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[Cob] the cobin is formingorion walker orion_w at hotmail.comFri Jul 23 19:40:26 CDT 2004
Hi there, My wife and I are buiding a small house, of cob and strawbale. I wrote in a few months back, things have progressed a bit. We have a foundatiion, rubble trench with 15 inch concrete stemwall on top of it. We also have begun cobbing on the south wall sections, and have just about finished a nice cob sitting nook in one of the bay windows. I'm hoping to start raising the post and beam structure in the next few days, and keep cobbing on the south wall. Once we get the roof up, hopefully within a month or so, then we'll have a bail raising party for the strawbale sides. I am one of those inexperienced folks that has decided to leap in on faith, and hope that I can figure it all out as we go. So far it's all going pretty good, though slower and more expensive than I would like (as are most things in life). We'd love to have help, so if you want to get your hands dirty, come on by. We've got plenty of room for camping. We are ten miles outside of Ukiah, which is on 101, about two hours north of San Francisco. Thanks, -Orion Orion Walker PO Box 85 Ukiah CA 95482 (707)-272-2352 >From: coblist-request at deatech.com >Reply-To: coblist at deatech.com >To: coblist at deatech.com >Subject: Coblist Digest, Vol 2, Issue 62 >Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2004 12:44:58 -0700 > >Send Coblist mailing list submissions to > coblist at deatech.com > >To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://www.deatech.com/mailman/listinfo/coblist >or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > coblist-request at deatech.com > >You can reach the person managing the list at > coblist-owner at deatech.com > >When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific >than "Re: Contents of Coblist digest..." > > >Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: strawbale, geodesic domes, and igloos (GlobalCirclenet) > 2. Re: strawbale, geodesic domes, and igloos (Dognyard) > 3. Re: Re: [Cob] thermal mass, insulation and "Ianto says" > (Shannon C. Dealy) > 4. RE: Re: [Cob] strawbale, geodesic domes, and igloos (Marlin) > 5. RE: Re: [Cob] strawbale, geodesic domes, and igloos > (David Knowlton) > 6. Re: strawbale, geodesic domes, and igloos (GlobalCirclenet) > 7. RE: strawbale, geodesic domes, and igloos (Bonnie Morse) > 8. tit for tat ... professionals vs. amateurs (Mary Lou McFarland) > 9. Re: strawbale, geodesic domes, and igloos (Dognyard) > > >--------------------------------------------------------------------- - > >Message: 1 >Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2004 10:36:49 -0600 >From: "GlobalCirclenet" <webmaster at globalcircle.net> >Subject: Re: [Cob] strawbale, geodesic domes, and igloos >To: coblist at deatech.com >Message-ID: <200407231036490231.02E4E242 at mail.gilanet.com> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > >I understand what you're saying about plastering with cob as opposed to the >usual cob material and process, as I said in reply to the other post, so >I'm not ruling it out. What I'd like to stress though, is the plastering >either way is not for amateurs. Yet amateurs are the only ones trying straw >bale or cob. I think amateurs should be forewarned about the difficulty and >mold risks of not getting it right and maintaining it over the years. The >alternative is paying professional plasterers and then you get into serious >money. For non-builders to play around with alternative methods and >materials is inviting disappointment or disaster, and those pushing these >alternatives without the drawbacks aren't helping the cause of >sustainability and energy efficiency. > >paul at largocreekfarms.com >http://herbfarmer.net >*********** REPLY SEPARATOR *********** > >On 7/23/2004 at 11:03 AM Amanda Peck wrote: > > >That link seems to have been taken directly (with or without permission) > >from Cedar Rose's book on natural plasters. > > > >Here's the link to the book from Charmaine Taylor: > > > >http://www.dirtcheapbuilder.com/natplasbook.html > > > >Yes, she IS a professional PLASTERER. While she does mention SB and I > >seem > >to remember cob, the three-coat procedure is straight from the old-time > >plastering manuals, whether what you are plastering on is straw-bale, cob, > > >or what you run into in old houses, wood or metal lath over studs. > > > >As a professional, she would be concerned to have her work look smooth, no > > >wrinkles, all the irregularities from the substrate smoothed out. In a > >word, gorgeous. > > > >Is it necessary for amateurs to achieve that level of perfection? Up to > >you. But that IS how you get it. > > > >High-end woodworkers tend to think that sandpaper is for the birds, that > >the > >best finish comes from plane and scraper, not sandpaper. I agree, I know > >why, but I'd really be more likely to use rough-sawn than go through all > >that work and the nice long learning curve only to find that I liked the > >funky look at least as well. > > > >As recently as six or seven years ago, the standard finish for straw bales > > >in my area was still concrete pumped onto the surface by somebody used to > >doing swimming pools. One of the buildings I was familiar with was > >further > >covered with latex paint (I screamed about it, but....). A couple of > >years > >later it had what was thought to be a mold problem. We drilled lots of > >holes through the concrete inside the building in order to both pinpoint > >the > >source of the problem and let it breathe. All I ever smelled was nice > >fresh > >straw. I wonder now if the problem was really a leak in the silo-type > >roof > >onto the straw in bags up in the attic. > > > >And, a couple of months ago, I heard that the people were still happy > >enough > >with the building to be planning a larger straw-bale structure. > > > >Shannon's right. Lots and lots of ways to get all of this done. > > > >............ > >Paul wrote (snipped): > >http://www.webace.com.au/~agstraw/cedar.html just doesn't support sealing > >strawbale with cob. > > > >It's clearly about thin coats of plaster, not cob at > >all. It recommends earthen plasters. The difference is significant because > >cob is not the same as earthen or any other kind of plaster. Plaster is > >applied in very thin coats, esp the first coat to "key" into the straw. > > > >_________________________________________________________________ > >MSN Toolbar provides one-click access to Hotmail from any Web page >FREE > >download! http://toolbar.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200413ave/direct/01/ > > > > > >_______________________________________________ > >Coblist mailing list > >Coblist at deatech.com > >http://www.deatech.com/mailman/listinfo/coblist > > > > > > >------------------------------ > >Message: 2 >Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2004 11:14:31 -0600 >From: Dognyard <dognyard at stockroom.ca> >Subject: Re: [Cob] strawbale, geodesic domes, and igloos >To: coblist at deatech.com >Message-ID: <41014777.B8863EDE at stockroom.ca> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > > > >GlobalCirclenet wrote: > > > > For non-builders to play around with alternative methods and > > materials is inviting disappointment or disaster, and those pushing these > > alternatives without the drawbacks aren't helping the cause of > > sustainability and energy efficiency. > >Oh! Oh! > >I beg to differ. What you are calling non-builders, I will, for the >moment call inexperienced builders. And an inexperienced builder is only >that for a short time :-). I am, somewhat, an inexpereinced builder, but >that sure doesn't deter me from learning to do something myself and to >avoid depending on expensive alternatives. Building a house is technical >to a degree, but it isn't rocket science. It can be learned fairly >easily - either hands on (seminars, etc.), or with lots of reading and >research - IF, one is amenable to learning to do it correctly. > >When it comes to plastering, though, it is even less technical. There >are things you need to know to do it correctly, but to me it is more >artistic than technical - especially when it comes to the finishing layers. > >So owner-built homes may not be for everyone, and some people may indeed >not be capable of learning to do it well enough to pass codes, etc., but >I do believe that MOST people are entirely capable. And even those who >cannot learn, are more likely too stubborn to listen to good advice and >follow it, and not incapable of learning at all. > >See, I have a tendency to go against the popular opinion that "the >masses" area an uneducated lot. On the contrary, they are smart enough >to want to build their own homes and not be in debt for the rest of >their lives, then they are smart enough to learn how to plaster a wall correctly. > >Oh...and depending on "professionals" if you happen to have the money to >do so, is certainly no guarantee a job is done properly. If I do >something wrong, I have no one to blame but myself, and I just get busy >and fix it. If someone else messes it up, then I have to waste good time >and energy in chasing them to try and get it rectified - often to no >avail. I have way more confidence in myself than I do in any stranger. > >I am just now FINALLY getting do something in cob! (YAY ME!). I am >building a pump house (stick built from scavenged material - so far it >has cost me about $18 and I think I have to go buy a bit of plywood, so >maybe another $50 all together), and along one wall, I have put in a >stone foundation and will be building, essentially, a garden wall. It is >not part of the pump house itself, but will lean up against it. So I >will get to play with some finishing on that wall, including the finer >earthen plasters as I finish it. > >Karen in Alberta > > > >------------------------------ > >Message: 3 >Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2004 10:21:28 -0700 (PDT) >From: "Shannon C. Dealy" <dealy at deatech.com> >Subject: Re: Re: [Cob] thermal mass, insulation and "Ianto says" >To: Amanda Peck <ap615 at hotmail.com> >Cc: coblist at deatech.com >Message-ID: > <Pine.LNX.4.44.0407231000100.1259-100000 at critter.deatech.com> >Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII > >On Fri, 23 Jul 2004, Amanda Peck wrote: > >[snip] > > I'm too lazy to look it up, but as I remember it "IANTO SAYS" that you're > > fine in a house you actually live in full-time with cob and no extra wall > > insulation. If you're going to use the building as a once-a-week community >[snip] > >I think some context is probably missing here, like what climate the house >is in, and/or what heating system, etc. Linda and Ianto's Cottage is >heated (rocket bench stove of course), and designs they have done for >colder climates have included things like a bale wrap to make up for cob's >poor insulation. You are not going to generate enough heat from just >living in a cob house to keep it warm, unless it is in a climate >where your three to five day average temperatures rarely gets low >enuogh to need heat, or the house is: really small, connected to the >grid, uses incandescent lighting and you leave it on alot. Might not >work even then, particularly in colder climates. > >Shannon C. Dealy | DeaTech Research Inc. >dealy at deatech.com | - Custom Software Development - > | Embedded Systems, Real-time, Device Drivers >Phone: (800) 467-5820 | Networking, Scientific & Engineering Applications > or: (541) 929-4089 | www.deatech.com > > > > >------------------------------ > >Message: 4 >Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2004 13:58:27 -0400 >From: "Marlin" <lightearth at onebox.com> >Subject: RE: Re: [Cob] strawbale, geodesic domes, and igloos >To: dognyard at stockroom.ca,coblist at deatech.com >Message-ID: <B0031941937 at vljcms10.ucmretail.internal.callsciences.com> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > >The state of Natural Building is varied...some are professionals and many are learning individuals. Agree that depending on 'professionals' doesn't guarantee that you get what you want, but does guarantee that you'll need a good deal of money = time, in a different way. > >If the only way that people can build is to do it themselves then it makes sense to do as much education and sharing of labor and info as possible. Thought that was what the Coblist was all about? > >I wonder how much of a disaster or disappointment is likely when people learn from working on someone else's project (and making a few mistakes themselves) and thereby understand (again) many intuitive things about building that we knew even as kids? > > vs. > >How much empowerment and sense of belonging here on Earth are gained by building with your own hands, in a style that makes sense for your climate and technical skill level. It's important to be realistic about both........... > >WRapup: I think there's ways to build a good solid building that requires fairly low technical skill levels (and associated expensive machinery) and are good for the Earth's future inhabitants. Strawbale might not be for everyone and there's def. a misunderstanding out there in the public about the realities of getting a house made that looks like their favorite coffee table book. But there's NO reason, with local straw, clay, rock, timbers (and in our case urban waste materials) that a group of semi skilled (or uneducated but trained) folks couldn't get together and build a structure that will OUTLAST many 'professional' homes - not too mention their toxic characteristics. > > >Marlin Nissen > > > info at outtathebox.org > www.outtathebox.org >"There are solutions to the major problems of our time, some of them even simple. But they require a radical shift in our perceptions, our thinking, and our values." > - [Fritjof Capra] > > > >-----Original Message----- >From: Dognyard <dognyard at stockroom.ca> >Sent: Fri, 23 Jul 2004 11:14:31 -0600 >To: coblist at deatech.com >Subject: Re: [Cob] strawbale, geodesic domes, and igloos > > > >GlobalCirclenet wrote: > > > > For non-builders to play around with alternative methods and > > materials is inviting disappointment or disaster, and those pushing these > > alternatives without the drawbacks aren't helping the cause of > > sustainability and energy efficiency. > >Oh! Oh! > >I beg to differ. What you are calling non-builders, I will, for the >moment call inexperienced builders. And an inexperienced builder is only >that for a short time :-). I am, somewhat, an inexpereinced builder, but >that sure doesn't deter me from learning to do something myself and to >avoid depending on expensive alternatives. Building a house is technical >to a degree, but it isn't rocket science. It can be learned fairly >easily - either hands on (seminars, etc.), or with lots of reading and >research - IF, one is amenable to learning to do it correctly. > >When it comes to plastering, though, it is even less technical. There >are things you need to know to do it correctly, but to me it is more >artistic than technical - especially when it comes to the finishing layers. > >So owner-built homes may not be for everyone, and some people may indeed >not be capable of learning to do it well enough to pass codes, etc., but >I do believe that MOST people are entirely capable. And even those who >cannot learn, are more likely too stubborn to listen to good advice and >follow it, and not incapable of learning at all. > >See, I have a tendency to go against the popular opinion that "the >masses" area an uneducated lot. On the contrary, they are smart enough >to want to build their own homes and not be in debt for the rest of >their lives, then they are smart enough to learn how to plaster a wall correctly. > >Oh...and depending on "professionals" if you happen to have the money to >do so, is certainly no guarantee a job is done properly. If I do >something wrong, I have no one to blame but myself, and I just get busy >and fix it. If someone else messes it up, then I have to waste good time >and energy in chasing them to try and get it rectified - often to no >avail. I have way more confidence in myself than I do in any stranger. > >I am just now FINALLY getting do something in cob! (YAY ME!). I am >building a pump house (stick built from scavenged material - so far it >has cost me about $18 and I think I have to go buy a bit of plywood, so >maybe another $50 all together), and along one wall, I have put in a >stone foundation and will be building, essentially, a garden wall. It is >not part of the pump house itself, but will lean up against it. So I >will get to play with some finishing on that wall, including the finer >earthen plasters as I finish it. > >Karen in Alberta > >_______________________________________________ >Coblist mailing list >Coblist at deatech.com >http://www.deatech.com/mailman/listinfo/coblist > > > > > > >------------------------------ > >Message: 5 >Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2004 18:30:21 +0000 >From: "David Knowlton" <pilot1ab80 at hotmail.com> >Subject: RE: Re: [Cob] strawbale, geodesic domes, and igloos >To: lightearth at onebox.com, dognyard at stockroom.ca, coblist at deatech.com >Message-ID: <BAY17-F41vEpSjkuXmp0004c485 at hotmail.com> >Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed > >i agree. forgive me if i oversimplify. > >my home is not an investment - appreciation of its value just costs me >more taxes. it is valuable to me because i 're' built it myself. > >david > > > >From: "Marlin" <lightearth at onebox.com> > >To: dognyard at stockroom.ca,coblist at deatech.com > >Subject: RE: Re: [Cob] strawbale, geodesic domes, and igloos > >Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2004 13:58:27 -0400 > > > >The state of Natural Building is varied...some are professionals and many > >are learning individuals. Agree that depending on 'professionals' doesn't > >guarantee that you get what you want, but does guarantee that you'll need a > >good deal of money = time, in a different way. > > > >If the only way that people can build is to do it themselves then it makes > >sense to do as much education and sharing of labor and info as possible. > >Thought that was what the Coblist was all about? > > > >I wonder how much of a disaster or disappointment is likely when people > >learn from working on someone else's project (and making a few mistakes > >themselves) and thereby understand (again) many intuitive things about > >building that we knew even as kids? > > > > vs. > > > >How much empowerment and sense of belonging here on Earth are gained by > >building with your own hands, in a style that makes sense for your climate > >and technical skill level. It's important to be realistic about > >both........... > > > >WRapup: I think there's ways to build a good solid building that requires > >fairly low technical skill levels (and associated expensive machinery) and > >are good for the Earth's future inhabitants. Strawbale might not be for > >everyone and there's def. a misunderstanding out there in the public about > >the realities of getting a house made that looks like their favorite coffee > >table book. But there's NO reason, with local straw, clay, rock, timbers > >(and in our case urban waste materials) that a group of semi skilled (or > >uneducated but trained) folks couldn't get together and build a structure > >that will OUTLAST many 'professional' homes - not too mention their toxic > >characteristics. > > > > > >Marlin Nissen > > > > > > info at outtathebox.org > > www.outtathebox.org > >"There are solutions to the major problems of our time, some of them even > >simple. But they require a radical shift in our perceptions, our thinking, > >and our values." > > - [Fritjof Capra] > > > > > > > >-----Original Message----- > >From: Dognyard <dognyard at stockroom.ca> > >Sent: Fri, 23 Jul 2004 11:14:31 -0600 > >To: coblist at deatech.com > >Subject: Re: [Cob] strawbale, geodesic domes, and igloos > > > > > > > >GlobalCirclenet wrote: > > > > > > For non-builders to play around with alternative methods and > > > materials is inviting disappointment or disaster, and those pushing > >these > > > alternatives without the drawbacks aren't helping the cause of > > > sustainability and energy efficiency. > > > >Oh! Oh! > > > >I beg to differ. What you are calling non-builders, I will, for the > >moment call inexperienced builders. And an inexperienced builder is only > >that for a short time :-). I am, somewhat, an inexpereinced builder, but > >that sure doesn't deter me from learning to do something myself and to > >avoid depending on expensive alternatives. Building a house is technical > >to a degree, but it isn't rocket science. It can be learned fairly > >easily - either hands on (seminars, etc.), or with lots of reading and > >research - IF, one is amenable to learning to do it correctly. > > > >When it comes to plastering, though, it is even less technical. There > >are things you need to know to do it correctly, but to me it is more > >artistic than technical - especially when it comes to the finishing layers. > > > >So owner-built homes may not be for everyone, and some people may indeed > >not be capable of learning to do it well enough to pass codes, etc., but > >I do believe that MOST people are entirely capable. And even those who > >cannot learn, are more likely too stubborn to listen to good advice and > >follow it, and not incapable of learning at all. > > > >See, I have a tendency to go against the popular opinion that "the > >masses" area an uneducated lot. On the contrary, they are smart enough > >to want to build their own homes and not be in debt for the rest of > >their lives, then they are smart enough to learn how to plaster a wall > >correctly. > > > >Oh...and depending on "professionals" if you happen to have the money to > >do so, is certainly no guarantee a job is done properly. If I do > >something wrong, I have no one to blame but myself, and I just get busy > >and fix it. If someone else messes it up, then I have to waste good time > >and energy in chasing them to try and get it rectified - often to no > >avail. I have way more confidence in myself than I do in any stranger. > > > >I am just now FINALLY getting do something in cob! (YAY ME!). I am > >building a pump house (stick built from scavenged material - so far it > >has cost me about $18 and I think I have to go buy a bit of plywood, so > >maybe another $50 all together), and along one wall, I have put in a > >stone foundation and will be building, essentially, a garden wall. It is > >not part of the pump house itself, but will lean up against it. So I > >will get to play with some finishing on that wall, including the finer > >earthen plasters as I finish it. > > > >Karen in Alberta > > > >_______________________________________________ > >Coblist mailing list > >Coblist at deatech.com > >http://www.deatech.com/mailman/listinfo/coblist > > > > > > > > > >_______________________________________________ > >Coblist mailing list > >Coblist at deatech.com > >http://www.deatech.com/mailman/listinfo/coblist > >_________________________________________________________________ >Discover the best of the best at MSN Luxury Living. http://lexus.msn.com/ > > > > >------------------------------ > >Message: 6 >Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2004 12:47:20 -0600 >From: "GlobalCirclenet" <webmaster at globalcircle.net> >Subject: Re: [Cob] strawbale, geodesic domes, and igloos >To: coblist at deatech.com >Message-ID: <200407231247200557.035C6162 at mail.gilanet.com> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > >Good discussion, huh. Lest I be misunderstood, Karen, my partner and I have >been do-it-yourselfers all our lives and we plan to build our own house >next year. We already do our own plumbing, painting, etc. etc. and we're >not "professionals" at any of this, though I do run a market garden and >bedding plant business. > >But still I'd hesitate to do plastering or stucco without working alongside >an experienced builder or plasterer. Even though we make the extra effort >to do things right and do the research first. My concern is the typical >"alternative" type person who thinks they can cut corners or they know as >much as a professional. It just ain't so. 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. It is beyond the ability or willingness of the average >person. Check some of the building code books on sale at the building >stores like Home Depot we have around here (maybe not in Alberta, >hopefully). > >There's a valuable article How Not to Build Your Own House at >http://www.buzzburrell.com/bb/hownot.html . It's also among the links on >my own Building For Life page at http://herbfarmer.net/buildinglife.htm . >See the menu on the left. > >paul at largocreekfarms.com >http://herbfarmer.net > >"Any housing solution that involves paying for industrially produced >building materials and commercial building contractors is doomed to certain >failure. If houses are to be built at all, in sufficient quantity, they >must be built without money. We must go right outside the framework of the >money system, bypass the factories, and ignore the contractors." -- Hassan >Fathy > >*********** REPLY SEPARATOR *********** > >On 7/23/2004 at 11:14 AM Dognyard wrote: > > >GlobalCirclenet wrote: > >> > >> For non-builders to play around with alternative methods and > >> materials is inviting disappointment or disaster, and those pushing >these > >> alternatives without the drawbacks aren't helping the cause of > >> sustainability and energy efficiency. > > > >Oh! Oh! > > > >I beg to differ. What you are calling non-builders, I will, for the > >moment call inexperienced builders. And an inexperienced builder is only > >that for a short time :-). I am, somewhat, an inexpereinced builder, but > >that sure doesn't deter me from learning to do something myself and to > >avoid depending on expensive alternatives. Building a house is technical > >to a degree, but it isn't rocket science. It can be learned fairly > >easily - either hands on (seminars, etc.), or with lots of reading and > >research - IF, one is amenable to learning to do it correctly. > > > >When it comes to plastering, though, it is even less technical. There > >are things you need to know to do it correctly, but to me it is more > >artistic than technical - especially when it comes to the finishing >layers. > > > >So owner-built homes may not be for everyone, and some people may indeed > >not be capable of learning to do it well enough to pass codes, etc., but > >I do believe that MOST people are entirely capable. And even those who > >cannot learn, are more likely too stubborn to listen to good advice and > >follow it, and not incapable of learning at all. > > > >See, I have a tendency to go against the popular opinion that "the > >masses" area an uneducated lot. On the contrary, they are smart enough > >to want to build their own homes and not be in debt for the rest of > >their lives, then they are smart enough to learn how to plaster a wall > >correctly. > > > >Oh...and depending on "professionals" if you happen to have the money to > >do so, is certainly no guarantee a job is done properly. If I do > >something wrong, I have no one to blame but myself, and I just get busy > >and fix it. If someone else messes it up, then I have to waste good time > >and energy in chasing them to try and get it rectified - often to no > >avail. I have way more confidence in myself than I do in any stranger. > > > >I am just now FINALLY getting do something in cob! (YAY ME!). I am > >building a pump house (stick built from scavenged material - so far it > >has cost me about $18 and I think I have to go buy a bit of plywood, so > >maybe another $50 all together), and along one wall, I have put in a > >stone foundation and will be building, essentially, a garden wall. It is > >not part of the pump house itself, but will lean up against it. So I > >will get to play with some finishing on that wall, including the finer > >earthen plasters as I finish it. > > > >Karen in Alberta > > > >_______________________________________________ > >Coblist mailing list > >Coblist at deatech.com > >http://www.deatech.com/mailman/listinfo/coblist > > > > > > >------------------------------ > >Message: 7 >Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2004 12:04:33 -0700 >From: "Bonnie Morse" <bonnie.morse at content-mgmt.com> >Subject: RE: [Cob] strawbale, geodesic domes, and igloos >To: <coblist at deatech.com> >Message-ID: > <NOEJLLELMNNFELDCMLHKEENKCFAA.bonnie.morse at content-mgmt.com> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > >And people who do this will suffer the consequences. And probably learn >from their mistakes. But that doesn't mean that other people shouldn't do >it. > >Bonnie in OR >-----Original Message----- >From: coblist-bounces at deatech.com [mailto:coblist-bounces at deatech.com]On >Behalf Of GlobalCirclenet > ><snipped> > > My concern is the typical >"alternative" type person who thinks they can cut corners or they know as >much as a professional. > > > > >------------------------------ > >Message: 8 >Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2004 14:25:15 -0500 >From: "Mary Lou McFarland" <louiethefifth at hotmail.com> >Subject: [Cob] tit for tat ... professionals vs. amateurs >To: coblist at deatech.com >Message-ID: <BAY18-F14waD0UUuNYo00006809 at hotmail.com> >Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed > >My husband got a new comuter game so I've been off for a few days. As I'm >reading several days of letters at one time ,I'm struck by the amount of >rancor shown. Can't really say I agree with any one person or another about >a lot of the thoughts and issues expressed. I am mesmerized by the look of >cob but with my climate I shall probably have to go hybrid, whether it is >cob-wood or involving straw in some way. Can't really say I see more mold >in one structure than another as my experience is so limited. Though as hot >as it has been here with the high humidity our refrigerator seals fairly >bloomed with the stuff in just two days time. I clean it off, because >that's what you do. We are currently living in a circa 1887 balloon framed >Queen Anne "I" style cottage. We have done a lot of work on her. Some by >ourselves and some "professionally" done. To date, I have not been happy >with any work that has been hired out. I have been lied to , cheated or >just plain and simple had shoddy quality work done. I've gotten over being >mad about it,but I sure know that I can do better. I heard once that an >amateur is someone who does a thing for the love of it....that doesn't mean >stupid or ignorant. I'm just not getting paid. When I start building, my >little farmstead will probably be fairly eclectic. I want my out house >NOW!! so it will probably be stick built out of recycled lumber. The run in >shed for the pony will be just cob. The barn might be cob and bale with >some timber framing to accomodate some spans and I'm leaning towards >cob-wood for the cabin with all earthen plasters. I think being inclusive >with our building materials, not so exclusive, might be more enriching and >educational. After all, cob is is being touted as a flexible and forgiving >building medium, so let's try everything. I like the look of the old style >cob in Devon, England . That's just me . That doesn't mean that the round >cobs aren't beautiful too. We can be inclusive on shape too. I don't think >this process is going to bring about a single homogenous look.....and would >we want it to? Perhaps like our building medium, we should be a little more >flexible and forgiving and in the meantime....has anyone tried crumbled corn >cobs as an insulation medium? They are fairly light and might possibly be >easy to acquire in agricultural areas. Might be condusive to a light clay >treatment as well. > >_________________________________________________________________ >Discover the best of the best at MSN Luxury Living. http://lexus.msn.com/ > > > > >------------------------------ > >Message: 9 >Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2004 13:42:59 -0600 >From: Dognyard <dognyard at stockroom.ca> >Subject: Re: [Cob] strawbale, geodesic domes, and igloos >To: coblist at deatech.com >Message-ID: <41016A42.2E3B5ACA at stockroom.ca> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > > > >GlobalCirclenet wrote: > > > > Good discussion, huh. > >LOL!! I was just thinking the same thing :-). Please don't take this the >wrong way, but you came across as difficult and argumentative at the >outset, but you HAVE sparked a very interesting discussion! > > > But still I'd hesitate to do plastering or stucco without working alongside > > an experienced builder or plasterer. > >I have often thought that when I get to an age I can actually retire, >that I would like to volunteer on a short term basis with various trades >- including plasters, masons, etc - to learn in exchange for helping out >- even if it's just being the "gofer". I can learn a lot from >observation alone. I can rarely afford to travel far or to pay seminar >fees, so most seminars are out of the question for me. So for now, it's >books when I can afford them, and the kindness of folks on lists like >these to help me learn. > >Karen in Alberta > > > >------------------------------ > >_______________________________________________ >Coblist mailing list >Coblist at deatech.com >http://www.deatech.com/mailman/listinfo/coblist > > >End of Coblist Digest, Vol 2, Issue 62 >************************************** _________________________________________________________________ The new [1]MSN 8: smart spam protection and 2 months FREE* References 1. http://g.msn.com/8HMAEN/2737??PS=47575
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