Table of Contents
# Energy efficient One major advantage that a cob house has is its energy-efficient design. This is due to the high thermal mass which keeps the indoor temperature consistent. It is a good option for hot climate areas, as the inside temperature is automatically regulated without the need for any fancy equipment.
Is cob a good insulator?
Put bluntly, cob is a pathetic insulator. This goes for any earthen building material. But what earthen materials lack in insulation properties they make up for with thermal retention. Cob is also a very poor conductor of heat and has very low thermal conductivity.
How long do cob houses last?
How long does cob last? The oldest cob house still standing is 10,000 years old. Cob is strong, durable and cob houses should stand forever as long as their roof is maintained and the property is looked after properly.
Can cob houses have electricity?
Insulation, Wiring and Plumbing It is indeed possible to have indoor plumbing and electricity in a cob home, but you need to make this decision before you begin building the home. The electrical wiring goes in between your cob walls so it should be decided on beforehand.
Can you insulate cob walls?
Cob has several other important characteristics, firstly walls are usually very thick, typically 2-3 feet and this, as well as being very good insulation against heat and cold is a massive heat store.
What happens to a cob house when it rains?
So for example as you build a cob building you can leave that building exposed under the weather, meaning it can get rained on a lot, and in most cases it’s not going to take major damage. You build your foundation stem wall high. Usually about a foot or foot and a half high up off the ground.
Where is the oldest cob house?
Traditionally, English cob was made by mixing the clay-based subsoil with sand, straw and water using oxen to trample it. Subsequently, one may also ask, where is the oldest house in the world? Located in Scotland, Knap of Howar is thought to have been built in 3500 BC.
Can cob hold water?
“Will the cob be strong enough to hold all that water?” Technically yesbut that only goes as fare as just about anythingMay 12, 2015
Do cob walls need insulation?
Experience has shown that cob walls do resist the effects of fire. Walls that are to be separating walls between two dwellings will need to be extended into the roof space to provide adequate fire resistance and sound insulation.
Why are cob houses so cheap?
This is because although the materials cost for a cob home can be substantially less than conventional materials, the labor can be more. Some contractors are able to lower their prices in a variety of ways, including by providing some of the labor for free, either through workshops, work trade, or owner contribution.
Will a cob house last in rain?
Cob is very resistant to weathering. Because of its porous nature, it withstands long periods of rain without weakening.
Is a cob house waterproof?
Cob is very resistant to weathering. Because of its porous nature, it withstands long periods of rain without weakening. However, too much exposure is best avoided by the “boots and cap” strategy: wide roof eaves to protect the walls and an impervious foundation.
What states allow cob houses?
Three counties — Nevada, Humboldt and Mendocino — allow cob to be used for dwellings under a state code provision for rural limited density housing. “It’s has been around forever and is one of the most conventional ways to build a building,” said Craig Griesbach, Nevada County’s director of building.
How thick should a cob wall be?
The walls of a cob house are generally about 24 inches (61 cm) thick, and windows were correspondingly deep-set, giving the homes a characteristic internal appearance.
Are cob houses cold?
People think that because the cob walls are so thick and dense that there’s going to be a high insulation value but there’s actually not. These buildings are not insulated. These are just concrete walls and people are fine in these buildings in cold climates. You just need a heat source inside.
Do cob houses have foundations?
Cob buildings are traditionally laid on stone foundations bound by lime mortar or even poured limecrete. Even when a cob home is built it dries from the outside in, so it can take up to a year for a building in our climate to dry out.
Can I pay someone to build a cob house?
Another option to hosting a workshop for getting a cob building built on your land is to hire CCG to build your dream cob project. A 200 round foot building takes about 6 weeks depending on the climate. The cost varies depending on location, workers’ salaries and materials cost.
Do you need planning permission for a cob house?
How easy is it to get planning for a cob house or cob garden studio? Cob houses can be built in any style you want. Garden studios usually don’t need any planning permission, unless you live in a conservation area. Different areas have different regulations though.
Do cob houses get damp?
Damp is generated inside a building in two main ways. Old stone and cob buildings are particularly prone to this as they do not have effective damp proof courses and often have wet walls due to the application of inappropriate finishes such as cement and masonry paint rather than lime and mineral silica paints.
Can I build a cob house?
Cob construction is particularly easy to learn, requires no fancy equipment, uses local materials, and can be done in small batches as time allows — making it extremely accessible to a wide range of people. (See DIY Cob-Building Technique, later in this article.)
Are cob houses safe?
Since soil is used as the base material for the building it is almost completely fireproof and termite-proof. This makes cob house one of the safest DIY homes that one can go for.
Can I get a mortgage on a cob built cottage?
Mortgage lenders may occasionally be asked to provide mortgage finance secured on a cob building. For the surveyor, identification of cob is not always easy but the walls will generally be very thick – typically 450mm or more – with a distinctly wavy and uneven rendered surface.
