[Cob] The mobile home...

[J Moore]

   I agree with Jennifer, this may not be a waste of time, it will
   definitly be a recycling project. I've known several neighbors who
   have started remodeling/add-on projects with moble homes (using
   regular framing, not cob) and end up removing the old walls, so that
   very little remains of the original structure, even the floor and roof
   could be replaced eventually. It can also be a gradual process (big
   advantage), and will have all the design and construction hassels of
   add-ons vs. new construction (big disadvantage). In the end you can
   have your cob palace, earthen floors and all..... (but still a sturdy
   foundation - can use rubble trench under new cob walls along edge of
   trailer and around add-on, and large eved roof - can frame an all
   inclusive roof over original trailer and the additions, are most
   improtant). Happy building, James
       ______________________________________________________________

     From:  "Jennifer Roberts" <smurf_goddess at hotmail.com>
     To:  heylee34 at hotmail.com
     CC:  coblist at deatech.com
     Subject:  Re: [Cob] The mobile home...
     Date:  Sat, 08 Apr 2006 14:43:37 +0000
     >I understand where you are coming from and I think it is great!
     What
     >a wonderful and inspiring use for old mobile homes! I think a lot
     of
     >people are so purist that they forget other benefits of natural
     >building, such as affordability, recycling, ingenuity, etc. The
     main
     >benefit for natural building, for me, it to make safe, healthy,
     and
     >affordable housing. I am finding that even though cob, earthbags,
     >strawbale are mainstream in some circles, I still have to be a
     >pioneer, trust myself, and allow for risk. This might mean that
     >instead of putting your idea out into the natural building
     "experts"
     >that you strip the trailer and go for it, accepting that it may
     not
     >work but trying anyway. It is really hard to examine ideas and ask
     >for feedback, then get agendas. Just because someone may be into
     >natural building does not mean they are open to fresh ideas.
     Listen
     >to the feedback, filter it for yourself, and if you decide it is
     >still right for you, just go for it! I would love to hear about
     what
     >happens, because if it works you would essentially have a ready
     >frame available to people to do the simpler work that is easy to
     >learn, and be recycling structures that are often dumped or free
     for
     >the moving.
     >
     >Go for it girl!
     >Jennifer
     >
     >
     >
     >
     >>From: "Lee Courtney" <heylee34 at hotmail.com>
     >>To: "Shody Ryon" <qi4u at yahoo.com>
     >>CC: Coblist at deatech.com
     >>Subject: Re: [Cob] The mobile home...
     >>Date: Fri, 7 Apr 2006 19:36:34 -0500
     >>
     >>Ok it started with wanting/needing a shed.  I have read about cob
     >>and earthbags and rammed tires etc as an affordable way to get
     this
     >>done.  I have experimented with all methods.  Cob has been the
     most
     >>enjoyable and creative and simple and easy method that I've found
     >>and my soil works well with it.  So I'm going to have this
     >>beautiful sculpted shed next to my old ugly mobile home. Now I
     also
     >>want to add a sunroom and office to my house and of course I want
     >>to use cob. So I'll have this beautiful earthen shed and room
     >>additions attached to this old ugly mobile home. The reason I was
     >>doing the mobile home instead of just starting from scratch is,
     as
     >>I have said, to use the existing electricity and plumbing and
     roof.
     >>  Most of the expense of cobbing from what I have read are those
     >>things (along with windows and doors, etc).  I can just cob
     around
     >>the existing windows and doors that are already set in place.  I
     am
     >>excited about doing this myself and am a single mom with three
     >>kids.  If I can save some money then I need to do so.  I love
     >>earthen architecture, the look, the feel, the thick walls, and
     the
     >>feeling of living with the earth instead of just on it, but I
     also
     >>need to be practical and I would like to use the resources I have
     >>instead of just getting rid of them. The room additions will be a
     >>new cob building along with a cob floor.  Do you understand where
     I
     >>am going and coming from?
     >>Lee
     >>
     >>----- Original Message ----- From: "Shody Ryon" <qi4u at yahoo.com>
     >>To: "Lee Courtney" <heylee34 at hotmail.com>
     >>Sent: Friday, April 07, 2006 6:34 PM
     >>Subject: Re: [Cob] The mobile home...
     >>
     >>
     >>>It sounde like a waste of time; meaning you will spend
     >>>4 times the time you would spend starting from new
     >>>construction. One of joys/beauties of cob is the
     >>>grounded naturalness of it. If that is an aspect of
     >>>cob is not appealing to you; then what is it about cob
     >>>that you like? Have you ever walked bare foot on cob
     >>>floor? It feels alive and I feel strong and connected
     >>>to mother earth. I sounds like you are incorperating a
     >>>supersized big mac meals in a 100% vegan diet. YOu can
     >>>do what ever you want but I don't understand where you
     >>>are going or comming from.
     >>>Shody
     >>>
     >>>--- Lee Courtney <heylee34 at hotmail.com> wrote:
     >>>
     >>>>Thanks for the input on my previous yet apparently
     >>>>wacky idea.  The vote is unanimous to get rid of the
     >>>>mobile.  Ok so here is a question... In order to
     >>>>save money can I strip out the mobile home, i.e.
     >>>>remove siding, insulation and dryway to where there
     >>>>is only the stick frame of the old house, and use
     >>>>cob as filler in the existing frame? This would
     >>>>allow me to keep the roof, the existing electrical,
     >>>>and the plumbing. I am considering exposing and
     >>>>redoing the plumbing anyway to use the greywater for
     >>>>the plants and lawn (and I have a well).  I know
     >>>>nothing of electricity and I don't really want to
     >>>>mess with that to much.  Ideas on this plan and if
     >>>>feasible, how thick should the walls be since I will
     >>>>have the original frame for the support of the roof
     >>>>etc....
     >>>>
     >>>>Thanks in advance again
     >>>>Lee
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     >>>>
     >>>
     >>>
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     >>
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