Cob: foundations, tree roots

[Charmaine R Taylor]

One thing to keep in mind is that cob houses originally in UK were built
because there was a  LACK of wood- i.e. trees to build with. England on
the East  where timber frame developed- was eventually deforested of
wood to build ships, and on the west the soil was rocky and flat so cob
developed.

I don't think the foundation issue came up much anywhere there as the
base was above ground, and roots of trees don't tend to surface do they?

Also adobe and earth structures have no excavated foundations for the
most part in the dry treeless SW.

Cob in the US is so new, and the one I have seen in the Sierra foothills
has oaks nearby, but there is no underground depth to the foundation,
all on top except for a small base excavation.

Some one can visit this site  below and phone builder Misha. R. to ask
him. (See a handmade N. California cob house, with land, for sale,)
209-588-1058 http://www.northcoast.com/~tms/cobhouse.html

hope this helps.

Ms. Charmaine  Taylor/ Taylor Publishing
http://www.dirtcheapbuilder.com
http://www.papercrete.com
PO Box 375, Cutten CA 95534
707-441-1632