Cob: Basement

[Amanda Peck]

A couple of years ago I consulted an engineer--Bridges, Walls, Sewer Plans, 
his sign reads--about a now abandoned idea for building here.  It's a 
difficult site.  I told him what I was looking at, what kind of a building, 
what I had to do to even start on the building.  Asked about both retaining 
walls and the footings/foundation.  He said, "no problem, all I have to know 
is how heavy your building will be, what your soil is like, how steep the 
slope is, and I can calculate hydrostatic pressure and draw these up for 
you.."  Or something like that.  Not the only reason I abandoned that plan.  
May go back and ask him for advice about the current plan, when I get closer 
to building.

If you try something more than burying the back wall a couple of feet up, DO 
get an expert opinion.  You may not be able to guesstimate the footings, 
which spread the load out over the ground (WELL below ground).  The 
guesstimate is twice your wall width--but you're proposing a VERY heavy but 
small building.  You need strong and waterproof for your basement walls, 
which probably lets out cob for all but an inside wall facing.  And these 
walls need to support your cob above ground.  The cost of the basement may 
well be more than building another (cob or something else) structure to 
house what you wanted to put in the basement.

But the walls are no more likely to cave in than any other equally heavy 
building on a similar footing/foundation.

..................

Chandra asks:
I am new to the list. I have scanned the past year or so archives and I have 
not seen this topic addressed.  Is it possible to have a basement or even a 
cellar in a cob home? I would like one. My husband thinks the weight of the 
walls would cause it to cave in.




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