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Another common problem with cob houses is that the cob needs to be able to breathe. Cob houses are generally acceptable to most mortgage companies, but it is worth checking with a financial advisor before making a mortgage application.
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.
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.
What is cob wall construction?
Cob is a mixture of sandy-sub soil, clay and straw. It’s mixed by crushing the particles together by either dancing on it or using the head of a digger. The sandy-sub soil must be sharp and ideally contain angular stones and gravel – this will make it stronger.
Can you extend a cob house?
Cob is a fantastic material to extend any home. It’s affordable, sustainable, and easy to do yourself. Whether you live in a 15th Century Tudor cottage, a brick Victorian terrace or a detached new build, then consider cob for your extension. Cob can work with any existing building.
How hard is it to build a cob house?
Building with earth has a long and successful history. 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.
How strong is a cob house?
Cob house is extremely durable as the base material for its structure is natural re-bar which gives strength to the building. The eco-friendly home is also earthquake resistant as the whole structure acts as one monolithic piece which doesn’t develop cracks when the earth shakes.
Can you have plumbing in a cob house?
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 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 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.
Is a concrete house cheaper to build?
Higher price, lower costs Concrete houses cost 4 to 8 percent more nationally than traditional frame houses, depending on the floor plan and finishes.
How big can you build a cob house?
The problem is, there’s no building code provision in much of California for cob houses, so most of the legal structures are 120 square feet or less to avoid the requirement for a building permit.
Can you paint a cob house?
Yes! Cob can be painted. You can create all kinds of natural paints and pigments to paint your cob walls.
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.
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.
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.
Can concrete houses burn down?
Unlike wood, concrete does not burn. Unlike steel, it does not soften and bend. Concrete does not break down until it is exposed to thousands of degrees Fahrenheit—far hotter than in the typical house fire. This has been confirmed in “fire-wall” tests.
How thick should cob walls 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.
How long does it take cob to dry?
Once you make your cob, it will need to dry out full and that can take months to years. The bulk of the moisture will dry out of the walls in the first year, but will not fully cure for 1-2 years past that. Once you build the house and add a roof, you should allow it to breath for many months before moving into it.
Why can’t you get a mortgage on a concrete house?
Concrete build mortgages can be more difficult to obtain. This is because concrete construction is classified as a ‘non-standard’ build type, and any property falling under this category may be considered higher risk, and therefore harder to insure and resell.
What happens if cob gets wet?
There’s all kinds of issues with that but when we look at cob and earth materials what’s special about them is they are vapor permeable so water can get into them, but then it naturally releases from the walls so even if your walls get wet they’re going to have a chance to naturally air out and dry out and there’s no
Can cob houses be built in cold climates?
Cob is a mixture of sand, clay and straw like adobe but not formed into bricks. Cob is not a suitable design for cold climates like those found in northern Canada and Scandinavia but for southern climates with infrequent snow fall it can be suitable.
Are concrete houses Mortgageable?
Yes, getting a mortgage on a concrete construction property is certainly possible. Most mortgage lenders will view concrete construction houses as unreliable security as they cannot be certain that they will be able to sell it and recoup their mortgage without soo much cost to them.
How expensive is it to build a cob house?
A decent cob house can be built for anything ranging around $4,000 – $10,000. However the cost can vary depending on the climatic condition, location and the size of the house. The basic cost, however, may lie somewhere around $2000 – $5000.
