Even though load-bearing cob houses may not feature a lot of lumber in their construction, you will still need some wood and other materials for your building project. Windows, doors, bricks, and lumber can often be acquired for free from old homes if you are willing to carefully deconstruct them.
Check out this post I wrote about building with reclaimed lumber and recycled materials. Much of the work in getting free building supplies is talking to the right people.
Recently, I wrote an article about building earthen floors for Green Building Elements. Earthen floors are commonplace in straw bale and cob buildings, but they can also be installed in more typical suburban homes.
Check out the full article here: Natural Building 101: How to build an earthen or adobe floor.
Last night, I wrote up a blog entry for Green Building Elements about building a reciprocal roof frame. I wrote a little bit about the concept of the design, the history, and my own experience building a reciprocal roof. I was inspired to write this due to an overall lack of information out there about the concept.
If you’re interested, check out the full article here: The Reciprocal Roof: Beauty, Strength, and Simplicity in a Roof Frame
(P.S. That’s Liat on my roof!)
I whipped up a new post for my new blogging job at Green Options, which can be found at Green Building Elements: Natural Building 101: Building an Eco-Friendly Cob House.
This is a sort of introduction to cob building for anyone unfamiliar with the technique. Please check it out!
Hi there, I’m Ziggy. In 2008, I launched The Year of Mud while building my first natural home. This website is a collection of personal stories and experiences building with clay, straw, and wood over the past 15+ years. A few of the things that get me fired up are natural plasters, timber framing, & Japanese architecture. In 2012, we started offering Natural Building Workshops, so you can learn essential hands-on skills to build your own natural home.