Papercrete - Cement & Re-cycled Paper Building Material

Our house was built using ICF or insulated concrete forms and I'm sold on them...our house is a great temperature year round without any air conditioning and heating with only the sun or 2 cords of wood for back up heat.  This brings me to papercrete, I read about it and liked the idea of using recycled paper for the insulation part and concrete to make it solid and add thermal mass, the fact that it is cheaper and possibly easy to build with, has me looking at it for a future shed or bunk house on our property. 

And this is the experiment to make one block to see how it works.  I'm not doing anything fancy, just as simple as possible because that is my style. NOTE: NOT PROFESSIONAL ADVICE....I'm experimenting for my personal use.

Step 1: Gather materials.  (Dry Portland cement, papers shredded (colour or no colour no problem) and water) Some people add dirt and make it 1/3 of each cement, dirt, and shredded paper...you decide.
Step 2: Decide on the shape and form you will use.  I'm using a coconut water box since it looks like a garden square. Others have used bricks, or larger retangles, etc.
Step 3: Container to mix your papercrete in before pouring into your mould or form.  I am using an empty coconut oil bucket.
Step 4: Decide on your mix we used 1/2 cement and 1/2 paper to give a good solid one to work with.
Step 5: Start the process. 
a) Shred paper and put in a bucket with water to soak for a few days...softens it up and makes it easier to mix. 
b) Add cement and mix vigorously. 
c) Pour into form after you notice it is well blended.  Wait 20minutes to 30 minutes to remove all but the bottom coverage of cardboard.  Note: Use cardboard under the papercrete to make it easy to remove.

I'm waiting now for it to dry to see what it looks like and if it will be ok to use in building....next blog I'll share how it worked or didn't....hoping it is a great mix and solid brick to use.


Resources:

Overview what it is "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."

DIY - Papercrete Yurt  and a good FAQ website