Cob Internal Walls

Helloo from the UK!!

things are really picking up for us, as we are making finance applications and looking for areas to begin our build, so fingers crossed it all looks promising so far.

I could really do with some advice however on internal cob walls. My other half says that it would be best to use stem wall foundations (like we are using on the exterior) and build slimmer cob walls, so I can make shelving units, for all my books and trinkets. I'm convinced that there must be another way, so I'd be intrigued to know what methods you have all used, or would recommend. To help, it's a cob roundhouse, 13m internal diameter :)

Also, I would love to have a resin floor somewhere in the house, but of course cob likes to breathe, I've attached a couple of pictures of the flooring styles that I personally love (one with leaf tiles, and one cordwood), and wish to incorporate into the build, but I'm left scratching my head a bit on the technical side of it. I am willing to scrap the use of resin as long as I can find a way to plonk in a lovely tiled floor, and resin floor :)

Also, whilst I'm here and still babbling, are there any UK members on here who went full steam ahead with planning applications? I really want to avoid having to pay a costly £11,500 for outline planning permission on a 6 acre site (which is the size we are aiming for, as I want lots of horses) When I can pay significantly less and just go for full planning permission. I'd love to hear your stories on how you have all achieved planning permission on your builds.

Thank you for any advice you can give

happy cobbing :)

I conventionally framed my internal walls with 2X4s and infilled with straw light clay. You could probably infill with cob using the same technique. Just make sure your framing is well secured and use a mechanical key to give your infill material something to grab on to.

Hi Rebecca,   I really love the look of the leaf and cordwood floors! I would hate to have to clean them though with so many places for the crumbs to catch.
We have simple a simple tile floor on our porch with wide grout lines only recessed a little bit and it still sucks to have to sweep them in all directions to keep them clean.
Also, even with a really good hard sealant, cob tends to break with more fine edges (especially a floor) which is why its often made rounded.

Ah, i like the idea of using an infill method, may consider that. I just hate the idea of having to dig more foundations if we dont have to. Plus we have picked an easy roof idea, and with the super strength of cob, hopefully an infill won't impact our roof.

I know exactly what you mean about the sweeping. I used to sweep a cobbled yard at an equestrian facility. Blood, sweat and lots of my tears later it was finally clean!! I think i might use the leaf tiles as a bit of decor in an area to aviod more hours of me crying when im sweeping! Im debating on embedding them into an earthen floor, rather than a traditional grout method, will have to have a play around with the idea, cause at least if I cover the cordwood in resin, no small gaps that i have to sweep!

What do you mean ,'dig more foundations'
And what is this about

outline planning permission on a 6 acre site

If you use ay, 6 inch wide earth bricks for the internal walls you will have stability and great thermal mass.

I'm a big fan of thick earthen walls, both internal and external, for thermal mass and humidity control. You can also build in shelving into a cob wall, though for a serious book collection you'd want a separate wall of shelving.

On the external walls we're building a stem wall on top of a rubble trench, ideally I want to aviod having to use the same method again for interior walls. But i might as i really do like the thick chunky cob walls.

You can apply for outline planning before purchasing a site, to see if your plans will be accepted before purchase. These plans are not as detailed as full planning permission, so you have to then apply again after outline planning permission.

I love the idea of the built in shelves, so it probably will end up being a room full of shelves and books somewhere in the house!