[Cob] foundation rock type

[Amanda Peck]

Where my trailer is, one wouldn't even think about flat land.  So I tend not 
to.  But the flatter field up the hill may have a problem, besides it 
retains water (and breeds mosquitos) easily.  And that may be the place for 
the house.  I'm glad somebody reminded me of that.

I thought that a rubble trench goes in a trench, works as a footing more 
than as a foundation.  Partly, as far as I can tell, so that the urbanite, 
stone, whatever, foundation, above it can move as a unit.  Or am I wrong 
here?

But that sounds like I really may have to put in a standard poured or block 
foundation if/when I get a building where the trailer is.  It's very steep, 
and I thought to berm in the back wall.  And build on fill contained by a 
big gabion wire basket retaining wall for the front of it.  Might be time 
for an engineer here.

I mentioned a house near here that works pretty well year round with passive 
solar heating and minimal AC.  What I don't like about the house is the 
extreme emphasis on no windows on north, west, I think there's one little 
one on the east.  Their mud room--on the west--has a solid door, requires 
lights any time you want to go in or out that way--always if you are leaving 
for the day.   The bathroom could easily be used as a darkroom, for any 
other purpose, lights are not optional.   Kitchen, on the north, but open to 
the living/dining area is also a little dark, and both those areas tend to 
have some glare from the nearly solid window wall in the south.

None of these things bother the owners, but they do have grid electricity.  
And the house has lasted for about 20 years, still in good shape, still 
loved by the owner/builders.

But I'd think that most of us would do better with as much natural lighting 
as possible, especially if we might end up off-grid.

I'm waiting for my earthern floor to dry enough to finish.  For whatever 
reason, good or bad (availability of help had something to do with it), I 
did it in one 1 1/4 inch lot of clay on tamped grave. last inch or so was 
crusher runl.  Might have been too much at one time, but we had a pretty dry 
mix.  But it has been very wet and humid.  And I don't want to finish 
enclosing the room until it is dry.

What they call "crusher run" here sounds like what other places call 
road-base--unless they add clay to make it into roadbase.  Pieces are sized 
from nothing up to an inch and a half--no big stuff.

....................

Bill C. replies to Jilly (and me) snipped:

The rubble trench foundation can be a good idea, *if you have a slope*. As 
Amanda mentioned in passing, you have to be able to run your drain 
(downhill, of course) to daylight. If you're level or nearly level you won't 
be able to do that.  I have the same problem, and won't be doing RTF as a 
result - though it would otherwise make the most sense.

Whatever foundation you use, you want to be sure that it's well stabilized 
and will move as a unit if it moves at all, or you'll get cracking in your 
walls.
---
Depending upon where in Texas you are (I'm in Austin), standard road base 
can make a very nice earthen floor. ....Someone else on this list (I think) 
recently did an earthen floor too, so maybe they can give you their input.
///


You actually want your long axis to run east-west.  Your home will take the 
worst solar pounding on the east and west ends, not the south.  (not 
counting the roof, of course, which really gets pounded, and therefore 
should be light colored or reflective if you can manage it.  And well 
insulated.)

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