[Cob] Engineered Cob House Plans

[Janet Standeford]

> Damon Howell wrote:
>
>> I'm sorry, but every time a new formless  building is erected with 
>> cob a disservice is done to our current  predicament . That would be 
>> that honest individuals who want to obey  the law cannot build 
>> because most cobbers are looked at as clueless.
Janet wrote:
/Hi Damon, I completely agree. The officials I am working with are prety 
open though somewhat dubious in large part because they have seen a 
strawbale house go up and look presentable to the market. They also see 
the benefits. So long as mine fits into their idea of a reasonable 
house, the next cobber will have an easier time of getting plans 
approved and will most likely be allowed a bit more leniency. I really 
don't mind the small current sacrifice/ /of not having curvy or not 
rounded walls. Inside I can make all the cubbies I want and build in 
anything I want. Again, those will be made with care to showcase the 
beauty and versatility of cob/.
Brina wrote:
> I live in an ugly box.  I don't want to live in an ugly box.  
> Everything about those "formless" houses speaks to me on a deep and 
> visceral level.  And this is coming from one of the most practical 
> people you'll ever hope to meet. I'd make a very poor flake.
Janet wrote:
/Hi Brina, I hope you can see that a cob home built in such a way as to 
ease the minds of officials can still be very beautiful and comforting./
> Brina wrote:
> In my experience, ignorance is often cured with information.
Janet wrote:
/You are right Brina. But we are not dealing with ignorance here. We are 
dealing with officials who are bound by the tangle of codes they and 
others before them have enacted and they must try to uphold those codes. 
It is up to us to help them see that they should include code for cob 
and to teach them that cob must breathe. For instance, I am faced with 
having to use portland cement as a plaster outside (inside will be 
natural plaster). I will try to "educate" them last minute regarding the 
need for the walls to breathe but if all fails, I will use portland 
cement to help pave the way for others./
> Damon wrote:
>> And from what we keep hearing, it's not  about numbers. They will 
>> accept it if they are liberal enough. And  the best way to gain their 
>> approval is show them something they've seen before and make one 
>> change (it's built with cob).
Janet wrote:
/The perfect way to put it./
> Brina wrote:
> Except (again) I don't *want* to live in that house. Fabulously 
> wealthy people get away with what amounts to structural insanity (I 
> have a vague memory of giant house with a fish tank over the entryway 
> in a seismic zone...might have been here in Seattle or in Cali.).  But 
> we po' folk are expected to toe the structural line, despite our 
> expectations being far more modest.  It's MADNESS.  And I'm 
> unconvinced the best way to deal with madness is to cave to its every 
> demand.
Janet wrote:
/We don't have to cave in. We have to compromise for awhile. When cob 
houses are finally viewed as safe and desirable by officials, they will 
be more than willing to listen to those at the legal end of this 
endeavor. When you are being battered are you willing to listen to the 
batterer? Show them the honey "finished, nice, marketable homes" and 
they will show you the codes./
> Brina wrote:
> California-style Class K owner/builder permits are the best solution.  
> And getting them involves direct, productive action, not accepting the 
> status quo.
Janet wrote:
/I like the idea of this type of permit. Again, we must show them the 
possibilities and they will be willing to work with us more./