[Cob] insulation/simple foundation

[Roselle Milvich]

Hi,

Thanks for all the ideas and suggestions.

I think the idea of berming is probebly the best.  I
rented a room in a gorgeous owner built solar house
once that was bermed.  It didn't feel anything like a
hole.  Partially because he has such a great location.
 It has two levels, the bottom bermed and a small
upstairs with the entryway and office.  The upstairs
was pretty tiny, but the stairs had a big window
framing an incredible mountain peak (very close-up).  
I think having that integration of the up and down
stairs really helped the house.  Entering from above,
you were in a spacious meadow, so the overall feeling
of the place was very spacious.  He also had a lot of
windows and a greenhouse face.  He had heavy doors to
prevent the heat from escaping upstairs.

 I don't think the berm needs to be deep to benefit
from it.  Any reduction of surface area on the north
side would help.  I'm also thinking maybe keeping the
wall shorter there.

I just had another idea, of adding on solar flaps to
the sides of the north wall.  By extending the north
wall out on either side.  They would be facing south
and some of the heat would travel down along the wall.
 I could add in some glass and make it a greenhouse to
be more effective.  I could use the heated air with a
little window into the cottage too.  It would also be
a windbreak.

I used to be really into strawbale before I learned
about cob.  For now, I can't afford land, but my
landlord is letting me experiment on his property.  I
want to be ready for when an opportunity comes up.  As
an experiment, I don't want to put much money into it
and I don't want to build a frame.  I also like the
idea of being able to "wash away" an experiment that
doesn't work out.  So I am sticking with cob for now. 
If it doesn't work, I'll go back to strawbale.  

I'm still looking into cob/strawbale.  I'm not
attracted to the exagerated width of the walls and the
different settling rate issue, but I may go with that
for the "real thing" if I ever get there.  I'll be
digging in my backyard for now.  

I don't feel so good about the cob around the bales. 
Wouldn't conduction still wick out the heat?

The idea of doing a 3x3 test sounds good.  Or I might
do it bigger and call it a playhouse for the summer if
its too cold for the winter.

The double cordwood wall sounds like a great idea.  I
was trying to figure out a way to stabilize/connect
the two without too much of a conductor to wick the
heat out, and cordwood sounds like a great idea.  I'll
have to think about that.  Or I may stick with the
thinner inner wall.  It would be great if I could
manage to do all three- insulation on the inside, the
outside, and the middle to compare.  I think one will
be plenty for me though.  I'll have to see how it
goes.

The idea for the thermostat sounds great!  The solar
wings I was talking about could easily have an opening
into the wall space.  Maybe the warmest of the air
could be directed inside and then connected with the
airspace for the night...Now that I think about it, a
solar space behind the house could easily be created
if the walls weren't too high.  Just a wall and
plastic would work.  The wall behind could be tall.  
I wonder what kind of climate could be made in there.

Thanks for all this to think about.  I have one more
question:  The foundation is a lot of work, especially
when I don't own the land and am unsure of future
possibilities of relocating.  I don't want a permanent
foundation because I want to  be able to experiment 
without worrying if it is worthy to be permanent. 
Also out of respect for my landlord (and friend). 
I've been thinking that triangular cement blocks would
be the best.  They could be curved to any shape,
especially if they have one longer point.  They could
be re-used.  Could they easily be made?  I have little
experience with cement.  I know there are moulds for
them, but I haven't seen any triangles.  Do the moulds
have to be any particular material?  Don't they stick
to it?

Or maybe I will just line up some rocks on the ground.
 Its not the best, I know, but if I keep to a
playhouse size I think it would work.  I would like to
see how it weathers.  I wouldn't expect it to last,
but maybe...

Thanks,
Roselle

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