Cob is a method of building structures from earth without the need for rectangle bricks, ramming, or forms. This method allows for the construction of aesthetically pleasing curved lines, archways, and other organic shapes. The materials in cob are simply straw and sand, formed in lumps with hands or feet. Cob structures are completely natural and non-toxic, and fully sustainable.

The benefits of cob structures are its innate beauty, ease and safety in building, and excellent insulative properties. Cob homes are strongly resistant to rain and cold weather, making them ideal for use in areas of abundant precipitation. The natural thickness of the walls also provides protection from the summer sun, with a cool and comfortable interior year-round. The thick walls are also ideal for passive solar systems.

Cob homes are also extremely resilient. People in coastal northern Britain have continuously occupied picturesque cob homes for hundreds of years, enduring the harsh climate with ease. The practice of building with cob has been entrenched in the culture there for milennia, a truly time-tested tradition. It is practical for all but the coldest areas of America, withstanding rainfall and wind, especially with a lime-sand plaster coating on exterior walls. As a fireproof material, it is also useful for ovens and stoves.

Source: The Cob Cottage Company www.CobCottage.com

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