[Cob] foundation, concrete

[Predrag Cvetkovic]

Hello Amanda
Thanks for your very helpful answers.
Regarding foundations, maybe to think about concrete grade beam to protect
the house from earthquakes? And than stone blocs on it, or cob directly?

Tile is very available here in Serbia.
It can be strange for others how much our people love to build houses, how
much money they spend to build their homes (in some of that new houses they
sometimes even don't live). But, it is a pity they rarely follow our
tradition, houses are often too large and ugly.

The idea about cob with the wattle and daub technique you have mentioned was
very interesting to me. Traditional building in Serbia use this technique,
but it is not pure cob, but chaff and clay. Of course, sand is already a
component of clay. It is maybe a good insulation but not as solid as cob is.
Walls in these houses are not too thick, often only about 8 in. or sometimes
thiner. It is maybe it needed much of labor work. The houses are very
pleasant to live in, excellent in summer, but not so warm in the winter, I
think there is a need for more thermal masses.
And also, our tradition use wooden pillars but cob building doesn't. Or we
can combine that?

I have promised to the group to send some pictures from here - I didn't
forget it and hope it will be possible to travel and take some pictures
during this year.

Thanks again for sharing your experiences
regards
Predrag



>
> Choices are based on what's available, how far it has to come to get to
you
> (from the store or from the world), how much it costs, how much experience
> you or your acquaintances have working with it.  And whether you like it.
>
> Stone foundations sound good, maybe with gravel under that.  Although we
> used concrete block down at the barn.  And the barn has a metal
> roof--manufacturer 50 miles south (I assume they buy sheet metal which
they
> form and add the color) and I can get it delivered.
>
> Because I want a very low slope roof that will give me potable (drinking
> quality) water, I may use one of the high-tech roofs (brush-on EPDM--the
> rubber roof) for the next big building project on the list--talking to
some
> rammed earth people now about that.  Only some cob for the details
>
> But tile is gorgeous.  Not very available in my area.  Probably have to
> order the other stuff, but it comes in buckets, and not pallets on a truck
> that I might have to unload by myself.  I can drive a forklift, but I
don't
> own one, and they're not really happy on rough or steep ground.
>
> But yes, cob--pure or with some parts done with the wattle and daub
> technique I've seen in pictures from Serbia seems to me to be a perfectly
> sensible way to build.
>
> You may get to think about earthquakes.  I'd have to if I lived 80 or a
> hundred miles west, there's a fault there that might let go one of these
> years.
>