The Ancient Art of Cob House Building

'Hobbit Houses' Use Green Materials & Method

A cob house takes its name from an old English root word "cob" meaning "lump or rounded mass." Cob building uses human hands and feet to form lumps of earth.

It is a mix of straw, sand and clay similar to adobe, but cob uses a higher amount of straw. Cob houses are cool in the summer, warm in the winter, and are resistant to rain, cold, fire, and earthquakes.

The History of Cob Houses

Cob houses and buildings have been around for a millennia. They have been built extensively in harsh coastal climates in Europe, not to mention many other countries around the world.

Cob building uses no forms, ramming, cement, or rectilinear bricks. Cob has flowing shapes that are curved, with arches, and niches that are delightful in the tradition of "hobbit" houses. Cob houses have been as large as apartment buildings and churches, or the size of a small cottage.

Around the world, there are still cob buildings in use that are thousands of years old. Consequently they are energy efficient, sustainable, durable, green, inexpensive to build, healthy, and fun.

Cob Comeback

Cob is now in a renaissance, as the cost of lumber increases and environmentally-safe practices are more popular. Being an ancient technique, it causes no deforestation or pollution, and is not dependent on manufactured materials or power tools. It is also non-toxic and recyclable. In our age of environmental degradation, chemical toxins in the home and dwindling resources, it makes sense to return to a more natural type of living.

The freedom of cob building is incredible when it comes to design. Since you are literally sculpting by hand, you can create a very artistic home that is organic and flowing, with whatever tickles your fancy. Essentially you are creating a soul soothing home that is compatible with its surroundings.

Cob House Costs

So what are the costs involved with such a project? Cobbing is very labor intensive - you are going to pay more money if others do the grunt work, but it is fairly easy to learn. The best path is to take a workshop from professionals and do it yourself.

Many folks who take cob workshops are willing to trade and barter for labor and advice, so there is a lot of flexibility in this area. Some houses also use recycled windows and doors that give the home added whimsy while saving money.

The downside of a cob house is the re-sell value. The market is limited at this time, but this could change as the popularity of cob increases. Financing could also prove difficult, but since it costs very little to build, hopefully you won't need a loan. Unfortunately, banks and financial institutions need more education in this area.

Building codes in some states are more lax than others, but there is still a ways to go. Washington state is the first state to permit cob building and slowly others will follow suit.There are many resources and educational materials online that will help people thinking about building a cob house.