[Cob] wood & cob footings

[Yun Que]

   Cat here!

   On my farm their is an old old building that was used as a foundry
   about 75 years ago.  It was a stick build rough lumber yankee frame
   construction and set on big 12X12 hand cut timbers that are in perfect
   almost petrefied shape.  I don't know what kind of wood but it's been
   my observation that many of the structures were made of a catch mit of
   lumber they cut off the hills.  I figure an oak of some kind.  They
   mounded rubble up and added clay so the building was set up about a
   foot then set in the timbers right on the mound and packed dirt (I
   don't think they were too careful about what they put into the floor)
   into the frame made by the sils.  They dug an open drain behind
   against the hill to catch the surface water down the hill and left all
   the trees in place.  It is a steep hill so the trees slow the water.
   a trench was still their in spite of the neglect for years and ran to
   the creek.  It became a natureal water way.  The roof exceeded the
   building and dripped into the open ditch keeping the water away from
   the foundation timbers.  The dirt floor was hard as a rock and dry and
   the timbers were solid and dry.  Why no tirmites ?  I don't know but
   the whole thing is in great shape!
   for the good of all C.
   >From: otherfish <otherfish at comcast.net>
   >To: <jane at kirstinelund.dk>,<coblist at deatech.com>
   >Subject: Re: [Cob] wood & cob footings
   >Date: Mon, 20 Jun 2005 13:17:56 -0700
   >
   >post bottom ends burried in earth is an option.
   >if you do, put a few inches of gravel in the bottom of the hole.
   >this is top prevent the post from standing in a water-filled hole
   when it
   >rains. The gravel gives a drainage break from contact with damp earth
   >conditions. This is important as wood will take up water into the cut
   end
   >grain & transport it up into the post - ergo internal & rapid dryrot
   of the
   >bottom of the post.
   >
   >embedding a post in concrete where the bottom end of the post is
   totally
   >encased in concrete is a bad idea - if you must use concrete do the
   same as
   >above w/ earth - a gravel pocked below the end of the post &
   surrounding
   >concrete fill. same reason applies.
   >
   >john fordice
   >
   >
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