What is Wattle and Daub?
Wattle and daub is an ancient construction technique used to make both interior and exterior walls. Many examples of old wattle and daub homes can be found, especially in Europe, and this technique continues to be used to produce new homes in some parts of the world. The look and feel of wattle and daub is quite distinctive, and when well made, a wattle and daub home can be warm and very durable. The technique has also been borrowed by other building techniques; many green building companies, for example, incorporate some form of wattle and daub in their design. There are two stages to wattle and daub construction. The first is the creation of wattles, interwoven branches, lathes, or rods which form a tight lattice. The wattle can be used to lay the groundwork for walls both inside and outside a home, or to fill in gaps between walls and ceiling timbers. Once the wattle is made, it can be covered in daub, a plaster-like mixture of clays, mud, plant fibers, and animal dung. After the da
