Where did cob houses originate?
Exactly when and how cob building first arose in England remains uncertain, but it is known that cob houses were being built there by the 13th Century. Cob may have evolved from earlier techniques like wattle-and-daub, where mud is plastered over a framework of woven branches.
Where is the oldest cob house?
Cob house in Devon, England. Built in 1539.
When was the cob built?
Building the Cob Work began properly in March 1805, and within a few months nearly 400 people from all over Wales and Britain were working on it. Some cut stone and others loaded and unloaded. There was plenty of work for carpenters and masons.
How long can a cob house last?
How long does cob last? The oldest cob house currently standing is 10,00 years old. If this doesn’t speak to how strong and durable cob houses are, then nothing will. Cob houses are built to stand forever as long as their roofs are maintained, and they are properly looked after.
Can you build a cob house in Canada?
It was the first fully permitted cob house in Canada built as a collaboration CobWorks, Cob Cottage Company and Elke Cole with a team of volunteers. The roof of the home is totally load bearing on the cob walls. The house is 600 sq. ft (56m2) on 2 floors and cost about $56,000 (£35,000) to build.
When was cob cottage built?
James Penfold built the cottage in 1870 using sod blocks and lived there with his family until about 1878. From 1940 to 1944, the cottage was largely rebuilt by Ernest Parish, with help from the Mt Pleasant Burgess’s Association and the Mount Pleasant Boating Club.
How long does it take for a cob house to dry?
Once you make your cob, it will need to dry out full and that can take months to years. The bulk of the moisture will dry out of the walls in the first year, but will not fully cure for 1-2 years past that.
Can I get a mortgage on a cob house?
Cob houses are generally acceptable to most mortgage companies, but it is worth checking with a financial advisor before making a mortgage application. Like many other older building methods, thatched roofs offer excellent thermal properties, as well as looking particularly attractive on the top of an old cottage.
What are the disadvantages of a cob house?
The preliminary disadvantage of a cob house is that its labor intensive. Most people get discouraged from building a cob house solely because of the time and labor it requires. Another con of a cob house is that it can not endure wetness.
Are cob houses Mortgageable?
Are cob houses good in winter?
Cob is a mixture of sand, clay and straw like adobe but not formed into bricks. Cob is not a suitable design for cold climates like those found in northern Canada and Scandinavia but for southern climates with infrequent snow fall it can be suitable.
Can cob houses be built in cold climates?
Cob has some very interesting properties that allow it to perform even in cold climates. Where it lacks insulation value, it makes up for with thermal mass.
When was the first cob house built?
Exactly when and how cob building first arose in England remains uncertain, but it is known that cob houses were being built there by the 13th Century. Cob may have evolved from earlier techniques like wattle-and-daub, where mud is plastered over a framework of woven branches.
What is the oldest cob house in the UK?
Cob house in Devon, England. Built in 1539. Note the later addition of a buttress to left of windows. Cob house by Ernest Gimson. Budleigh Salterton, Devon. Woodway House, UK, built of cob in 1815 by Jack Spratt. This home was built with a frame of split oak trunks that rest on native red sandstone.
Do you know what a cob house is?
If you’ve never heard of a cob house, you will now. Cob is a sustainable mix of stray, sand, and clay. Like adobe and other home building materials, its history dates back for thousands of years. What Is Cob? Cob, or clom, is one of the oldest building materials.
How long do cob homes last?
As noted above, cob homes are strong and resistant to earthquakes. They can last for thousands of years as long as they’re maintained correctly (and this is fairly minimal upkeep). If you build your family a cob home, it will last for generations to come.