[Cob] Gravel Bag Foundations

[James from House Alive]

I've successfully built several cob buildings on earth bag foundations.  We
always put a little bit of cement in the earth mix (at about 10 parts earth
to 1 part cement), to make basically "soil cement."  The bags are placed on
a rubble trench with proper drainage.  This is not quite "gravel-filled"
bags, but I would be reluctant to use any non-stabilized material for my
foundation.  As you mention this is an experimental technique: there are not
many examples of it that have stood the test of time (longer than a few
years).  But I know that there are many people doing it with satisfactory
results so far.

Good luck,
James

On 8/8/07, Peters Michael <briathel139 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Hello Everyone,
>
>   I am trying to find information on the use of gravel-filled bags as
> foundations for cob/earthbag/strawbale walls. I have searched the archives,
> and found plenty on the use of gravel in various applications, but not as
> wall foundations/stemwalls. There's almost nothing that I could find on the
> internet, and all of the books I have looked at have said that it is an
> "exciting, but experimental technique whose long-term durability has not
> been proven."
>
>   Has anyone on this list had experience with this type of foundation, or
> know more than what I have already found out? Thanks.
>
>   Michael Peters
>   New Braunfels, TX
>
>
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