[Cob] re: mud brick and the Iranian death toll

[Mary Lou McFarland]

I am more concerned about the method used in putting these mud bricks 
together than I am in questioning need for re-enforcement.  For 
instance,were the mud bricks dry stacked and held together only with the 
plaster?  Also if mortar was used it usually is still much weaker then a 
solid built wall.  Many conventional home buillders will only use a poured 
foundation over block specifically for this reason.  Any wall is only as 
good as the footing or foundation that is provided.  If you want to build in 
a seismic active area with no strength under the wall then you can kiss your 
backside goodbye.  If you want tostabilise a cob wall anyway, wouldn't a 
basic buttress do a better job  then embedding steel or re-bar?  Not to 
mention the esthetics of a buttress.  then you're dealing with architecture 
as an art form as well as  a science of strength.  Buttresses have held up 
the great cathedrals of Europe for centuries, so I think they ought to be 
able to hold up my cottage for the rest of my lifetime.  I haven't started 
my structure yet but for the freeze thaw conditions where I live ,I plan on 
building a rubble trench a MINIMUM OF FOUR FEET deep and I will probably go 
five to be on the safe side.  Because that's what it's all about.....being 
safe and warm and dry.

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