Cob: RE: Cob In The South

[Patrick Newberry]

As far as size goes, it's really a matter of time and effort, rather than any particular size limitation 
with cob itself. I have about 1600 sq feet of space, could have made it larger but not sure if I'd have the 
time or energy to do so. 

As far as hurricanes, or any wind driven water source, I guess the duration would be the most important fact. 
At this point I have plastered the outside of my house yet, I'll leave that for latter on down the road, but 
I will more than likely plaster the outside with a lime plaster. I believe that would handle most situations. 

How close to the ocean are you, as I might be more worried if I was right on the beach. One thing to bear in 
might or at least from my humble experience, it would be obvious that there was a problem prior to the 
cob building collapsing. My father was in a multi story building build of earth in Africa one time and a lot 
of rain had been falling for some time. It was some kind of hotel in the back country. Anyway, a police man 
came up and knocked on the dock, rather calmly, and said he must leave as the building was in danger of collapsing. 
He packed up and left and sure enough, the building collapsed the next day. 

I had one vault collapse after a week of slow rain, but I could tell at that stage the structure was not going 
to last and sure enough, the next morning after I said that, the vault collapsed. 

Thus wide overhangs, lime plasters and I feel you'd be ok. 

Other thoughts, from others?

Yea, Valdosta is not that far from me, as I work in Americus. 

Pat 
www.gypsyfarm.com

-----Original Message-----
From: snakedancer at gulftel.com [mailto:snakedancer at gulftel.com]
Sent: Friday, July 05, 2002 6:18 PM
To: Patrick Newberry; coblist at deatech.com
Subject: RE: Cob In The South


Well at this time Pat we are really in the planning stages with the reserch. I 
don't know a great deal about all of it and what the capabilities and 
limitations. Some of my concerns are how large can you make one as I have a 
13yo daughter and 11mth old son. We are also Part American Indian and are very 
active in out culture and care of our Mother Earth. I guess one of the main 
things that concerns me are the limitations of the cob, if any, in reguards to 
hurricanes. You know we do deal with those pesky little critters from time to 
time. LOL. Now I know any house will have it,s limitations in a bad enough 
storm, but I am concerned about large amonts of sustained wind driven rain. 
ANyway, please feel free to send me any info you think may help. Would love to 
maybe get a chance to chat with you or come see your place sometime Pat as my 
wife is from Valdosta and we are up there from time to time. Thanks for any 
help yall send my way. Aho, CJ