Cob: foundation height in lowcountry S.C.

[Darel Henman]

I agree with Arthurhlevine below in his advice to check first and the
idea to build a mount upon which to build a structure.

> Arthurhlevine at aol.com wrote:
> well there is after all a good reason why houses there were built on stilts. the lack
> of flood insurance may be one of those. you should check on that before you buy and
> build. then again SC low country would be as devestated as NC after himmicane floyd
> when (not if but when) such a storm comes your way. and floyd caused extremely severe
> flooding ( though total devestation might be more fitting and correct) for over a
> hundred miles inland.   almost to raliegh in the northern most part of the state. 
> 
> i would build a big mound of dirt about 10 feet high, and then place a 10' tall 12"
> block surface bonded above ground "basement" on that and then build on top of that.
> 
I would reccommend that the mound be stabilized to strengthen it against
easy water corrosion and then maybe put some natural barriers between
where a flood stream may come from such as bulders, grass, shrubs,
trees, etc..

> oh yeah, don't forget to bury roof straps/tie downs deep with-in the walls, and per the
> south fla experience with himmacane andrew, use no osb, only plywood and screws or ring
> shank nails for roof decking and make provisons for installing plywood or firmly
> attaching real shutters over the windows when the storms do come

Also if possible design the structure to not meet the wind full in a
flat broadside.  If you know where the winds would come from.  In this
regard, a curvilinear frontage (arodynamic ? streamlined) to brush the
air aside would be of tremendous advantage as compared to a flat
rectangle being hit square front on. 

As regards to shape, a dome or cone shaped roof would also fair better
in strong winds in my opinion.
 
> maybe a little excessive but i grew up in way far south florida in one of the few (and
> now even fewer) native families who settled there before the first land boom, mr
> flagler and his raildoad, us1 or anyway in except by boat,back when miami was
> tenouslyknown as a "village".  my grandparents had very clear memories of the 1930
> something big blow and we all went to see what happened to the n fla/ala/mississippi
> coast the week after cammiele went thru. i was permanently impressed to say the least 
> 
> have a great day
> 
> and keep some clean water to drink and a small boat really close by just in case

Darel