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maddly16 |
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Post subject: a new cob home in the countryside
 Posted: Jul 21, 2009 - 03:00 PM
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Joined: Jul 21, 2009
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I have been reading up on cob building and my husband and i are looking to seek approval to build on his parents farm. I have an architectural background so am familiar with the planning process. I have recieved a list of scottish regulations to look at re building in the country. I am at the very start of my project and am looking to draw up the plans. I wandered if you had any advice for me prior to spending time drawing up plans.  |
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annabel |
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 25, 2009 - 06:10 PM
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Joined: May 15, 2004
Posts: 5
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Apolologies for late response, been full on with a build at Slimbridge WWT.
You can always email us directly for further advice.
regulations
Planning permission is sought in the same way as for more conventional housing. Problems may be encountered around location of the building, access, design and finishes, not specifically with the building material itself. Have a look at Planning Policy Guidance Notes (PPGs) – PPG12 and PPG15, which deal with sympathetic design and preservation of the historic environment. PPG1 also covers the government’s push to promote sustainable development, so could be used to your advantage.
Building Regulations compliance shouldn’t be a problem provided the officer is given sufficient detail to make an accurate assessment. Don’t be vague – give them as much detail as you can; impress them. You can send a soil sample to the Centre for Earthen Architecture in Plymouth, and get a technical data sheet to show a building inspector. New cob structures with full building regs approval include the RIBA-award-winning ‘Cobtun’ house and Kevin McCabe’s new houses in Ottery St. Mary and Keppel Gate in Devon. See here for more information about building regs and planning permission related to cob.
location
When considering a cob build, ensure access to water, and suitable clayey subsoil on site or in the local vicinity. It is also important to consider access onto your site due to the heavy nature of the materials, especially in relation to the precise location of your building – you don’t want to be wheelbarrowing all your materials uphill. If you are in a flood plain, then maybe cob isn’t the best option, and maybe you could consider something more appropriate, such as round wood timber frame.
the build
Cob building is labour-intensive and seasonally-dependent (Apr-Nov for the cob part of the build), so start with a small design that can be added to at a later date. This will give you more confidence with the material, and allow you to learn from your mistakes before moving on to a larger structure.
Cob always needs a good ‘hat and boots’ – i.e. solid, dry foundations, and a roof with a good overhang (at least 30cm). Foundations can be a rubble and gravel-filled trench with a perforated land drain to a soakaway to remove excess water.
Cob does not have good insulation properties, but to compensate, it has good thermal mass. Foundations can be insulated with pumice or vermiculite mixed with clay slip and rammed into cavities in the foundations. Floors can also be insulated with vermiculite, and ceilings can be insulated with recycled newspaper or sheep’s wool insulation. |
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