[Cob] straight walls

[Joe Skeesick]

English cob homes are not typically made with forms. They are straight
because they are pared down straight with spades after each lift. English
cob homes are "internally buttressed", in that the internal walls on most
cob homes are cob as well these act as lateral "ties" within the house that
run from one outside wall to the other, holding the house together. You will
also notice things like entry ways that are built as small jutties from the
main structure that also work as buttresses. Typically the only time you see
purpose made buttresses on English cob cottages is as add-ons when something
has gone amiss with the foundation or there are no cross ties on the roof
which has cause the walls to push out. Otherwise the typical homes built
from cob have enough internal walls and jutties to keep the wall more than
strong enough.

J

-----Original Message-----
From: coblist-bounces at deatech.com [mailto:coblist-bounces at deatech.com]On
Behalf Of Jilly
Sent: Friday, October 31, 2003 3:55 PM
To: coblist at deatech.com
Subject: [Cob] straight walls

Okay, question...

http://homepage.psy.utexas.edu/homepage/staff/Zuker/StrawHouse/Handout%20199
6.pdf

(this link is pdf)

If you use forms and make a straight wall, would you not need buttresses?
Why or why not? How do some of the older homes (seen photos) in say, England
of Australia, made with cob, have straight walls and no buttresses?

jilly
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