[Cob] The matter of insulation. :)

[Jill Hogan]

My feeling is why when you are building with natural materials add 
something that is not compatabile and will part company very soon, are 
not going to be absorbed back into the earth's crust, so will polute the 
earth for we don't know how many years, decades, centuaries.  It will 
also be compromising the strength of the wall. Plus the making of these 
materials pollute unbelievably, when we can use natural materials that 
one day when the house falls down be it in a hundred years all its 
materials will be reabsorbed into the earth's crust. Like to leave the 
planet cleaner


On 2011/05/11 04:41 AM, Mike wrote:
> Hi folks!
>
> I'm in Chapel Hill, NC, where I've gotten permission to build a small cob
> workshop in my backyard (12x12x12 max, since they're not going to inspect
> the cob - just the electrical and plumbing I'll run to it).  Got the
> foundation and drainage trench dug and just about filled.
>
> I (shh) am hoping to be able to stay in this "workshop."  I'm curious what
> options might fit cob Besides straw bales... I'm not a total purist (at
> least this time), and, for instance, lined the foundation trench inside out
> and out to grade with R-5 1" thick solid foam board... more out
> of curiosity than belief it's the right application. :) Has anyone had any
> experience adding a modicum of insulation into cob - I've heard of
> sandwiching foam board slices with wire to hold it together in the cob
> walls, though I worry about anything that might lessen the monolithic
> quality to the walls.  And while one cob book mentions you can plaster foam
> board, I just can't see that working with how the boards resist moisture.
>   Just curious, any hybrid thoughts?
>
> Best wishes,
> mike
>


-- 
*Jill Hogan*
McGregor Alternative Technology Centre "MAT"
PO Box 365
McGregor
6708

www.mat.org.za <http://www.mat.org.za>
Phone: 023 625 1533

Signature

"Be the change you wish to see" Mohandas Ghandi

If you do not wish to receive these mails, email us with unsubscribe in 
the subject. Thanks