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Moisture

Jul 09
Love2

Straw Bale Lessons: Keep Those Bales Dry!

By Natural Building Workshops, Moisture, Straw Bale Building
Straw Bale Storage

Nice dry bales under a big roof for protection in storage is critical!

We’re mere days away from the start of our 2015 Straw Bale Workshop. This summer’s weather has been surprisingly wet — we’ve had some amount of rain at least every other day (if not every day) for the past two weeks or more. I’m hopeful that things will settle down by the weekend. If not, we’ll be able to cope, I do believe. At least the mushrooms are happy. This season’s high levels of rain have brought some important straw bale building lessons to the forefront.
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Oct 29
Love0

Cob & Cold Climates: What You Need To Know

By Winter, Heating, Moisture

cold-cob-climate

Some time back, I wrote up an article about why cob is not appropriate for cold climates, based on our experiences living in Gobcobatron for several winters. I continue to get emails from folks saying something like “hey, I live in northern Illinois and really want to live in a cob house… can you recommend some resources?” My usual response is then something like “hold on a second there… I think you need to reconsider… cob may not be the best choice for your location…”

Anyway, it seems clear that folks may still not be up to speed on why cob is not a suitable choice for more northerly or cold climates. I have revisited my original post and added some new information on why cob is not suitable for cold climates.

I hope you’ll check it out. There’s even more to be said, but the basic gist of the issue is there!

Dec 30
Love0

The Year of Mud Top 10 News and Posts for 2011

By Lime Plaster, Earthen Floor, Strawtron, The Year of Mud Book, Natural Building Workshops, Wabi-sabi Kitchen, Moisture, Timber Framing
Pug Cone

Pug dons a dog cone in 2011... but that's not terribly related to the here and now...

2011 has presented us with a wide mix of events and emotions. It’s been everything from momentous, to extremely challenging, to gratifying, and everything in-between. Just like every other year, I suppose, right? Each year is not so different from the last, but at the same time, each year is full of its own unique experiences.

This was the year we experienced some significant health challenges, decided to build a new home, continued to do major renovations to Gobcobatron to correct some of its moisture and heat issues, made some advancements on our kitchen construction, hosted our first mini building workshop, began organzing two major natural building courses, got some rewarding nods in the media, and ultimately, just like last year, kept incredibly occupied.

Here I present the top 10 news and posts from The Year of Mud in 2011.

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Aug 04
Love0

The Decision To Use Pink Rigid Foam Insulation

By Moisture, Earthen Floor

I must confess: I’ve decided to use some pink foam insulation. I hate the stuff: it’s plastic, it’s a product of a polluting industry, it’s gross to work with, it’s non-biodegradable. And it has no redeeming ecological value. (Am I being harsh?)

It’s become clear that in my particular floor, at this particular time, and with my particular lack of willingness to experiment at this moment, it’s the “right choice”. Just over a week ago, April and I decided to go ahead and replace the entire earthen floor in the house, in hopes of continuing to alleviate the high humidity in Gobcobatron.

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Jul 25
Love0

Sawdust Insulation (Or Other Natural Options) in Earthen Floor Installation?

By Moisture, Earthen Floor

To keep myself from typing the same thing over again, I’m going to simply copy the text of an email I sent to Bill and Athena Steen, in my hope to determine an appropriate natural insulation layer in an earthen floor installation.

– – – –

I’ve been living in my cob house for two years now, and I’m preparing to re-do the earthen floor. We think it’s a source of the major moisture issues we’ve been experiencing. It currently doesn’t have a vapor barrier, and that’s the main reason we are considering re-doing it.

Actually, I have two questions about our floor project. One is: if you use vapor barriers, what is your preferred type of membrane?

And more importantly, do you insulate your earthen floors? Can you recommend a material that would be suitable? I am not thinking a light clay straw insulation layer would be appropriate, because of the thickness necessary, and thus the change in floor height. Have you ever heard of anyone doing a sawdust-clay insulation layer? I did a sawdust insulation layer over the earthen oven I built two summers ago, but I’ve never heard of anyone doing something similar in a floor.

Any ideas? We want to avoid manufactured products as much as possible. (Not possible with the membrane, of course.)

– – – –

Well, there you have it. Ideas greatly welcomed!

Mar 26
Love0

All the Work Updates Fit to Print

By Drainage Trench, Moisture, Wabi-sabi Kitchen, Timber Framing, Design

It’s spring, and the building season has officially begun. I’ve been a bit consumed with thinking about building lately — between doing some work around the house, planning for the next building season for the cooperative kitchen, thinking about a new home design, and serving on Dancing Rabbit’s new Common House design committee (we are a group of five tasked with designing a new common house intended to serve a population of 150 people), I have plenty to think about in the building arena. Sometimes it’s exhausting.

But as soon as I am able to actually do work, and not just think about it, it feels a lot better.

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Mar 04
Love0

What Next For The Year Of Mud?

By Design, Moisture, Winter

You might be wondering what’s next for the house, for my living situation, for this website. Gobcobatron needs some help, and it’s clear that a cob house in northeast Missouri is probably not the best idea for a four seasons dwelling. I love my house, but it’s become apparent that this is not the house I am meant to live in for the long haul.

But what will become of it?

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