get and keep. But here also it depends on the kind of clay. Use low firing clay only, no stoneware or any other clay that vitrifies over 1150° -1200 C. But you should anyway fire high enough to fix the clay. It should not desintegrate over time. Brick debries can be used as well - if you can get them for free at some brick factory or even a "brick village". But here again, be careful to not get underfired bricks, which are useless for the purpose. Drop them in water for a few days and crush tem with a hammer. If the debries get kinda loamy and "sticky" in your hands, the bricks were underfired. The debries should stay "crisp" and sandy instead....See MoreBuried Terra-cotta Pot Slow Watering System
Comments (5)Hello Clay ... I have just started to experiment with this ... I was inspired to investigate this after James Curtis gave a presentation at Desert Green ... my first clay vessel was constructed with two pots and a measuring tube inserted at the top ... the flux rate of water out of the vessel seems like it would be very workable in providing water. My initial rate was about ... 1 to 2 ounces of water per hour at a constant volume in the clay vessel. This is with two 4 inch pots. Home Depot has small "self watering pots" that work on this principle .. they are glazed clay pots with an internal porous clay pot ... one fills the space between the two pots and the water moves into the root area. I think there is a lot one can do with this concept and roof top or better yet balcony irrigation would be a great application. My actual experience so far is very limited .. this spring I will run some more test. Good Day ......See Moreterra cotta underground pipes
Comments (7)Underground terra cotta - in my area, the entire run is typically made up of 2 ft long pieces that fit together in a male/female type of connection. The depth is dictated by the frost line - ours are about 4 ft deep. When problems arise, as columbusguy said, the cause is usually one of 2 things - tree roots or disintegrated/broken pipe. As trees grow, the roots work their way into the male/female connection of the pipe pieces and create blocks in the pipes. Or, the pipe pieces break and collapse into themselves. If you are in an urban area, the terra cotta runs from the house to the city sewer system. The terra cotta system includes both the pipe you mention as well as the sewage outflow that typically is under the basement floor of the house. They link up underground. If the city sewer, which starts out near the street, has been modernized, it could be a galvanized system or pvc, depending on when the modernization was done. A good plumbing company can run that camera into the pipe and run it all the way to the city sewer - last summer we became the proud owners of a video showing the 90 ft underground journey. My community used to run downspouts into pipes underground (the storm sewer system), but that was outlawed some number of years ago. Our downspouts now are connected to above ground gutter extensions that run out into our yards and then stop at least 10 ft away from the foundation. The terra cotta opening right at the foundation is not used. We still have terra cotta running under the house to the street. You're going to need to identify the cause of your blockage....See Moreterra cotta color tile --- BATHROOM floor?
Comments (42)hi feisty68. thanks much for inquiring!!!! the answer to your question is an old maine expression: "slower than molasses going uphill in the winter." it seems that phrase is also the motto of new york contractors. the house is now freshly roofed. most of the window cut-outs are in the right place, but the porch columns look (in photo) unevenly spaced and.......ok, you get the drift. best (?) is response from contractor (who still owns the house) to one of my many questions. he texted back......."don't poke the bear!" good news is that half those terra cotta tiles are on site; the rest are in my car scheduled for friday departure to new york. am also bringing a giant supply of "molasses melter!"...See MoreLaurie
14 years agosombreuil_mongrel
14 years agoasiedydd_gmail_com
13 years agoxoldtimecarpenter
13 years agojakabedy
13 years agoAdrian J. Naquin Interior Design L.L.C.
7 years ago
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LaurieOriginal Author