Ferrocement is a cost-effective and durable composite material used in construction, including houses, boats, and bridges. It involves creating a wire mesh frame and applying a thin layer of cement, sand, and water, which hardens over time. Ferrocement is flexible, fire-resistant, and performs well in earthquakes. It is a great option for areas with limited resources and skilled labor. Consulting building codes and an engineer is recommended for load-bearing designs. Courses and workshops are available for those interested in learning to work with ferrocement.
Ferrocement is a composite material used in construction worldwide. As the name suggests, ferrocement is a type of concrete, but it is applied in a very special way, using minimal material and therefore much less expensive than traditional concrete construction. Ferrocement is used to build houses, boats, bridges and a variety of other structures, and some artists also work with ferrocement, creating sculptures and architectural features from this very strong, durable and versatile material.
To build something out of ferrocement, someone starts by making a wire mesh frame. Chicken wire is a common choice, but any type of wire mesh will work. The mesh is often layered, creating a matrix. Subsequently, a mixture of cement, sand and water is spread on the frame, usually very thin, and then the ferrocement structure is left to harden; most people keep the ferrocement moist while it sets. The maturation time is variable, but can exceed a month in some climates and situations. At the end of the curing period, the resulting structure is quite robust and very solid, despite the fact that the walls are very thin.
You may hear ferrocement referred to as “thin shell” or “chicken wire and concrete construction.” There are a number of benefits to ferrocement that make it the material of choice for some people. For one thing, it is extremely flexible, as the load of the structure is widely distributed and ferrocement tends to perform well in earthquakes. It is also fire resistant and extremely durable; well-constructed ferrocement structures can stand for decades with minimal maintenance.
One of the reasons many people like ferrocement is that it is a very cheap material to build with. Fans of ferrocement construction sometimes say it “pays for itself” by being minimally expensive. In areas where resources and skilled labor are scarce, this building material is a great option to have available, allowing people to build durable structures that won’t be priced out of reach.
For people interested in using ferrocement to build a home, consulting local building codes is an excellent idea, as is discussing the idea with an engineer, who can help you create a load-bearing design that meets local code requirements . In some regions, ferrocement construction courses and workshops are available for people who want experience working with the material; if you’re willing to let your home be a model, you can also sponsor such a workshop, learning to work with ferrocement while having a team of students build your home.
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