[Cob] FW: the other view...termites

[Amanda Peck]

I've been rethinking along those lines as well, lately--what's going to do 
the job best instead of wood-good, steel (not to mention concrete) -bad.

Especially if your sub-soil is good, if there are people growing grains for 
straw nearby, cob meets both requirements--low embodied energy, and termite 
proof at least up to the roof.

Australia I gather has termites that make the Formosan ones look like minor 
inconveniences to people building with wood.


............
Lance wrote:

I do wonder why people in termite infested areas build their houses of 
termite food and then have to use nasty chemicals to deter the termites.   
If I mention steel I'll get lectured about embodied energy but steel posts 
for post and beam are not that expensive and having done a little with both 
wood and steel I'd say steel is easier to work with.