Cob: cobbing in New Mexico

[D.J. Henman]

Kristina 

> ...... We've been reading that cob is not quite as insulatory in cold 
> winter climates so are a bit concerned.  Is this true? 

No an yes.   A thick cob wall does have some insulation, but it 
effectively insulates more than its R-value by storing heat and 
resisting rapid temperature changes.   It will release heat in the 
evening that its captured during the day and vise versa.

> How cold do Taos winters get anyway?  We've looked up the numbers but 
> have yet to actually experience one.

I recommend that you talk with the earthship people who have a lot of 
experience in Taos.   They used tires and rammed earth for their walls 
and they should perform simularly to a full cob wall.

>  Also, for our larger cob building, we want to put up the roof first 
> so we can cob underneath it.  We imagine using four posts on which to 
> nail the roofing material.  However, we can't seem to find any info on 
> how to plant/mortar the posts into place -- does anyone have any 
> experience with this?

Whatever is going to hold up the roof is critical, so don't guess at 
anything do it right.   If you want to, you could wait and just use a 
canvas type of temporary structure.  

If you are at high elevations it can get cold.  Never cob with there is 
a freezing point at anytime of the day.  Time your cobbing, so that the 
cob will by plenty cured and dried by freezing weather time.

Regards,
  Darel