[Cob] stem walls on interior walls?

[Bernhard Masterson]

Hi Tys,
    I would recommend a stem wall over a rubble trench with drain pipe.  Cob walls are heavy enough that they need to be on well compacted and drained sub-soil.  The load bearing capacities of soil decreases dramatically when they are wet.  If you wanted to reduce your use of Portland cement try a lime mortar.  If you are going to the effort to build a cob wall, it makes sense to me to put it on a foundation that will ensure that it is on stable soil and above water.

happy building,
- Bernhard 


____________________________________bernhard_masterson at hotmail.com

Natural building instruction and consultation




> Message: 1
> Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 15:31:08 -0800
> From: "Tys Sniffen" <tys at ideamountain.com>
> Subject: [Cob] stem walls on interior walls?
> To: <coblist at deatech.com>
> Message-ID: <200903022331.n22NV9fM015666 at njbrsmtp2.vzwmail.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"
> 
> What's the word on mortaring stones in place for the base of interior walls?
> I know in 'Hand Sculpted House' it talks about having stem walls come up 6
> inches above finished floor to protect against floods or plumbing accidents.
> My house will only have one interior wall of cob that will be even close to
> any plumbing, so I'm wondering if I could avoid buying more cement and
> hauling more urbanite to make interior stem walls I don't need. 
> 
>  
> 
> Since I'm planning on doing the sub floor first, it would be interior cob
> walls built right on that cob floor, which is sitting on gravel. 
> 
>  
> 
> Tys
> 


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