Conner Choi

Jay C. White Cloud wrote:

If this foundation is in a tectonically active region than I would highly recommend not using one of the "ashlar" lay patterns for the stone...but instead a stronger "herringbone" pattern with lime mortar if possible (or very well fitted stone with cobb mortar.) Herringbone patterns are found throughout regions of the world with major seismic events like Turkey, across Asian and of course into Japan where this method dominates.


j

Hi Jay,

Could you give me a description of how to lay a herringbone pattern? I looked up some pictures on the internet, but I'm not sure exactly how that ties into a foundation.

Thanks again,

Conner

Thanks!

I was planning on using them for foundation stones. Do you have any input in that department?

I'm using the rock I have on site for a cob house drain trench. It's some kind of sandstone, and I'm worried that it's not strong enough to support the walls, and may get washed away during rains. Is this something to be worried about? If so, does anyone have a good drain rock resource in the San Francisco East Bay?

Thanks

Is flagstone suitable for a cob foundation? I'm worried it will be too weak, considering California is prone to earthquakes.

Thanks! What are some solid testing methods I could use?

Hi there,

I'm building a cob house and I have plans and everything but I'm having alot of trouble finding the right kind of straw this time of year. I've read that rice straw and many other straws are unsuitable for cob construction because they lack the tensile strength that is present in barley, oat, and wheat straws. Can anyone validate this? I have alot of long dry grasses on the property I'm building on, would this be suitable?

Any help is appreciated.