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Kiko Denzer on Art


Cob: Re: baking in earthen walls?

Steve Lewis seaweedsteve at newmexico.com
Sun Nov 4 20:22:34 CST 2001 

hey Nigella.  

First of all, there are Texas builders who can better answer these questions.  
  a..  I understand that high ceilings allow the heat to rise away from where you are.  Maybe it helps ventilation too. 
  b.. Maybe ask  Mark VS or somebody about the performance of  Austin - Area Cob. (Actually, he's on the Straw list) . Really,  I was theorizing -  It might actually work fine!  I suspect that earth-coupling and good shade could make a big difference. 
  c.. I believe that a shiny or light colored metal roof is acting as a radiant barrier, reflecting some radiation back.  Just like wearing white is cooler than black.   A dark shingle roof should really absorb heat.  Also, a metal roof should have an air gap under it working along with it's ribs/ channels.  This will allow it to ventilate and cool the space under it .  On the other hand, asphalt shingles lay right on the roof decking and  will conduct that heat into the house more readily.

Take some foil and reflect the sun into your face.  Hot, huh?  That's heat that the foil is not absorbing because of it's good reflection quality.  Now put it between your face and the sun.  Did it get cooler?   
(I just made this up.  Never tried it.  Hope it supports my argument!)

Steve



> Hi Steve,
>  I have a few questions here, I live in hot humid Texas so this interests me
> :)  First of all, I was curious as to why the high ceilings? Don't get me
> wrong, I happen to love high ceilings .I would love to have a reason to
> justify them . To me they make a house feel nicer.
>  Secondly, aren't  there some cob building around Austin? Does any one know
> how well they perform as to keeping cool? I've been to Austin a couple of
> times, seems like it was hot and humid there , too.
>  Lastly, I was curious about the metal roofing. It is used a lot around here
> but I have always wondered if it would serve to heat a house in summer? I
> have to admit total ignorance on this point. My experience is limited to
> wrapping a potatoe in foil and popping it in the oven...
> nigella
> 
> 
> 
> 
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<DIV><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" size=2>
<DIV><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" size=2>hey Nigella.  </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" size=2>First of all, there are Texas builders who 
can better answer these questions.  </FONT></DIV>
<UL>
  <LI><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" size=2> I understand that high ceilings 
  allow the heat to rise away from where you are.  Maybe it helps 
  ventilation too.</FONT> 
  <LI><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" size=2>Maybe ask  Mark VS or somebody about 
  the performance of  Austin - Area Cob. (Actually, he's on the Straw 
  list) . Really,  I was theorizing -  It might actually 
  work fine!  I suspect that earth-coupling and good shade could make 
  a big difference.</FONT> 
  <LI><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" size=2>I believe that a shiny or light colored 
  metal roof is acting as a radiant barrier, reflecting some radiation 
  back.  Just like wearing white is cooler than black.   A 
  dark shingle roof should really absorb heat.  Also, a metal roof should 
  have an air gap under it working along with it's ribs/ channels.  
  This will allow it to ventilate and cool the space under it .  On the 
  other hand, asphalt shingles lay right on the roof decking and  will 
  conduct that heat into the house more readily.</FONT></LI></UL>
<DIV><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" size=2>Take some foil and reflect the sun into 
your face.  Hot, huh?  That's heat that the foil is not absorbing 
because of it's good reflection quality.  Now put it between your face and 
the sun.  Did it get cooler?   </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" size=2>(I just made this up.  Never tried 
it.  Hope it supports my argument!)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" size=2>Steve</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" size=2></FONT><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" 
size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" size=2></FONT> </DIV><FONT 
face="Trebuchet MS" size=2>> Hi Steve,<BR>>  I have a few questions 
here, I live in hot humid Texas so this interests me<BR>> :)  First of 
all, I was curious as to why the high ceilings? Don't get me<BR>> wrong, I 
happen to love high ceilings .I would love to have a reason to<BR>> justify 
them . To me they make a house feel nicer.<BR>>  Secondly, aren't  
there some cob building around Austin? Does any one know<BR>> how well they 
perform as to keeping cool? I've been to Austin a couple of<BR>> times, seems 
like it was hot and humid there , too.<BR>>  Lastly, I was curious about 
the metal roofing. It is used a lot around here<BR>> but I have always 
wondered if it would serve to heat a house in summer? I<BR>> have to admit 
total ignorance on this point. My experience is limited to<BR>> wrapping a 
potatoe in foil and popping it in the oven...<BR>> nigella<BR>> <BR>> 
<BR>> <BR>> </FONT></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>