[Cob] Newbie w/ Questions about 1st project

[Amanda Peck]

welcome Kathy

somewhere I read recently that the only REALLY stupid question is the one 
that isn't asked.

And none of us has ever, EVER changed our minds in the middle of a project.  
Not since the last time, anyway.

Picture looks good!

As long as you don't get hung up about slaking your own lime--and you can 
find it locally--hydrated lime is no big deal, get a bag or three soaking in 
something.  I'm using olive barrels, and regret it--Charmaine Taylor 
recommends Rubbermaid Roughneck tubs--she's probably right.  She's also the 
resident expert on hypertufa, about which I know nothing except I'd like to 
try it one of these days.

But I did a tiny sample for my earthen floor last year--put linseed oil on 
it (first coat mostly mineral spirits, second half and half, third mostly 
linseed oil--there ARE nicer things to use than mineral spirits), just left 
it outside over the winter--and our winter rains.  As long as you dry it 
off, you'd have no problems at all sitting on it.  I'd guess it won't last 
forever, but....




Kathy wrote:
how to "weatherproof" this thing withOUT erecting a roof over it.

Also, how to make it so that when weather is damp outside, when you sit down 
on it, it doesn't leave one with a muddy rear end (lol!)

Initially I thought, that laying down hardware mesh and simply hypertufa-ing 
over it to make it look like stones was the way I'd go, but if I understand 
things correctly the tufa will soak moisture in and transmit it down to the 
cob so I'm thinking this won't work...

Or would hypertufa stones work as long as I laid a piece of plastic over the 
top of the last layer of cob?

Or perhaps simply sealing the tufa to make it waterproof would do the trick?

I know I could lime plaster the cob...but I'd rather NOT mess about with 
lime if I can possibly stay away from it.

Any and all advice would be very welcome!

Kathy
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