Cob: sacrilege

[Darel Henman]

Dave,

in addition to the good advice Shannon gave, you might take a look at
the URL below, it covers a lot of, what seems like very good surface
treatments from natural casein paint to some called "terra clay paint"
and linseed oils.   A good lime wash might be enough for itself for a
house, but I wouldn't know its durabiliity for being constantly rubbed
by people sitting down, getting up, and twisting from side to side, like
people do.

http://ecopaint.com/resinoil.html


An idea on the wild side, you might consider the equivalent to a
thatched roof, a thatched pad for sitting on and or shucking the rain,
and a miny thatch roof if you have a tall back to the seat/bench.  In a
few years you might have grass growin in the thatch.   Or even a simple
canvas that can be thrown over a frame put up around the bench.   The
thatch would be fun to experiment with, if you have reeds or similar
plants nearby.

Darel


Re:> Hi All,
> I'm working with a local p-patch (community garden)
> that is very interested in having a few cob benches
> built.  Unfortunately, due to some draconian city
> codes, and some semi-draconian city inspectors, the
> group is very nervous about putting up roofing
> structures over the benches.  Is there any ways of
> finishing off a bench so that it doesn't require a
> roof? The group has said that they are willing to look
> at, if necessary, (and here comes the sacrilege)
> un-natural compounds?  Ideally I would like to do the
> whole project with a clean and clear conscious and
> building ethic, but I would rather see the benches
> built of cob with some kind of an evil coating than
> see them built from entirely evil things like PTL.
> Thoughts, ideas, suggestions?
> 
> Thanks,
> Dave