[Cob] Coblist Digest, Vol 6, Issue 154

[Nick Walton]

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> Today's Topics:
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>    1. Clay (philmoulton)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 23:00:40 -0700
> From: "philmoulton" <philmoulton at gmail.com>
> Subject: [Cob] Clay
> To: <Cob_Building at yahoogroups.com>, <coblist at deatech.com>,
> 	<coblist-bounces at deatech.com>
> Message-ID: <E6D017CABB3941B3B9FD218C38967544 at phil>
> Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="US-ASCII"
>
>  
> <http://geo.yahoo.com/serv?s=97359714/grpId=15565938/grpspId=1705041688/msgI
> d=464/stime=1225286169/nc1=4507179/nc2=3848640/nc3=4025338>   I know living
> in Portland this even to me sounds strange, as all dirt in Portland is
> mostly clay.
>  However we are moving,to Otis (just east of Lincoln City and  the ground on
> the property does not appear to be clay like.
> Is there a source for good consistent clay
> We are planning on building a cob home that  my probably incorrect math says
> I need a LOT of clay.
>  3 exterior walls 24 ft long  one interior wall and the entry way figure
> another 26 ft.
>   
Consider adding curvilinear aspects to your structure.  A sweeping wall 
say, 27 or 28 feet in total length with a nice curve should allow you 
to  stay relatively true to your original 24' design while allowing for 
thinner, (18 inch, maybe even 16 inch) walls.

> figure also  8 ft high and 2 ft thick (may be able to go 18 inches tho...) 
>  That comes out to 1568 sq. ft. of cob, figure it rounded off to 1600sq ft.
> Although Cob is a mixture of sand and clay and straw it still it means I
> need a lot of clay.
> To be consistent I should have all my materials on-site before we start. 
> Getting a consistent mix is important, so getting it in buckets from here or
> there with varying content of clay is not sound thinking.
>  The lot we have will need some excavation prior to pouring a foundation but
> I do not feel there is near enough "dirt" to be worth while,As most of the
> foundation work will only be 1-2 ft down and the interior will be a adobe
> com[onsite floor of some sort so I may actually have to add material to get
> it all even.
>  
> Also the lot we have is not conducive to Solar heat as there is a fairly
> large hill to our Southeast. There would be some solar gain during high sun
> but not much. the hill is just low enough to allow a dish to clear it but
> not by much so it could be as much as 30 degrees high. 
>  Being in the coast range should we reconsider Cob and think more Straw bail
> or a more clay/straw mixture for thermal insulation.
>   

I live in Sheridan, which is between you, (Portland), and your space, 
(Otis), and would be glad to go over some of our ideas with you, though 
I'm afraid I won't be much of a "mentor".  I have some ideas re: cob and 
heating in mountainous/coast/north slope situations.

>  Btw We are still looking for someone who might be interested in "mentoring"
> us a bit who does have hands on experience building a Cob home.
>  
> Phil and lilpony 
> __,_._,___  \ 
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> End of Coblist Digest, Vol 6, Issue 154
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