daub vs. cob

[Andrew Alcorn]

 The dictionary says "wattle" is a framework of timber and "daub"
>refers to the mud/straw mix.
>
>So the question is concerning "daub" vs. "cob".  Is it all the same or
>not?
>
>Paul V.


Your dictionary got it pretty right on wattle and daub. Cob, as your
dictionary may tell you, is a process of building up a wall of earth 'cobs',
i.e. hands full of earth/fibre mix (typically using straw as the fibre, but
it could be horse hair or some other animal or plant fibre). The wall is
trimmed smooth with a blade before it is fully dry. Presto, a cob wall.


Andrew Alcorn 
Environmental Design Consultant, Heliotrope Design/Research,
Secretary, Earth Building Association of New Zealand,
Energy Researcher, Centre for Building Performance Research, School of
Architecture, Victoria University of Wellington.

PO Box 600, Wellington
New Zealand, 6002
Tel:  + 64 4 802 6243
Fax: + 64 4 802 6204