Do you have respiratory problems, allergies? Do you want a home with a healthy climate? Finish the walls with clay!

Clay used to be one of the main options for plastering houses. Its use in construction was commonplace, as old houses in all parts of the country testify. Although there are plenty of new materials, clay has made a comeback in more modern, user-friendly forms in the offerings of construction companies. Its qualities are recognized by architects and builders, who recommend it so that the atmosphere in the home is always pleasant and healthy. Not long ago we were talking about Gulia house, built by Litarh, where the architect had recommended the owners to finish the walls with clay-based plaster, especially for its insulating properties in summer. Ioana and Ciprian Radu used Conluto plaster from Naturalpaint. Find out why clay is a healthy option below.

How clay was used to plaster and build houses in the past

Clay is a very fine-grained sedimentary rock composed of silicate, quartz and mica. Other materials and impurities occur in its composition, depending on the area in which it is found. The balance between the components determines the quality of the clay. People discovered this waterproof material on the banks of rivers and started using it to build houses. As they worked with it, they saw that it could be used in the actual construction of walls, as well as for floors, ceilings and plastering. To increase its strength, animal dung and straw were sometimes mixed together.

I spent my childhood and vacations in the countryside, on the banks of the Ialomița river, so I had the opportunity to see my grandmother preparing the clay to glue on the floor in the living room (or "odăiță", as we called it). From time to time, she would peel the old layers of lime off the walls and glue them with clay, then paint them again. This usually happened before Easter, and the house smelled clean and fresh at the holidays. When she was getting ready for such an action she would get yellow earth (clay) brought by cart from the cart from the gorge and send me to collect horse manure from the road or from those who had horses. I used to ask her why I couldn't use cow dung, it was easier to find. She told me it's no good because it has no straw.

When he had everything he needed, he started preparing the clay. He would place the clay just like flour for kneading - a heap with a hole in the middle. There he put the horse manure and water and began to mix with the shovel. When it had a thick consistency, I started kneading it with my feet until it became a thick, homogeneous mixture. For years I wondered what was the point of that dung. Chemistry later helped me understand. It was casein, present in that excrement, which becomes a very strong natural adhesive. Even now, casein adhesive is used for restoration work.

Also in the countryside I saw how to make a straw thatched house. The wooden structure of the walls was reinforced and filled with lumps of clay. Then the walls were straightened and plastered with a softer clay than the one used in the brickwork. The last layer was even softer and the walls became very smooth. In such houses it was cool in summer and warm in winter, there was no condensation and mold on the walls, and in winter the air was never dry. And all this simple country people knew instinctively.

What are the benefits of modern-day clay-based plasters?

Clay has made a comeback and everything that was known from instinct and the experience of our ancestors is now backed up by serious scientific studies. We now know that clay prevents the proliferation of microbes and pathogenic bacteria and that its antiseptic action has been known since ancient Egyptian mummification. But this is not the only property that makes clay a healthy material for the home. Here are some of them:

Clay plaster creates a healthy home environment. It is an open plaster that allows walls to absorb moisture from the air when it is too high and release it when it is too low. This keeps the relative humidity of indoor air within the 45-55% range, which is perfect for our needs. The minerals in clay have the ability to bind pollutants in the air, reducing odors, toxicity and dust. It also has the ability to reduce bacteria and prevent their growth which contributes to a healthy and comfortable living environment. These properties make finishing walls with clay recommended for those with respiratory diseases or allergies.

Clay is a very good insulator. Clay plaster helps to keep warm in winter and cool in summer. Walls finished in this way have good capillary conduction properties, which means they can effectively absorb and disperse moisture. With its high natural mass, clay plaster can absorb and retain heat, releasing it gradually as the air temperature in the room drops. The same high natural mass also makes clay a very good natural sound insulator.

Acts as a vapor barrier allowing moisture to escape and thus preventing condensation. Removing moisture from wet processes used in house construction is very important, especially for the wood used in the construction. By allowing moisture to escape, it stops it from turning into condensation and thus preventing mold and mildew from forming, which will eventually lead to wood rot.

No added chemicals and natural drying. Drying of clay plasters happens, as in the past, by simply letting the water out of the mixture. There are no chemical reactions that can lead to health-damaging compounds. Everything is natural and healthy. It is the perfect material for children's and old people's rooms.

Conluto plasters from Naturalpaint

Now, plastering walls doesn't require as much work as it did in my childhood. There's no need to add other components to increase adhesion or strength. Just mix it with water and the clay is ready to apply, with all the characteristics and advantages of yesteryear.

Naturalpaint provides such clay plasters, already used by many beneficiaries for their projects. We have written about some of them. House of Miroslava, Kurt's house in Vishagu or Ghelnița house on wheels are beautiful stories, but also examples of people who have chosen to live in healthy environments and to use as many natural materials as possible in the construction and finishing of their homes or their clients' homes.

Conluto plaster is supplied wet. For a pleasant wall appearance, two coats should be applied: a coarser base coat and a thinner top coat. Apply diluted in the proportion of 10-15% with water. The dilution depends on the method of application used, the substrate and the thickness of the coat applied. If the wall is straight (generally in new construction), apply a single coat of 1 cm thick rough render. In old buildings, where the brick layer can be eaten through, 2 coats are applied, the first being necessary for leveling. Rough plaster can be applied on fiberboard, masonry, lightweight agglomerate, cane.

The fine plaster is applied over the coarse plaster in a single coat, not thicker than 4 mm. It can also be applied on plasterboard provided that Conluto primer is used to ensure adhesion. Naturalpaint's specialists are at your disposal for information about application on other types of substrates.

Clay is a great choice for those who prefer a natural and healthy lifestyle. It is the perfect choice for homes where sensitive people, people with respiratory diseases or allergies live, and for children's or old people's rooms. And if we want to know how we'll feel in such a home, all we have to do is think back to our grandparents' house, with its fresh, clean, fresh basil smell. Or imagine.

photo source: Jota Manufaktur