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The Work of Art and The Art of Work Kiko Denzer on Art |
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Cob Southern Style???Barnes barnes at netdoor.comSat Mar 20 08:37:13 CST 1999
Hello to Everyone! We are very new to the world of cob, but already the excitement of the whole idea has us both practically bursting at the seams! We have been looking at the archives of this list as well as getting our hands on every publication on this building method that we can in order to learn to do it right. We do have a couple of questions that have come up and it is our hope that some of you on this list might have some insight. First of all let me state that we live in Central Mississippi. Our climate here is very erratic. The winters can be severe or, as in this years case, practically non-existent. Summers are always an inferno. The Spring and Fall are super save one thing. It tends to be very wet during those tymes. I can handle the design and construction of proper drainage what ever is required of the site. I spent 12 years in the irrigation and drainage business. The soil in this area is almost pure red clay or a mixture of red clay and river sand. I have made a few test balls just from clumps dug and have had great success with very little cracking. The best seems to be the ones that have more of the clay and little sand. The hardness is like rock when dried and can be thrown on concrete without breaking. I have yet to add any straw to the mixture and that is where my first question comes in. Straw is not easily found in this area. Hay is plentiful, but actual straw is not. One thing that is very readily availiable and free is pine straw. I was wondering if anyone has ever used it in cob construction and if so did it work? The second part of my query is if anyone knows of cob construction that has been done in my area in the past. I have yet to find out about any and would surely want to talk with someone who has built with it here if possible. Any other info that any of you may have that would help in our journey into this would be greatly appreciated. I must tell you that so far everyone we have broached the subject with locally, which is mainly friends and family, is very skeptical about the feasibility of this type of construction here. In fact one very close relative compared me and this whole idea to a famous literary fiqure by the name of Don Q who fought windmills.LOL...not the first tyme I have run into that attitude...LOL. Thanx in advance for any and all info ya'll can provide and have a wonderful weekend!!! Brett & Shell
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