Papercrete (aka fibrous cement) today is being rediscovered as a "new" alternative
green building material. Papercrete has been termed by some as a "modern day adobe." Papercrete can be made into blocks or poured into forms to make a monolithic wall. The
material is homemade and consists of paper (3 parts), clay/dirt and sand (2 parts), and Portland cement (1 part). The paper used can be almost anything; newspaper, junk mail, cardboard, etc. Sand or sandy dirt is usually found on site. Dried, ready-to-use papercrete has a rough surface. This increases its
surface area and provides a very strong bond from one block to the next. One way to
recycle paper is to build with it.
INSULATION VALUE - up to R-2.8 per inch, depending on density and ingredients (comparable to fiberglass at R-3.0 per inch). Papercrete walls are typically 10 to 12 inches thick.
LIGHTWEIGHT - most papercrete weighs 15 to 20 lbs. per cubic foot, depending on
density and mix. (Concrete weighs137 lbs per cubic foot.) Almost anyone can lift and build with papercrete blocks. Unlike concrete or adobe, papercrete blocks are lightweight, less than a third of the weight of a comparably-sized adobe brick.
Papercrete is mold resistant and has utility as a
sound-proofing material. After construction is complete and the walls are dry, the exterior needs to be sealed by applying a stucco plaster and then painted to waterproof.
