Homesteader Depot

Tag: building materials

  • 8 Powerful Uses for Limestone

    8 Powerful Uses for Limestone

    As one of the most versatile materials on the Earth, there are a plethora of uses and benefits of limestone. It can be utilized for a vast number of activities from fertilizing lawns to whitening teeth. Discover more on how limestone works to benefit your livelihood.

    Gardening and Farming

    Limestone has the capability of adjusting the acid levels in the soil to produce conditions that are ideal for growing crops on both the larger agricultural scale and in smaller home gardens. Plants, vegetables, and other crops are protected from nutrients in the ground that could potentially become toxic from nutrients being too prevalent like aluminum. It keeps the pH level at about 5.6 when applied properly. Anything over 5.5 is best for plant and food growth. It also adds minerals that are valuable for the soil like calcium and magnesium.

    Building Material

    The use of limestone in building goes back centuries. From the time the building of the Megalithic Temples that are the oldest free-standing structures through the construction of The Great Pyramid of Giza and beyond, people have been adding limestone to their creations. Train stations and banks from the Victorian era and after the 20th century have limestone in them. Today, exteriors and tiles are often made up of travertine, which is a form of limestone. The only problem with the material is that it is damaged when it comes in contact with acid solutions like acid rain.

    Golf Courses

    The pH balance in the soil on golf course greens is something that lawns keepers keep a close eye on to ensure they produce the best results. Not only does the proper pH look nicer, but it also makes it easier for players. When the turf gets out of the ideal range, limestone can be applied to the dirt to regulate the levels.

    Lawn Growth

    When lawns aren’t growing in as full and thick as you want them to, limestone in a pulverized form can be applied to change that. It improves the structure of the soil which makes for a better growing condition for the grass. You should apply the limestone before planting grass for an evener distribution and possibility for water penetration and absorption for a favorable soil structure.

    Cat Litter

    There are odor and moisture absorbing properties to limestone that make it useful in kitty litter. Cat urine contains ammonia that can cause respiratory problems when present in large amounts.  The lime counteracts the potentially damaging effects of your cat’s litter box making it safer and more pleasant to be around for you and your family.

    Healthy Horses

    During the colder winter months, farmers and other owners like to keep their horses inside a safe barn to protect them from the elements. The problem arises with the ammonia that comes from the animals urinating in the stalls that they stand in for extended periods of time. When limestone is placed under their bedding in a way that the horses will not have contact with it, it can absorb the ammonia making the barn a safer, better smelling place to be.

    Roads

    The base of many roads has a crushed limestone component included. Asphalt is made up of limestone in part as well. It continues to be used in the updates of existing highways and urban infrastructures today.

    Teeth Whitening and Other Brightening Uses

    Inside of your toothpaste, limestone is used as filler and a pigment that helps in cleaning your teeth and making them brighter. It is cheap and can lighten up a plethora of other materials as well, so it’s often put in plastic, paint, tile, and paper for a bigger and brighter finished product.

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  • 11 Little-Known Green Alternatives to Concrete

    11 Little-Known Green Alternatives to Concrete

    What have you found out there for a building material that is more solid and long-lasting than concrete? It’s what holds together and constructs pretty much everything around you. Sidewalks, apartment buildings, bridges, roads, viaducts, and all other modern urban life necessities are built with the man-made compound.

    The problem is, there are vast amounts of C02 emissions that are sent into the air every year during the production of the commercial concrete that contributes to the climate change issues that we’re dealing with. Thankfully, there have been other building materials discovered that have less of an impact on the environment but can still withstand the pressure of doing the job of concrete. Take a look at these 11 “green” solutions.

    1.    Grasscrete

    One way that the amount of concrete being used is reduced happens when the concrete gets poured in such a way that grass and other foliage can grow up in between the patterns. It’s been done successfully in driveways, sidewalks, concrete flooring, and walkways. Along with the reduction of concrete use, there is the benefit of improved water drainage and absorption.

    2.    HempCrete

    The woody inner fibers of the hemp plant can be used to bind and create concrete-like shapes that are both sturdy and light. It’s a fast-growing renewable resource that doesn’t cost as much to transport because of its weight.

    3.    AshCrete

    Instead of traditional concrete, ashcrete uses fly ash. It’s a by-product of burning coal. It’s estimated that 97% of the standard materials used in concrete can be swapped out for recycled components.

    4.    Timbercrete

    Sawdust and concrete mixed together creates timbercrete. The transportation emissions generated to move it are lower because it’s a lighter product. The sawdust is a waste product that gets reused. The energy-intensive components of the standard concrete are eliminated. Bricks, pavers, and blocks can all be formed with timbercrete.

    5.    Ferrock

    Dust that is created through work in the steel industry is a material that can be used to create something that’s even stronger than concrete called ferrock. During the hardening and drying process, the carbon dioxide gets absorbed into the ferrock making it carbon neutral.

    6.    Rammed Earth

    Walls have been made by forming and tamping Earth for thousands of years. They can last a long time and be made more sustainable by utilizing bamboo or rebar as a foundation to build around.

    7.    Straw Bales

    Homes and other structures have been built out of local, natural materials since the beginning of time. The walls inside of the frame that would otherwise be wood, gypsum, concrete, plaster, fiberglass or stone can be built with straw bales. As long as they have been sealed properly, they provide insulation from cold and hot weather. It’s a renewable resource that’s both affordable and sustainable.

    8.    Recycled Plastic

    Ground up recycled plastic and trash can be added into concrete to reduce that amount of garbage clogging up landfills. It’s also a way to prevent extracting, mining, and milling of new materials.

    9.    Bamboo

    Bamboo has been used as a building material in other cultures for many years. It’s lightweight, fast growing, and sturdy. It’s ideal for post-disaster rebuilding, construction in low-income areas where it grows naturally, and excellent for hard to access areas.

    10.    Mycelium

    Mushrooms and fungi are what makeup mycelium. It’s a building material of the future that is grown around molds, straw, and other natural materials. After it’s dried, it can be used to make bricks and other strong yet lightweight shapes.

    11.    Wood

    Wood is the most traditional yet one of the most eco-friendly building materials that there is. The forests can create biodiverse habitats and absorb unwanted C02 while growing.

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