[Cob] Insulative values

[Damon Howell]

Christopher wrote: An inquisitive mind that challenges the status quo  
(even if it's the natural building status quo) is healthy for all of  
us. Blind faith is a poor mindset and is not empowering to the  
individual.

Although blind faith is bad and challenging bad policy is good,  
changing for the sake of changing is naive. Building practices have  
been honed over generations, so we're not reinventing the wheel.  
Enough research has been done to show insulative values of cob are  
sadly low. I have read that the best approach to designing with  
insulation is thermal mass on the inside to act as a temperature  
regulator and insulation on the outside. BUT the problems with this  
approach is the cob can't breathe, so it can't dry out which will  
cause 1. the wall to eventually collapse, 2. mold, 3. a lot more  
woodwork for framing. You'd need to build an air gap in between the  
walls and that gets into a lot of extra work and know-how. One of the  
lures of cob construction is the do-it-yourself and affordability...
Damon in Georgia