heat was Cob: Oklahoma thoughts and concerns

[Patrick Newberry]

While I have planned on doing a wonder graph, measuring the temps outside and in over a period of time etc, 
I've not accomplished that goal yet.
I did manage to find one themometer and measured the temp differences on one day around noon and even then failed to write 
down the actual numbers. But what I observed was it was about 10 degrees cooler inside during the day, 
and it was about 10 degrees warmer inside during the night. Thus at night, it did feel warmer than outside,
but not stagging like in a trailer at noon in the sun. A trailer at noon, in the sun, with no AC is like an 
oven, way hotter than outside. My cob home is hot, but actually a bit cooler than outside. Thus my cob house does not exceed the highest temperatures nor does it exceed the low temperatures. 

As far as soil compaction goes,  in my case at least, that was not a problem due to how slowly I have been building. 
When you build slow, the structure has more than enough time to settle on it's own. 
Yea, don't laugh but I'm now on my 5th year. I mean I've worked, then stopped working then back again over several 
times, and even when I'm working don't put in more that 16 hours a week. I mean it's livable now, or at least 
by my loose standards, but hey I have hot water, can cook and yes even poop inside. I can keep beer cold, but 
my wringer washer machine is outside however so that means not much washing gets done in the rain. Of course 
one could just put on the dirty cloths, run around in the rain and they'd be washed. Their is a dryer inside, 
but I prefer to hang the cloths on the line. Yea, I'd say it's livable. 


I have a screen in porch now and that helps a lot with the heat. In the evening, sitting on the porch is a time
honored tradition. 

Love and Light
Pat
www.gypsyfarm.com





-----Original Message-----
From: swboltin at excite.com [mailto:swboltin at excite.com]
Sent: Wednesday, August 07, 2002 2:24 PM
To: coblist at deatech.com
Subject: Re: Cob: Oklahoma thoughts and concerns



Shannon and List, In response to concerns of high night time temperature
you had mentioned:
<snip>
> Depends on what you mean by often, if you mean the night time low for
> many days or weeks at a time doesn't get below the high eighties, then this
> could be a problem, if you just mean that some nights don't get below
> that, then it is not so much of an issue as typical cob wall thicknesses
> should take many days to undergo a significant temperature change (with
> proper design for your climate you could probably stretch the number of
> days significantly).

I was curious, I live in Houston and 80+ is common at night.  Accompanied
of course with our high humidity.  Is this an issue with the stability of
cob or just factor in with the comfort level?  This would be something
that I would definitely like to know prior to jumping in.   Also, the
developement I am in, my house included, is developing problems in
relation to driveways and in some instances foundations, all of the slab.
It seems that the soil wasn't compacted enough and cracks are developing.
There are a couple of driveways that have a large portion of the soil
underneath has washed out and are being supported by re-bar alone.   I
have read some of the other emails stating that with cob, soil compaction
is not an issue, and in fact is often avoided.  How does a wall that is
all one piece get around this?   Any help any of ya'll can shed on either
issue is greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Shawn