[Cob] strawbale, geodesic domes, and igloos

[Marlin]

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"It's not that most people can't learn to do things; most people just don't have the determination and sticktuitiveness to learn what must be learned, go outside and sweat or shiver, and do a job right the first time.  I have to disagree on how easy building is. Building to code is no laughing matter when they red tag your house and you have to start ripping out work and hire someone who knows what they're doing."
<snip>

My experience is different I guess. I've seen so many poor jobs done by "professionals" (usually corporate ones linked to Home Despot somehow) that get virtually everything passed as they're VERY tight with building officials and in the same breath the building officials make someone that put in a perfectly good skylight  or something gets cited and has to rip it out cuz they didn't have the "good sense" to hire an approved contractor. 

I'm not at all sold that what goes into making a "code compliant" building is done in the name of "being done right" - can be very different things - mobile homes are "code compliant" for instance but not load bearing strawbale homes/Cordwood or Cob buildings - which one lasts longer and is safer - ?

It's similar to being told that, as a farmer of food, "get big or get out" because those with the 'right' way to do it have the know how to apply fertilizer/sprays correctly and have the correct machinery, everyone else need not apply or we'll force you out through regulations that only benefit the agrobusiness. Cob, for instance, didn't go away because it was a shoddy building material. Regulations are the number one way to dismiss it.

"Follow the money trail"........

I think the signature below pretty much states my take on the subject (from Tao of Physics).

Marlin Nissen




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