Walls

For some half-timbered structures, light walls finished in reed or straw are sufficient, for example for a bee hall. Wooden planking is much sturdier and more durable, but of course much more expensive. In historic half-timbered construction in Flanders, loam was undoubtedly the most used material.

Pure loam could be placed in the compartments as dried blocks and leveled off. But usually the compartments were filled with a framework covered with wattle and daub, where wet loam was mixed with straw and as plugs incorporated into a wooden lath or wickerwork. These plugs were then smoothed on both sides by hand, with a plastering trowel or plasterers finishing trowel, after which the wall was optionally finished with a brushed on chalk paint or whitewash. The vertical slats and horizontal rods form a supporting structure to which the loam is attached. The rods are made of flexible, straight willow twigs, often also of split slats, usually made of oak.

The loam mixture used for these walls is the same as that used for covering the vault of baker's ovens. You can find a good recipe for the right mixture here. The straw ensures that the loam does not crack too much when drying and shrinking. Additives such as lime and (horse) urine provide a smooth mixture and increased durability.

Half-timbering walls can also be filled with brick, something you often saw when builders had more financial resources. However, historic half-timbering is not intended for a brick refill, as the heavier weight can cause problems. Because the technique of wattle and daub is less and less known, this brick refill sometimes still occurs during restorations.

Video: How to filling in the wall with loam plugs