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Cob: RE: Cob In CanadaMichael Saunby mike at Chook.Demon.Co.UKSat Nov 13 04:54:44 CST 1999
On 12 November 1999 15:48, 2beers [SMTP:2beers at primeline.net] wrote: > Everything I have read in this list seems to be about building in warm climates. > and No One is addressing the problems of pests such as earth critters like worms > ants any other burrowing creatures there are several... And everything I read, especially concerns about the suitability of cob to climates, gives no detail of climate, other than vague terms like "wet", "dry", "warm", or "cold". We get mice and ants in our walls, a worm would die instantly through the desiccating effect of dry clay; our walls have a very high clay content. This "pest" (or habitat sharing) "problem" has been going on for centuries and has done no serious damage. My personal experience of living in a cob house in this climate http://www.meto.govt.uk/sec3/england/climate.html is that it's comfortable all year round, especially in the summer when it regulates daily temperature changes very well. Rainfall http://www.meto.govt.uk/sec3/england/rainfall.html (use Plymouth figures) Sunshine http://www.meto.govt.uk/sec3/england/sunshine.html For historical data see http://www.meto.govt.uk/sec5/CR_div/UK_Climate/index.html N.B. Most surviving cob houses in Devon were built 1600 to 1800 when average temperatures were significantly lower than today, though of course the builders knew nothing of climate change! Michael Saunby
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