Cob: RE: cob domes
Abe Connally
abe at abeconnally.com
Wed Oct 2 17:05:56 CDT 2002
cob domesBen,
Great idea! I am also persuing a similar goal. I, however, am using a
metal frame, then a lathe/wire support covering, and then cob over that.
Rain is not a huge concern of mine due to the fact that I live in the
Chiuahuan desert, but I am sealing the whole thing with a layer of
lime/stucco plaster.
For resources concerning easy to build dome structures, I suggest you check
out the following links:
http://home.pacbell.net/bullnose/bluetarp.htm
http://www.desertdomes.com
http://www.colorado-research.com/~gourlay/dome/
Our dome home consists of a 3 ft by 3ft rock foundation, flagstone floors,
scavenged windows and homemade doors. The home consists of 2 domes, one of
35 ft in diameter, the other 20 ft in diameter. We have re-enforced
everything using rock walls for the door and window frames, as well as
making the cob much thinner at the top of the domes.
Good luck with you project, and let me know what you find!
Abe
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-coblist at deatech.com [mailto:owner-coblist at deatech.com]On
Behalf Of Ben Harrison
Sent: Wednesday, October 02, 2002 12:58 PM
To: coblist
Subject: Cob: cob domes
Hi cob people. I've never built a dwelling of any kind before. I've always
been interested in so
called "primative" building techniques and types. I have a particular
fondness for dome structures.
I've seen the Cal Earth site and bought one of their books on ceramic
architecture. I also own the
book"Native American Architecture". I know most of the people on this list
seem to be concerned
with the more traditional ways of building with cob but I am for whatever
reason obsessed with the
notion of constructing a domical wooden frame (think wigwam or grass house
frame) or series of connected
domical frames which I would then weave smaller skinny branches through
(wattle) and then cover this
inside and out with cob or other earth type covering. I understand the
concern over rain in regard to the
roof and all that but has anyone even tried this if only as an
experimental structure? I'm assuming some
type of extra covering would be needed for the roof portion. Could such a
structure be fired or would the
wood framework burn out and cause massive failure of the structure? I'm
thinking of such a structure
for use as a cabin or as a small studio(I'm an artist), not as a permanent
dwelling necessarilly. Any thoughts?
- Ben
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<DIV><SPAN class=650495821-02102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Ben,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=650495821-02102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=650495821-02102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Great
idea! I am also persuing a similar goal. I, however, am using
a metal frame, then a lathe/wire support covering, and then cob over that.
Rain is not a huge concern of mine due to the fact that I live in the Chiuahuan
desert, but I am sealing the whole thing with a layer of lime/stucco
plaster.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=650495821-02102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=650495821-02102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>For
resources concerning easy to build dome structures, I suggest you check out the
following links:</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=650495821-02102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><A
href="http://home.pacbell.net/bullnose/bluetarp.htm">http://home.pacbell.net/bullnose/bluetarp.htm</A></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=650495821-02102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><A
href="http://www.desertdomes.com">http://www.desertdomes.com</A></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=650495821-02102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><A
href="http://www.colorado-research.com/~gourlay/dome/">http://www.colorado-research.com/~gourlay/dome/</A></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=650495821-02102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=650495821-02102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Our
dome home consists of a 3 ft by 3ft rock foundation, flagstone floors, scavenged
windows and homemade doors. The home consists of 2 domes, one of 35 ft in
diameter, the other 20 ft in diameter. We have re-enforced everything
using rock walls for the door and window frames, as well as making the cob much
thinner at the top of the domes.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=650495821-02102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=650495821-02102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Good
luck with you project, and let me know what you find!</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=650495821-02102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=650495821-02102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Abe</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> owner-coblist at deatech.com
[mailto:owner-coblist at deatech.com]<B>On Behalf Of </B>Ben
Harrison<BR><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, October 02, 2002 12:58 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
coblist<BR><B>Subject:</B> Cob: cob domes<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi cob people. I've never built a dwelling of any
kind before. I've always been interested in so</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial
size=2>called "primative" building techniques and types. I have a particular
fondness for dome structures.</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>I've seen the
Cal Earth site and bought one of their books on ceramic architecture. I also
own the</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>book"Native American Architecture".
I know most of the people on this list seem to be concerned</FONT> <BR><FONT
face=Arial size=2>with the more traditional ways of building with cob but I am
for whatever reason obsessed with the</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial
size=2>notion of constructing a domical wooden frame (think wigwam or grass
house frame) or series of connected</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>domical
frames which I would then weave smaller skinny branches through (wattle) and
then cover this</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>inside and out with cob or
other earth type covering. I understand the concern over rain in regard to
the</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>roof and all that but has anyone even
tried this if only as an experimental structure? I'm assuming some</FONT>
<BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>type of extra covering would be needed for the
roof portion. Could such a structure be fired or would the </FONT><BR><FONT
face=Arial size=2>wood framework burn out and cause massive failure of the
structure? I'm thinking of such a structure</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial
size=2>for use as a cabin or as a small studio(I'm an artist), not as a
permanent dwelling necessarilly. Any thoughts?</FONT> </P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>- Ben
</FONT></P></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>