When lime is used on strawbale and earthern walls it provides a vapor permeable skin which allows moisture in, and out again, before it can seep to the wall and cause damage. And lime offers many more advantages. Alternative builders are choosing lime-sand plasters instead of Portland cement based plasters, and achieving excellent results. Cement, while cheap, and popular in traditional stick-frame building, cannot compete in performance with lime. Many builders are eliminating cement altogether.
Most builders can use hydrated lime soaked in water to make a plastic, workable mix.
Simple, old fashion limewashes are becoming more popular too. Straw bales perform well with lime based plasters and earthen plasters. Lime plasters dry more slowly, gaining strength over time, which is their advantage for owner-builders. Lime in building use is very forgiving, and can be reworked for days after placement, unlike cement which is meant to set-up in hours, and cannot be altered at all once mixed. This book equals Applied Artistry, with extensive information on lime plaster use, casein paints, with gorgeous photos and step by step techniques throughout.