[Cob] frozen cob

[jane at kirstinelund.dk]

Phil wrote:
> South facing wall took rain in a heavy wind, temp dropped to well below
> freezing and the cob has gone mushy/crumbly. Any ideas for a protective
> coating? I'm suggesting a simple lime plaster to the homeowner but would
> like more input.

We just had a similar weather situation: first rain, then frost. On a
newly built straw bale house with heavy clay/sand plaster painted with
lime this caused one wall to get soaked and the plaster to crumble and
start to fall off. Nothing has happened to the cob parts on the main house
which has been coated with lime/sand/clay plaster.

So i guess that lime plaster is a good solution - if it has had the time
to dry and harden properly. According to an old saying lime should always
be applied in the spring, before whitsun. Then it can dry slowly before
the summer heat sets in, and then dry though and through during the
summer. This might also be the reason for our problems as the house was
lime painted in november.

Anyway, clay walls are always vulnerable in a cold and wet climate, and
should be protected by the roof, which should stick out at least 75 cm
over the wall

-- 
Jane Mondrup
Bjedstrupvej 21
8660 Skanderborg
Tlf: (+45) 87 88 51 81