[Cob] more cob floor debates

[Barbara Roemer]

Hi Tys,

I think the question to start with is what is your site drainage like?  We
have an earthen floor over a lot of scoria - like 14", with no vapor
barrier.  BUT the site drainage is terrible - we have to correct it with a
curtain drain (we just moved into a renovated garage and then added the
bathroom with an earthen floor).  Even with all that lava rock, we still
have some expansion and contraction, seasonally, because of the amount of
water that runs through the rock.

If I had it to do again, I would definitely isolate the earthen floor from
what lies beneath it.  I wanted an earth-coupled floor for ill-articulated,
sort of amorphous reasons - silly, given the length (or depth) we went to to
assure there was NO earth coupling, and given the absorptive properties of
earth.

Barbara

Tys wrote:

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> Questions: Anyone out there with cob floors ever have any trouble with
> moisture coming up?  If so, how much gravel is underneath? Anyone put a
> vapor barrier under their floor? If so, have you had any trouble with it?
>
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