[Cob] cob in a cold climate

[Georgie Donais]

Ava,

Sounds amazing! Do you have any pictures posted on a website or anything? I 
am about to build the same kind of thing in Toronto; though it's not quite 
like the Yukon here, we get our share of cold and snow. I look forward to 
the list's suggestions.

Georgie

Ava wrote:
>Last summer I built a cob wall with built in benches, niches, arches and 
>planters in Yukon, northern Canada where it's COLD and DRY and the winter 
>season is LONG.  We don't typically get a lot of precipitation, except for 
>this winter, of course, so the bench is covered with snow, which will 
>start to melt, then freeze, then god-only-knows-what .... I left it 
>unfinished on purpose to see how it would weather. This summer I want to 
>finish the structure and apply a water resistant natural finishing 
>plaster.  I'm looking for practical advice on types of finishing plasters 
>that will resist rain and possibly seal against the snow thawing/spring 
>melt issue.  I've read the books and taken courses, but none address 
>building in this intense cold climate.  Any experience out there?  What's 
>been successful?  What seems to work over time in Alaska? in Norway? or 
>Iceland?  Suggestions and ideas from proven builders in similar climates 
>are welcome.