Cob: Barn conversion

Sun Sep 9 12:01:05 CDT 2001

Chris wrote:

>I'm considering converting my barn to a home using cob walls on the 
>interior of the existing exterior barn walls.  Is this a stupid idea?
>The barn is somewhat old, but the structural beams appear to be in 
>good shape.  Would there be a problem with placing the cob right 
>next to the wood?
>Maybe cob is not the way to go, I just want to use natural 
>materials.  Some other method may be more insulative, as well.
>I would appreciate any ideas.
>thx,
>Zon from Kansas

Chris,
Not to discourage you from cob, but you might consider slip-straw if 
you already have existing walls. I am planning to do this to an 
existing barn. Slip-straw is loose straw coated in a clay slip. You 
would then build forms on the inside between studs and fill the gap 
with the slip-straw, tamping it down as you go. You can finish it 
with a mud plaster. You could also use cob where you wanted a more 
organic aesthetic.

For more information see Robert Laporte's book:
MoosePrints, a Holistic Home Building Guide
Available from Natural House Building Center  R.R. 1, Box 115F. 
Fairfield, Iowa  52556

You can probably get this from dirtcheapbuilders.com, as well.

Jeanne

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<div>Chris wrote:</div>
<div><br></div>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>I'm considering converting my barn to a
home using cob walls on the interior of the existing exterior barn
walls.  Is this a stupid idea?</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>The barn is somewhat old, but the
structural beams appear to be in good shape.  Would there be a
problem with placing the cob right next to the wood?<br>
Maybe cob is not the way to go, I just want to use natural materials. 
Some other method may be more insulative, as well.<br>
I would appreciate any ideas.<br>
thx,</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>Zon from Kansas</blockquote>
<div><br></div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Chris,</div>
<div>Not to discourage you from cob, but you might consider slip-straw
if you already have existing walls. I am planning to do this to an
existing barn. Slip-straw is loose straw coated in a clay slip. You
would then build forms on the inside between studs and fill the gap
with the slip-straw, tamping it down as you go. You can finish it with
a mud plaster. You could also use cob where you wanted a more organic
aesthetic.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>For more information see Robert Laporte's book:</div>
<div><font size="-2" color="#000000"><u>MoosePrints, a Holistic Home
Building Guide</u></font></div>
<div><font size="-2" color="#000000">Available from Natural House
Building Center  R.R. 1, Box 115F. Fairfield, Iowa 
52556</font></div>
<div><font size="-2" color="#000000"><br></font></div>
<div><font size="-2" color="#000000">You can probably get this from
dirtcheapbuilders.com, as well.</font></div>
<div><font size="-2" color="#000000"><br></font></div>
<div><font size="-2" color="#000000">Jeanne</font></div>
<div><font size="-2"><br></font></div>
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