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Cob In a Greenhouse

 
                  
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Hello, I am new to cob building and have a dream. I am looking to build a large commercial greenhouse (40x50) and inside take up some space to build a small cob residence. Zoning aside what are some major cob based issues I may face?
The first issue that comes to mind is keeping workable humidity. Also the cob would be attached to metal siding and metal supports placed on a flat concrete slab. Additionally Id like to build some raised bed planters out of cob which would be watered regularly. I will also be posting in the greenhouse forum as it has been difficult to find any examples of such a design. Appreciate any feedback or resources.
Thanks!
 
pollinator
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I hope the idea of cob planters can work in that environment! But in case it doesn't, ferrocement might be something to try, might hold up a lot better and contain all that moisture and weight.
 
steward and tree herder
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Location: Isle of Skye, Scotland. Nearly 70 inches rain a year
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I merged your stuff with the following thread. I hope that is okay by you.
 
pollinator
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I think it is possible, but there are a few things to consider.

If you have some sort of combustible heat source you need to make sure there is some sort of fresh air available and 2 or 3 carbon monoxide detectors.

There will be a higher humidity inside the greenhouse but depending on where you live it may not be a concern.  A greenhouse in an arid area will rarely reach the humidity of outside climate in a tropical area.

If you have a reliable heat source for the greenhouse, like a rocket mass heater, the warmer greenhouse will make it easier to keep the small house warm in the winter months.  Vice versa for cooling in the summer months, but have fans handy to circulate the air.

I have thought of building a large greenhouse in the yard to use as a sort of closed in patio area for a tiny house built right next to it.  The patio area for the small house will be in the greenhouse.  If I go ahead with this plan I will put a small pool, maybe 15' round 4' deep, inside the back corner of the greenhouse.  If I heat the pool water in the winter months it will help warm the greenhouse, our winters don't get very cold here.  In the summer the humidity from the pool will help cool the greenhouse, evaporative type cooling in a high desert environment.
 
pollinator
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There must be a reason people build winter gardens attached to their house instead of building a house in a winter garden.
I smell already moldy air, moldy clothes in the closet, coughing habitants with runny noses and spawn filled pulmonary systems, damp books and newspapers and corroding metal everywhere because lack of ventilation in a confined space.

Sure you can build everything but this would need so many extra features that it's a waste of money and maintenance costs.

Go for a winter garden attached to the house when when the air gets to thick open the windows and give it a good breeze.
 
Nancy Reading
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It certainly gives one something to think about. Every now and then we read about someone in the UK who has tried to get around planning rules by building a house in a barn, but this sound a lot more practical. What climate are you in? In the winter any warmth in the greenhouse would be helpful, but in the summer it could get a bit much. However cob is used in hot climates for the heat reservoir it provides, so you may be able to keep it pleasantly cool inside with suitable insulation.

There seems to be quite a few greenhouse builds using cob so I don't see why the material itself would be a problem.
 
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