How Much Straw Do You Need For Cob?

There is no exact amount of straw to use, but about 15-20% usually works well. Keep repeating the process until all of the straw is thoroughly distributed and mixed into the cob. You’ve just made cob!

How do you make a cob out of straw?

A good ratio of straw to clay and aggregate is one five-gallon bucket of straw compressed, to five buckets of dry ingredients. Keep repeating this process until the straw is used up, constantly turning and stomping, until all the straw is thoroughly mixed in and is the same color as the cob.

What is the ratio for cob?

If the clay is very sticky, you may use up to 2 or 2.5 parts sand to 1 part clay. If the clay is not very sticky, a 1 to 1 ratio may be fine. Rarely will you add more clay then sand. Its best to use 5 gallon buckets to measure out the ratios (i.e. 1.5 buckets of sand to 1 bucket of clay).

Why is straw used in cob?

Straw is the component of cob referred to as the fiber. It acts as a natural rebar in a similar way that metal rebar would function in concrete. It adds tensile and shear strength to cob walls and holds a cob structure more together as a single monolithic piece. Use straw that is fresh and not brittle or rotten.

What kind of sand do you use for cob?

I’ve kinda answered my own questions, but am I right. Hi Chris, It is a common practice to use sharp sand for making cob. “Sharp” meaning sand that has jagged edges rather than smooth (like beach sand) which is rounded.

What is the lifespan of a cob?

Gypsy Vanner (also called the Gypsy Horse, Irish Cob, or Traditional Gypsy Cob): 25-30+ years. Hackney: 25-30 years.

Is cob good for cold weather?

Cob is a suitable building material for hot or cold climates due to its ability to keep indoor temperatures stable. Depending on your comfort levels, this can eliminate the need for centralized heating systems and air conditioning. That’s some great energy saving potential right there!

How do you make a good cob?

Mixing Cob: Step By Step
Pour off the water from 3 buckets of clay, and dump the clay into the sand pile. Remove your shoes, and get stompin’. Every minute or so, use the edge of the tarp to pull and roll the material to more quickly incorporate the sand and clay. Add water if necessary.

What keeps cob from washing away?

Why doesn’t it wash away in the rain? Cob is very resistant to weathering. Because of its porous nature, it withstands long periods of rain without weakening. However, too much exposure is best avoided by the “boots and cap” strategy: wide roof eaves to protect the walls and an impervious foundation.

Is cob as strong as concrete?

Cob has unique properties which make it as strong and more durable than concrete (see ‘How is Cob so strong’) the oldest Cob building is over 10,000 years old. Cob is resistant to fire, termites and mould.

Can cob houses withstand rain?

Rain can be one of the main enemies to the integrity of your cob structure. But at the same time, cob walls can actually withstand a tremendous amount of water hitting them and still be fine. Its more the slow “drip” and consistent dampness that we want to avoid.

Can you use pine needles in cob?

Cob is a type of earth building technique that uses a mixture of earth and a fibrous organic material (typically straw, but in this case pine needles) that adds tensile strength.

Can you use a cement mixer for cob?

A concrete mixer will only tumble the materials round and round. This works for mixingmixingMixing is performed to allow heat and/or mass transfer to occur between one or more streams, components or phases. Modern industrial processing almost always involves some form of mixing. Some classes of chemical reactors are also mixers.https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Mixing_(process_engineering)

How long does it take for cob to dry?

It can take months to years for your cob to dry out fully. The bulk of the moisture will dry out in the first year, but it will not fully cure for 1-2 years beyond that. Once you’ve built your cob house and added your roof, allow it to breathe for several months before moving in.

Does cob absorb water?

CorncobCorncobA corncob, also called cob of corn or corn on the cob, is the central core of an ear of corn (also known as maize). It is the part of the ear on which the kernels grow. The ear is also considered a “cob” or “pole” but it is not fully a “pole” until the ear is shucked, or removed from the plant material around the ear.https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Corncob

What age are cobs fully grown?

By around 12 months old, the horse will have reached roughly 90 percent of their height. After this rapid growth period, the growth rate slows down substantially, typically taking another 4 to 6 years for them to finally reach their maximum height and weight.

Do cobs need rugs?

Many horses, especially breeds such as the native pony and cob types, can adapt well to winter weather and easily cope without a rug when they have adequate forage and access to shelter.

How often should I ride my cob?

If you are someone who likes to casually ride your horse, riding at least twice a week for 20-30 minutes at a time can help your horse be at the correct level of fitness. This should include some extended periods of trotting and canteringcanteringNoun. canter (plural canters) A gait of a horse between a trot and a gallop, consisting of three beats and a “suspension” phase, where there are no feet on the ground. Also describing this gait on other four legged animals. A ride on a horse at such speed.https://en.wiktionary.org › wiki › canter

What are the disadvantages of a cob house?

Disadvantages:

• Labour intensive.
• Relatively slow to build.
• Obtaining a mortgage from lending institutions is difficult.
• Cob walls cannot be laid in wet or freezing weather.
• Insects, notably termites and small rodents can burrow into the walls and weaken them.

How thick do cob walls need to be?

How thick should cob walls be? The thinner that cob walls are the less load bearing capacity and thermal mass that they will have. I recommend the width of cob walls be between 18 to 24 inches as a standard. This gives plenty of load bearing capacity for a one story building and plenty of thermal mass.

What do you feed your cob in the winter?

Alfalfa chaff is a good source of digestible fibre and quality protein so can be fed to replace some of the forage ration. Soaked sugar beet pulp is also a good source of digestible fibre and can be fed mixed with alfalfa or oat straw chaff in a separate bowl to give your horse a choice of forages in the stable.