Cob: slab .. was Introduction

[mick stone]

>Mick-  a slab is not a bad idea  ...it may just be unnecessary.   and 
>costly to import cement.

ok, yes cost is definitely a factor and i just assumed concrete was somewhat 
affordable and that any cheaper options would be no good for a rain forest 
environment.

>why not go post and pier? cement or stone piers to rise off the ground 
>enough so cool air can flow under, and use a bamboo or wood floor base?

i like that idea but i'd be worried about a wood floor base because of 
moisture and/or termites. i like the bamboo idea because it's probably very 
cheap down there and no trees need to be cut down, but i wonder if it is as 
susceptible to rot and termites as wood is.

>or if you are building  all cob walls  a rubble stone perimeter 
>foundation,( gravel inner pad  or bamboo floor)  and the heavy walls go 
>only on the stone  perimeter?   is this a quake zone? would snakes/animals 
>live under a  raised floor?

will a rubble/stone foundation allow me to raise the floor of the house up 
high enough to avoid water in a heavy downpour? i'm not sure about how 
likely earthquakes are at that altitude (1000-2000 feet) but i will check. 
regarding the animals, yes, there's no doubt that animals would take up 
residence under a house if they could. i wouldn't worry about snakes (in 
fact, i'd welcome them) as they eat rodents, etc, but i probably wouldn't 
want anything potentially destructive living under there.

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