-> Is this stuff expensive?  Generally available?  And,  is it suitable
-> for a range of climates?  I live in the northeast...
Any place concrete construction is suitable, SureWall is fine.  Should
be applied above 50 degrees F (80-90 deg is optimum) and is available
almost anywhere there are well stocked lumberyards.  I saw a generic
brand advertised today (Tuffwall I think) for 22 bucks a bag.  (Which
should cover 16 to 48 square feet of wall depending on application.)
To make it really beautiful takes a little artistry with a trowel, but
it can be tinted almost any color and even a novice can produce a STRONG
wall if careful to get an even thickness distribution.
I wouldn't hesitate to use it on almost any kind of block construction,
and I suspect much of the "California" look buildings these days use it.
For straw-bale construction, it's the difference between a 5-10 year
building and a 30-50 year building.  Built on a beefy foundation it may
well outlast civilization as we know it!
 ^..^
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