by Alex | Jan 14, 2015 | Cob, General, Travel
The east coast of the United States isn’t known for its abundance of cob homes and other natural homes, but there is actually a lot going on over on this side of the country. Some of this development has been recent and some of it has just been tucked away and out of...
by Alex | Nov 29, 2014 | Cob, Workshops
One of the main things that led me to natural building methods was my search for ways to build a non-toxic, healthy home that I could live in and that it not tax my body. Modern conventional building is highly toxic and potentially damaging to our health. From...
by Alex | Aug 25, 2014 | Cob, General
Some common questions that I receive from people interested in building a cob home: – What does the temperature feel like inside a cob house in the summer? And in the winter? – Can I install central heating and air conditioning in my cob...
by Alex | Aug 21, 2014 | Cob, Materials
Soil types vary by each region and location, but the majority of soil types will work for building cob and earthen structures. It is actually rare to find soil that will not work for cob. This is a good thing for the case of earthen building! Soils consist mainly of a...
by Alex | Jul 9, 2014 | Cob, Tools, Walls
In order to get cob walls plumb and flat, trimming and cutting is a major step in the building process. To build a cob wall, I will place a new layer of cob onto my wall, knead the individual cobs together a bit with my hands, and then stomp on top and kick the sides...
by Alex | Jun 25, 2014 | Cob
If you’re interested in building a cob home in a speedy time-frame then I highly recommend mixing cob with a tractor (or other machine such as a Bobcat or backhoe). Using this method, the cob mixing process will go about one hundred times faster compared to doing it...
by Alex | May 8, 2014 | Cob, Workshops
Building the cob house at the beautiful Meadow Creek Mountain Rustic Resort in Parrottsville, Tennessee. What an amazing place for a cob workshop!...
by Alex | Sep 29, 2013 | Designs, Services
Hi everyone, I just recently got back from a 7-week intensive Natural Building course out in Oregon learning some of the newest, cutting edge techniques in the Natural Building realm. As some of you may know, I’m taking my business to the next level by offering design...
by Alex | Aug 11, 2013 | Foundations, General
A building needs a strong foundation to rest upon. This is the first detail to consider when building any structure. It should be a unified and stable base for your building to sit upon, and must also support the load of the building. Learn how to build a stone...
by Alex | Jun 4, 2013 | Cob, Designs
Last year I was contacted by OPIC (Overseas Private Investment Corporation) to design a cob hotel for their humanitarian efforts overseas. I designed building plans for a large cob hotel that was being proposed before the project board at OPIC. The proposal was to...
14 Characteristics of Cob Homes
Building a Stone Foundation
Cob Building Systems – Foundations and Walls
Cob Building Ingredients – How to Choose the Right Materials
YOU CAN BUILD A COB HOUSE IN COLD CLIMATES – INSULATION AND THERMAL MASS
How to Protect A Cob House From Rain
What about Cob Building Codes and Cob Permit Requirements?
Cob House Cost Realities – How Much Does It Cost To Build A Cob House?
The Cob Slipform Method – Why Build Your Cob House This Way?