Underground cob house?

Feb 08, 2012 05:58:17

I like the organic look and feel of cob houses, but I like the thought of living underground as well. Is there anyway to combine the two types of buildings? I know that cob doesn't like moisture so I'm not sure if you could build an underground cob house. Does anyone know about this, is it possible to build a cob hobbit hole?

Feb 08, 2012 17:45:45

yes cob can be used underground as long as it has good waterproofing membrane and is not expected to withstand a heavy horizontal preesure of earthor water, this is based on my living in a dome shaped cob structure 4 years,these photos show how much earth is banked at window

Feb 08, 2012 18:56:33

pahanna barineau wrote:yes cob can be used underground as long as it has good waterproofing membrane and is not expected to withstand a heavy horizontal preesure of earthor water, this is based on my living in a dome shaped cob structure 4 years,these photos show how much earth is banked at window

Really? Way cool, how do you build underground with waterproofing membrane? Oh, any chance you could enlarge your images? I don't see as well as I used to. Thanks much,

Kat

Feb 08, 2012 19:42:04

it is based on a concrete dome but offsetting cob weakness with a stronger frame and stronger fastener than a wire tie,

Feb 08, 2012 20:06:34

pahanna barineau wrote:it is based on a concrete dome but offsetting cob weakness with a stronger frame and stronger fastener than a wire tie,

Cool! Thanks so much for the info.

Apr 10, 2013 09:53:58

pahanna barineau wrote:it is based on a concrete dome but offsetting cob weakness with a stronger frame and stronger fastener than a wire tie,

Not sure how anyone else took that but that is confusing me. Do you mean you used concrete over the wood skeleton then cob, then the earth berm?

Apr 24, 2013 18:30:35

no concrete used except the floor which 1/2' thick being a mixture of 1 portland 1 sand 1 sifted dirt and nylon fiber like is used in concrete elimanating need for wire in slab

Apr 24, 2013 18:35:17

o by the way as a plastic sheeting worshiper, haleluyah (the proof is in the pudding)

Apr 24, 2013 18:51:57

the nylon fiber that is commonly used anymore rather than 6"'x'6" wire mat was developed by a friends AF General as a quick way to pour runways on fairly swampy ground

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