Cj Pendergraf

greg mosser wrote:the areas in england where cob is a traditional building material aren’t exactly the driest. i think temperature extremes may rule out cob more since while it does have a fair amount of thermal mass, it doesn’t insulate very well.

Thank you, I know of a cob workshop just South of Lexington but I'm hoping there's other people who have built cob in Appalachia specifically and can talk about how it's held up in this region. I'm curious if building it facing the South is enough to keep warm in Winter.

Hello all,

    I like in Eastern most part of Kentucky and I've always dreamed of living in a cob house but upon further research found that it's not the best option for high humidity/heat areas. I knew I wouldn't want to build it in a low lying valley for flood reasons and it needs a good pair of 'boots and hat' but it got me thinking about natural building options by region. For Appalachia, I wondered if a bermed house on a South facing slope wouldn't be a better option since you'd be taking advantage of the natural hillsides in the region. I'm looking for suggestions on a natural building option like cob or straw bales that would take advantage of the natural resources already in the area.
    Though I am also curious about what other people think of the kind of housing that would be most appropriate by region. I would think adobe is probably the best choice out West in the dessert but what about other regions, like the far North, arid, or rainy and humid areas like mine?