Cob: Cob and Labor (Day).

[Mike Carter and Carol Cannon]

Here are some recent quotes from the cob list on the cob labor process;
please forgive the snipping.

---------------

Tony Glasser said "Since cob is so much work, ..."

Ian said: "Keep in mind also that cob is very time consuming to build. Its
fun,
         but alot of work."

John Fordice said "Building a structure IS a major undertaking - no matter
what the  material is.  With cob given the current methods of building, it
is even more so.  At this time, the labor issue is significant and almost
requires one to adopt a labor of love to accomplish a cob building. "

John Schinnerer said: "So I think there's a middle path here, folks...cob is
labor-intensive, but so are all other building methods if one looks back
down all the source streams."  ...

------------

What makes cob different from any other building process?  If I tried to
frame a house for the first time, it would take me a long time - (which is
why I hire carpenters).  Here are some points regarding cobbing speed and
cost:

1.  The wall system (cob) is between 20-30% of the cost of a cob building
and does not dominate the building cost (in terms of person-hours OR paid
labor).
2.  There is a learning curve with cobbing like most other human activities.
Our first 2-story structure took us 8 months; the second (twice the size)
took 3 months.  Working with an owner-builder, we completed the cobbing for
a 240 sq. ft. studio-loft in 8 1/2 days with crew size of 3.
3.  We all have things to learn about how to cob more efficiently using the
different forms of mechanization already available.
4.  I have seen (and measured) over the years about a 5:1 difference in
speed between various people after cob training - this applies to both
making and placing cob.  Sometimes it is a matter of physical strength and
stamina; sometimes "knowing how to work" makes the difference.  We have
tried all manner of mixers, pulleys, lifts, cranes, scaffolding, ladders,
etc. to make the work more efficient.
5.  With minimal mechanization, in our experience a cobber should be able to
make, move, and place more than 1 cubic yard of cob a day if the wall height
is under 9 feet.  This is not to say that such output is desirable, only
that it is possible and has been achieved by many of our crew on a sustained
basis.

I would conclude that there really is no "labor issue" unless you expect to
build a house quickly AND for nearly free.  There is an expectation issue!

Hopefully, people can add their own experiences and productivity
measurements when making statements like those at the top; otherwise, others
can get the wrong impression without knowing that information.

Mike
Mike Carter & Carol Cannon
cobcrew at sprynet.com
http://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/cobcrew
Austin, TX    USA