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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. About 75% of cob is made up of this sandy aggregate.
How long do cob houses last?
How long does cob last? The oldest cob house currently standing is 10,00 years old. If this doesn’t speak to how strong and durable cob houses are, then nothing will. Cob houses are built to stand forever as long as their roofs are maintained, and they are properly looked after.
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.
Are cob houses 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.
Is a cob house expensive?
Cob house cost 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.
Do you need planning permission for a cob house?
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.
Can I get a mortgage on a cob house?
Cob houses are generally acceptable to most mortgage companies, but it is worth checking with a financial advisor before making a mortgage application. Like many other older building methods, thatched roofs offer excellent thermal properties, as well as looking particularly attractive on the top of an old cottage.
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.
Is cob stronger than concrete?
When mixed in the correct proportions, the resulting material is as strong and durable as concrete, but with absolutely no additional energy needed for production, except the man- (or woman-) power to harvest and mix the ingredients, of course.
Are cob homes fireproof?
Cob is fireproof, resistant to seismic activity, and uses low-cost materials, although it is very labour intensive. It can be used to create artistic and sculptural forms, and its use has been revived in recent years by the natural building and sustainability movements.
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?
When you think about cob, you need to kind of think about it not having any insulation value at all. So technically, there’s about an R3 insulation value for a foot thick wall of cob. These are just concrete walls and people are fine in these buildings in cold climates. You just need a heat source inside.
Is cob building cheap?
Cob building is usually best served by building in the round, and it can be sculpted into all sorts of free-form curves and shapes, giving a lovely, organic shape. While the raw materials are very cheap – if not free – cob building is an incredibly labour intensive way of building and it takes both time and energy.
How old is the oldest cob house?
The oldest known cob structure is over 10,000 years old. It is still standing but is likely to have endured because it has been looked after by generations of people. Like all structures, cob buildings need care and attention from time to time.
How big can a cob house be?
A: There is no inherent size limitation on cob or any other building system that I know of. If you look in the literature you will find cob mansions in England and cob towers in South Yemen nine stories high! That being said, cob walls can take a lot of work to build, as do most other natural building techniques.
Do cob houses get hot?
Put bluntly, cob is a pathetic insulator. Cob (and other earthen materials) will absorb heat, retain it, and then dissipate it back out slowly. Most modern, conventional building materials have opposite attributes. Materials like concrete and fired brick absorb and release heat very quickly.
What’s the difference between cob and adobe?
How is cob different from adobe? The most basic difference is that adobe is formed into rectangular bricks which are dried in the sun before being used, while cob is built wet. Cob therefore lends itself to organic shapes: curved walls, arches and vaults.
Are cob houses sustainable?
Sustainable – the most sustainable form of building there is – cob has almost zero embodied energy. Since its made of earth, it his also entirely recyclable and non-polluting. Affordable – as long as you have land to build on, anyone can afford to build cob walls.
What is the problem with steel framed homes?
Steel Framed Construction is Not Energy Efficient. When compared to most other framing products, steel framing is not energy efficient. In fact, wood has nearly four times the thermal resistance of steel. The reason steel frame buildings are not energy efficient is due to thermal bridging.
Are SIPs Mortgageable?
Yes. SIP houses are fully mortgageable. SIPs build systems are increasingly common in the UK construction industry and are recognised by major warranty providers and building control.
Do Halifax lend on steel framed houses?
Since then however, the Halifax has approved huge numbers of Steel Framed property mortgages, many of these being BISF Houses. The majority of sales going through Halifax do so with little or no problems, providing the surveyor is familiar with the property type and raises no objections.
