One of the really great sites I’ve found is Mason Greenstar. Conversations with the owner, Zack Rabon, have been both helpful and illuminating. He has developed an admixture for enhancing and improving papercrete properties. His company is currently working on developing papercrete panels to compliment the blocks they already produce. This is definately a company to watch.
In my conversations with Zack I have had a couple epiphanies. I’d like to extend my thanks to Zack for allowing me to babble in his direction.
I think having a porous floor in my form will be sufficient. I don’t think the sides of the form need to assist in the draining and drying.
I need to include the headers for doors and windows in my pour. (Duh! Why I didn’t think of this sooner is beyond me.)
I found a contractor who pours his tiltwalls (rc with insulation) with the windows and doors in place. I’ve got to go look and see if he does so with bucks installed around the windows . . . I think that’s what I remember. I’ll have to go back and look.
I do have a question. Keeping cement hydrated increases the strength. Papercrete, by its very nature, dries out more quickly than rc. How much stronger will papercrete be if it’s allowed to remain hydrated longer? Should I wrap the wall in plastic and keep the moisture in for a couple weeks? Must research . . .