Cob: Fw: Insulation

[Sarah Kopp]

-----Original Message-----
From: Sarah Kopp <kopp at kinneret.co.il>
To: Russel Johnsen <wpgweb at yahoo.com>
Date: ë"å àá úù"ñ 08:18
Subject: Re: Insulation


>Rob,
>What do you think of the
>>incompatability of cob/straw.
>
>I think that straw and cob are very compatable!  I am not suggesting a
thick
>cob wall and a straw wall together - though I think that would be fine, I
am
>suggesting strawbale exterior walls with earth plaster, which is similar to
>cob and very successful.
>
>Straw like cob wants to be protected from wetting and to have a very vapor
>permeable coating.  Even if you were to build a strawbale wall and a cob
>wall inside that and outside of it - a straw sandwich, the moisture that
the
>cob would pick up inside and outside would transpire out those respective
>surfaces before it would move through the straw, because although
>evaporation will occur toward the warmer surface experience with earth
>plastered straw walls indicates that the earth holds moisture better than
>straw, preventing wicking of moisture into the straw until the sun dries it
>out again.  This is dependent on the thickness of the plaster, too.
>
>Anyway, you can check strawbale list archives at crest to get a lot more
>info from people much more expert in these issues than I - I just think in
>Manitoba type climates the strawbales will give you a lot more year round
>comfort than cob, and you can still have a totally funky soft round wavy
>crazy sculptured work of art and self-expression for a house.  Use earth
>plasters and tamped earth or adobe for the interior partition walls and
>cover everything with earth plaster.
>
>You are right on the button - flax bales would be super indestructable.  If
>you can get them GO FOR IT!  It was suggested by someone else on the sb
list
>who said she and her sisters had years ago built a barn of flax bales, but
I
>don't think anyone has done it recently or tested them.  I am sure they
>would be great.  Of course, like cob - even more so - all straw needs a
>really good roof with long overhangs.  Wrap around porches are ideal for
>keeping the rain and snow away, and add nice indoor-outdoor living space
and
>a buffer zone between the outside world and your home enclave.
>
>Sarah
>Tsfat, Israel
>