Cobbing in Montana

Is cob construction suitable in Montana with it's cold winters? I was told that it wouldn't be wise to cob there.

I live in Texas and know zilch about cold climates, but from what I have heard cob is do-able in cold winters (although I don't know if there are better alternatives). The Cob Cottage Company is located in Oregon; their website might have some stuff that would be of use to you

https://www.cobcottage.com/

Straw bale is generally favored over cob in cold climates, but don't let that stop you. If you have a nice area for passive solar heat I would even recommend it.

Where in Montana are you located, I have a cob house in the Bitterroot Valley and it is fine, but small so there isn't much space to heat. If you build small and with an efficient stove you should be fine, cob walls won't insulate you very well, but they can hold their heat. My house is around 400 square feet and is heated with a RMH stove with 20 feet of bench. In general the house likes to stay between 58-60 on really cold days, but the bench stays nice and toasty.

Daniel Ray wrote:Straw bale is generally favored over cob in cold climates, but don't let that stop you. If you have a nice area for passive solar heat I would even recommend it.

Where in Montana are you located, I have a cob house in the Bitterroot Valley and it is fine, but small so there isn't much space to heat. If you build small and with an efficient stove you should be fine, cob walls won't insulate you very well, but they can hold their heat. My house is around 400 square feet and is heated with a RMH stove with 20 feet of bench. In general the house likes to stay between 58-60 on really cold days, but the bench stays nice and toasty.

I assume this is about your house?  Bitterrot Star Article

Yep, that is my house. If you are in the area it should be on the green homes tour this year hosted by Sustainable LiVing Systems out of Victor, I am on the board and will hopelly get it going this year.

I am also working on a bale, cob earthbag hybrid this year. Check out my blog in my signature if you want to see, also I'll be posting a dedicated forum on the projects section of permies soon.

Has anyone made a cob oven here in Montana?  I want to build an outdoor kitchen with a lorena stove and perhaps a cob oven, but wonder if I will need to do it all out of stone!?
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I have been looking at making a castable fire clay mixture with perlite.  I think I can make a form and create the dome using this, then plaster it on the outside with a fireclay slurry.  Then perhaps just rock for the exterior....?
Refactory recipe