[Cob] Roof overhangs vs Gutters!

[Ocean Liff-Anderson]

Gutters would alleviate the need for the large overhang.  But the  
roof/gutter joint area must be absolutely watertight - any rain  
flowing/leaking through into the cob wall will cause collapse!



On Aug 3, 2010, at 3:25 AM, Christopher Higgo wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I want to build a one-and-a-half storey cob house. The  
> architectural restrictions in the area I live in in Cape Town call  
> for clipped eaves; so no overhang. But the area, in winter, has  
> quite a lot of wind-driven rain. This combination got me worried  
> about the walls lasting. But after seeing many pictures of old cob  
> buildings in wet climates which are double-storey and have double  
> pitched roofs (so 2 of the 4 exterior walls are completely exposed,  
> and the ground floor is exposed all the way around), that have  
> lasted a couple of centuries, I have begun to question the common  
> wisdom about the absolute necessity of overhangs.
>
> What do you think? Are they absolutely necessary or can a good lime  
> rendering alone protect the walls from rain?
> Has anyone built a lasting cob structure in a winter rainfall area  
> without roof overhangs?
>
> One example: 17th Century cob cottage in Devon, double storey,  
> double pitched roof, clipped eaves.
> http://www.english-country-cottages.co.uk/sites/english-country- 
> cottages/pages/PropertyDetails_C.aspx?QS=2B831DC8-E0A4-4868-B1DF- 
> DDB2FE4FD44A~C~HEEA~HCG~216~GBP~4~0~~A~N~1~BAE699D2-1219-6505-7A07- 
> AC378919C91A~7207~0~6~N~N~N~N~N&awc=2393_1280828513_9855889cfdfe451ac1 
> e59568f698e864
>
> Christopher
>
>
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