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Wattle is a woven mat made of willow, hazel, reeds or
sticks running horizontally intertwined with upright staves. The ends of
the pliable wattle are often sprung into a wattle groove in the upright studs of
the frame and stave sockets in the horizontal timbers hold the ends of the
staves.
Daub uses clay and dung. In later 18th century work, a lime skim was
used over earlier daub plaster (lime, sand, water and hair) or mud to produce a
thick coat covering the daub which gives a smooth finish on both the inside and
outside.
Once the daub was dry, several coats of limewash were applied. This
produced a waterproof coating which also had the benefits of being a fire
retardant and a disinfectant and allowed the structure to breathe.
The whole construction, including the timber frame which is pegged, can
accept movement without cracking. But it is not compatible with many
modern materials, especially impervious paints.
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