[Cob] Cob on a north slope CA mass inefficiency

[Charmaine Taylor]

Janet I am happy  you are feeling so strong on your decision, and I
must hope you get a wide swing of temps in summer and winter there,
because even sandy clay is going to be poor  to hold mass heat.
Cob/adobe  it is 1/4 R per INCH-- so 4 inches of cob =1R.   You may be
able to keep the home warm at just  330 ft from your ( and animal)
body heat and occupation, but  I  think you are being over positive on
this.

I am not an expert in cob, but I am familiar with your climate, what
others have done, and what I have read.

 Remember in the  way back times (1200-1800s)  people in cob homes in
UK/Europe kept a fire going all the time,  year round to keep warm
inside cause there is no swing of temps there to maintain heat in the
mass.   do you want that much wood smoke?

Or can you plan a masonry stove too?   see  http://mha-net.org <<<
Masonry Stove Builders   for great designs and info, and builders to
talk to.  they are pricey to have built, but you can do it yourself
too with a clear plan.  I will send you some info off list.

In his cinva adobe block home in NM  Sean Sands did an adobe brick
masonry stove right up the center of his tiny home, and all the roof
beams  were  radiated off of that for the round  roof shape.  this is
shown in the DVD A sampler of Alternative Homes.

  Please do plan for as much  passive solar via window glass if you
can, or build a  glass trombe design wall outside the  cob home  (
full of potted plants, shrubs)   using a series of slider doors in a
half circle and some framing.

 I know how strong you feel, and your enthusiasm will carry you far,
but do really  go sit in an uninsulated home somewhere this winter, or
just a plain barn,  and try to be comfortable for several days with no
heat on, only a fireplace.  try to test your theory.

No one says build with bales, but  plan plan plan for your best
design.I do know of people who had a   light straw clay home built  by
Robert La Porte, and were sorry-at 12-15" thick  it was way too cold
all the time, so those walls did not keep them comfortable even with
the straw content.  R22 is tossed around for a 12" +  LSC wall, but I
think that is for a milder climate than you are in.    Maybe Barbara
Roemer  can pipe in with her temps there in North Fork CA.   it was
blazing hot in the summer while I was there, and they get a lot of
snow too in winter.
-- 
Charmaine Taylor Publishing
www.kidneycancerwarrior.blogspot.com
http://www.dirtcheapbuilder.com

www. http://loveforlife.com.au/node/5917 << woodland cordwood hobbit
home in Wales