Cob: R-Value-Strawbale for interior walls

Mon Sep 10 08:46:56 CDT 2001

<html>
Jeanne wrote: 
  
Slip-straw is loose straw coated in a clay slip. You would then build
forms on the inside between studs and fill the gap with the slip-straw,
tamping it down as you go. You can finish it with a mud plaster. You
could also use cob where you wanted a more organic aesthetic. 
 
I have worked with this method
and if you go this route make sure you get it ever so lightly coated so
that you can gain a higher Rvalue as normal straw clay won't give you
more that an R1 per inch and you don't want to go over 12". I still
find strawbale to much faster and easier and better insulation value. I
prefer to think of straw clay for interior walls.  
  
Chuck in Wisconsin 
Helping Hands: Natural building and Sustainable Living group
<dl>
<dd>-----Original Message-----
<dd>From: owner-coblist at deatech.com
[<a href="mailto:owner-coblist at deatech.com%5DOn" eudora="autourl">mailto:owner-</a>coblist at deatech.com]<a href="mailto:owner-coblist at deatech.com%5DOn" eudora="autourl">On</a>
Behalf Of Jeanne Leimkuhler
<dd>Sent: Sunday, September 09, 2001 12:01 PM
<dd>To: coblist at deatech.com
<dd>Subject: Re: Cob: Barn conversion 
 
 
 

<dd>Chris wrote: 
 
<blockquote type=cite cite>
<dd>I'm considering converting my barn to a home using cob walls on the
interior of the existing exterior barn walls.  Is this a stupid
idea?
<dd>The barn is somewhat old, but the structural beams appear to be in
good shape.  Would there be a problem with placing the cob right
next to the wood?
<dd>Maybe cob is not the way to go, I just want to use natural
materials.  Some other method may be more insulative, as well.
<dd>I would appreciate any ideas.
<dd>thx,
<dd>Zon from Kansas</blockquote>

<dd>Chris,
<dd>Not to discourage you from cob, but you might consider slip-straw if
you already have existing walls. I am planning to do this to an existing
barn. Slip-straw is loose straw coated in a clay slip. You would then
build forms on the inside between studs and fill the gap with the
slip-straw, tamping it down as you go. You can finish it with a mud
plaster. You could also use cob where you wanted a more organic
aesthetic.

<dd>For more information see Robert Laporte's book:
<dd>MoosePrints, a Holistic Home Building Guide
<dd>Available from Natural House Building Center  R.R. 1, Box 115F.
Fairfield, Iowa  52556

<dd>You can probably get this from dirtcheapbuilders.com, as well.<br>
<br>

<dd>Jeanne<br>
<br>
</font>
</dl></html>

Rethink Your Life! Finance, health, lifestyle, environment, philosophy	The Work of Art and The Art of Work Kiko Denzer on Art