What Can Cob Be Used For?

Cob is fireproof, while “fire cob” (cob without straw or fiber) is a refractory material (the same material, essentially, as unfired common red brick), and historically, has been used to make chimneys, fireplaces, forges and crucibles.

How strong is cob?

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.

How long will cob 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 cob get wet?

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.

How is cob material sustainable?

Because it does not need to be heat-treated and is made from soil sourced from site, cob presents an opportunity to build more sustainably, with reduced carbon emissions and construction waste. And with CobBauge, occupants would have less need for heating than in a traditional building.

Can you drill into cob walls?

Cob is purely mud so a normal drill will be more than sufficient. Cob walls hate vibration as it breaks down the bond holding it together weakening it.

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 can you do with leftover cobs?

Here are five ingenious ways to use them.

1. Make corn stock. Toss the cobs in a large pot, cover them with water, add a few big pinches of salt, and simmer for about an hour.
2. Try corn cob jelly.
3. Milk them.
4. Enhance poaching liquid.
5. Smoke meat.

Is cob toxic?

While they’re not toxic, they can be a choking hazard or worse … so if your dog ate corn cob you need to know about the risks. Corn cobs are indigestible. They don’t break down in your dog’s stomach … and that means there’s a high risk of bowel obstruction.

Can cob be recycled?

Yes, they can be composted but since the core is usually pretty tough when the ears reach maturity (sweet corn cob as opposed to baby corn stage), they’ll probably take quite a while to rot down – chop them up to speed up the process but they’re still not going to be the fastest.

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.

Is cob edible?

Since the plant is harvested so young, it hasn’t developed the starch or sugar reserves of mature corn, which is why the cob is completely edible; it also means that pretty much any kind of corn can be used to produce baby corn, from American sweet corn to heartier flint and dent varieties used for dried grains.

Can cob be used as a foundation?

Cob house foundations can be built using a variety of materials, but they are mostly built with solid, non-corroding materials like concrete or stone. A good foundation is vital to the life of your building and it should be given the thorough consideration it deserves as a critical piece of the structure.

Is cob a good building material?

A Cob House is natural building material that has lots of beneficial properties that lend itself to a very comfortable home. With the thick walls of the cob house, you have a lot of thermal regulation happening. So in the heat of summer, the walls keep things cooler.

Can you paint on cob?

Cob and clay are soft substances that shouldn’t be directly painted with Silicate Masonry Paint because it won’t bond correctly. However, cob or clay walls that have been coated in lime render first can be painted with the Silicate Primer and Silicate Masonry System as per our instructions here.

Can you put nails in cob walls?

Nails must be hammered in to the sides to hold it in the wall. You are going to have to keep checking they are level as you build up, as the cob is likely to push them around a bit. The horizontal bar inside the wall also adds strength and stops the deadman falling out.

Can you mix cement with cob?

Cement mortar mixerswill mix cob if you can handle the fumes and noise. As with manual mixing, the clayey soil and sand is mixed first, then the straw added. The cob has to be mixed wetter than with other types of mixing to allow the cement mixer to turn without too much stress.

Does cob 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.

What are the cons of a cob house?

Cons:

• The preliminary disadvantage of a cob house is that its labor intensive.
• Another con of a cob house is that it can not endure wetness.
• Cob houses mostly work when the builder is acquainted with basic know-how of the art.
• A building permit may be difficult to obtain for a cob house.

Do you need permission to build a cob house?

As with all builds, it is necessary to get planning permission and satisfy Building Regulations. While this may be complicated there is no reason why you should fall short of meeting the Building Regulations, but obtaining planning permission will depend on the outlook of your local planning office.

Can you live in a cob house in the winter?

They can survive the blazing heat and winter freezes by burrowing and living underground. Put bluntly, cob is a pathetic insulator. This goes for any earthen building material. But what earthen materials lack in insulation properties they make up for with thermal retention.