Cob: Florida and huge buildings

[Amanda Peck]

A lot of the experience people have with natural building methods DOES 
involve moisture control.  Especially true if you are talking about straw 
bale or cob.  So the information is out there.

If for codes or whatever reasons you NEED to have 3000 square feet, consider 
cob for an ornamental entryway, something else for the rest of the building. 
  It's slow building, not just because you get to mix all your stuff, but 
because each layer has to dry enough to support the next.

My friends with a slip-form concrete house lived in their trailer for over a 
year, and I think that the pair of them were building full time most of that 
time.  The house is probably just under a thousand square feet and slip-form 
concrete is quite a bit faster than cob.  Another couple, building slip-form 
concrete part time, got to the screaming stage after a year of working on 
their walls, I think that they put up a stick-built studio for her to work 
in, hired a lot done, and still aren't finished, even though they're living 
on their property in a trailer.  Going on for three years that I know of.  I 
personally consider slip-form concrete old-fashioned.  But the first 
couple's house still works well after over 20 years.

Another friend here laughed at me when I started a log room.  The logs were 
free, but I needed a thousand dollars worth of screws.  And I hadn't gotten 
to the electrical stuff yet.  He said that that always happens.  Your basic 
structure may be free, but "systems" may be more than they are in 
conventional construction--particularly if you have to hire them done, if 
you haven't designed them in to start with.

I'm not trying to dissuade you (or me) from building.  But it's a LOT of 
work.  It CAN be done very cheaply, but it takes knowledge of 
systems--electrical, plumbing (including septic tank in my area), HVAC, 
roofing--and gifted scrounging ability.  And most important, thought--what 
do you need your home to do.  Start small--benches, garden walls, hot tubs, 
earth ovens, see what your tolerance for the work is.

..................
Ryan in Florida writes
I used to live in Tallahassee, FL in a concrete house.  Once, there was a 
problem with the roof or drainage system or something or other and the walls 
started to bleed water when it would rain or get very damp outside.  It got 
so bad that about a foot of mold started to grow around the upper part of 
the walls.  My dogs and I all three got sick.  Does the weather in Florida 
permit cob building without the threat of mold, insects, and vermin?  Does 
anyone have the answer to this before I start prospecting land.  Also, I 
would like to pay for all my materials in cash, ideally.  Does anyone have 
an idea of approximate cost of building a 3000 square foot cob house with 
recycled windows and a door.  So, basically, we're talking roof, frame, 
plumbing, electrical, building supplies, etc.  Does a cob house need a 
frame, a
  two story cob?  I know these are many questions but I thank anyone who has 
any ideas or answers.  Is $10,000 for materials plus septic tank about 
right?

Thanks, Ryan in Jacksonville


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