Natural Building Basics – Part II: Natural Finishes

While many continue to look to new technologies to improve our environment, it’s important that we also look to the past. Houses have been made from the ground beneath our feet for thousands of years. In fact, many earthen homes made hundreds of years ago are still standing! Bryce Ehrecke has been building naturally for the past 10 years. Through step-by-step visual instruction, Bryce teaches the art of cob. Here,  he guides students through a comprehensive application of natural finishes in the second part of Natural Building Basics. Light clay and cob buildings are sustainable, long-lasting, breathable,  non-toxic, and waste-free. They are also beautiful and create a sense of comfortability and warmth—a connection to the way our ancestors lived. This course will get you excited about getting your hands and feet dirty and will inspire you to delve deeper into the world of natural building. You will definitely want to pair this with Part I of this series (Natural Building Basics: Part I – Wall Systems) where you will learn how to make the cob structures that you will paint your new finishes on! You will learn about:

• Wall preparation
• Mixing and application of natural building materials
• Site safety, flow, and preparation
• Primers, basecoats, and finishes
• Colour samples
• Clay paint