Cob: slab .. was Introduction

[Dulane]

Could a variety of cinderblocks with holes in them be planned into the walls
near floor level to deal with high water times? You could use heavy gauge
screen or grates, to keep critters out.
Would that help in a situation that you knew was both warm and wet?
Dulane
-----Original Message-----
From: mick stone <costaricacob at hotmail.com>
To: tms at northcoast.com Cc: coblist at deatech.com Date: Wednesday, August 27,
2003 12:43 PM
Subject: Re: Cob: slab .. was Introduction


>>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.
>
>_________________________________________________________________
>Get MSN 8 and help protect your children with advanced parental controls.
>http://join.msn.com/?page=features/parental
>
>