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Construction

No material goes farther back in construction history than clay. In recent years exciting new techniques and technologies centering on this age-old material are changing parts of the building industry.

Earth plasters have been used for thousands of years to cover both the interior and exterior of structures made using a variety of construction techniques. From the wide array of our own mined materials and those we import, we have selected a few light colored (and therefore easily pigmented) materials that span a wide range of fluid and dry properties. We describe these materials well so you understand them. You then blend these clays and condition with hardeners and mineral fillers to make them smooth, easy-to-apply and resistant to wear and weathering. For those requiring more specific needs, we can of course make available any other material needed (e.g. naturally pigmented clays or even our standard ceramic mixes). Click here to learn more.

Our website at http://strawbaleconstruction.ca outlines the techniques used and how our products fit with them. We have products that are now being used and we can work with you to adapt them to your specific need. This is an exciting new construction technique and with Plainsman you can do it with consistent reliable materials from a consistent and reliable supplier.

Many companies around the world have developed pressing machines and polymer or other hardening systems that enable the making of blocks on the construction site, blocks that do not need to be burned in a kiln. The headache of adapting the pressing process to a new material at each construction site can be eliminated by employing consistent pressing clays from Plainsman Clays as either the full mix or to condition onsite materials. We can deliver ground processed or virgin raw material straight from the quarry.

The tile industry is by far the biggest ceramic industry user of clay and Plainsman Clays has a line of raw materials that are ideal to make many types of tile. We have the flexibility of being able to make products solely from our own mined materials or from mixtures of them and imported raw materials and can supply powders of high water content. We also have fusible slip products that can be used to make engobes.

If you are making a large wall panel, mural or free standing architectural commission, we can help with a clay adapted to your needs. These projects present many challenges, you really need a clay that is intended for this use (not for pottery or small scale sculpture). We can also assist you with the development of vitreous, textured, speckled and weather resistant engobes and glazes and help you to deal with freeze-thaw (so your piece does not fracture) and the prevention of efflorescence (so your work does not turn white after a few rainfalls!)