Marc Rosenbaum posted a request for natural sealants. I had a thought last
night, not based on any experience, but just one of those middle of the
night epiphanies. A few years back I recall visiting a maritime museum in
Quebec City. Back in the golden age of wooden shipbuilding, the hulls were
sealed with some form of organic fibre batting (cotton or hemp I assume),
and I believe, impregnated with a sticky pitch such as pine tar. I am
wondering if this might be a viable alternative to polyethylene backer rod.
I am assuming of course, that its ability to keep out water suggests that
it would also be an effective air barrier. Whether it would have adequate
elasticity in various temperatures and humidities, I don't know. The life
span may be another issue; perhaps it woulld have to be monitored and
replaced more frequently. I also don't know what kind of reaction pine tar
or similar resins might produce (I'm allergic to far more organic
substances than synthetic, as far as I know). I would imagine such a
traditional approach to sealing must have been tried before somewhere.
Does anybody have any knowledge or experience with this idea?
Greg Kiloh, B.E.S., M.L.Arch
Eikos Environmental Design
2915 15th Ave.
Regina SK CDN
S4T 1S8
757-2392
gkiloh@cableregina.com
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