Cob: New to this list and the idea of cob

[Darel Henman]

Bamboo can be used for this application to connect the seperated walls.  

Traditionally bamboo is tied into a matrix pattern ###, with hemp string
and attached between load bearing posts, and then cobbed with a clayish
mud which contains one week to three month fermented rice straw
cuttings.  A few of the bamboo pieces are actuall stuck into holes made
into the posts to hold the made framework in place.   The straw cuttings
are aged together with the clay-earth.  Doing this is said to provide
advantages in strength and less shrinkage later when drying and the
earth and straw bond together better after being aged together.  The
straw fibers are softer then to to help in applying the mud.

So bamboo has precedent for being used in this fashion, like a wattle
and daub, and can be considered as a material that can be used.

They stryofoam, would not need to be in the center and would be better
place near the outside, except for the south facing portions of cob
wall.

But, better than styofoam and perhaps cheaper, and more likely more
durable is light clay using straw or wood chips.  This could probably
just be keyed onto a cob wall.  You could have bamboo atttachments to
the wall speciaclly to hold onto the light clay outer portion.  It would
need to be watter proofed somehow, perhaps with a lime plaster.

Darel

Jason Brown wrote:
> 
> I was thinking about this a little while ago and I figured you could big holes, say 6" into the styrofoam and place the stuff into the center of the wall.  You would use the holes to tie the cob on either side together and give it more strength.
> 
> I doubt the wall will be as strong as a solid cob wall, but I think you'd get a lot better R value and you could always add more cob to both side to compensate.
> 
> JM2CW,
> 
> Jason
> 
> On Tue, 04 December 2001, "j. gann" wrote:
> 
> >
> > Sharon,
> > I think this is a very intereting idea. If you had a
> > styrofoam wall, you could apply cob to both sides
> > giving you an insulated mass inside with finished
> > exterior. It may not be "green" and would probably
> > need some engineering, but the concept is great. Lets
> > do it. Know any engineers ?