I would absolutely LOVE to see how she's living in this house now! This cob cottage is absolutely gorgeous and I want to live in something very similar in the future. I don't want to be a slave to a mortgage all of my life.
the 1000 year old houses in devon, england, that are famous for their thatched roofs (and their old age) are made of cob. as long as the drip line is far enough away from the walls, they are great in wet weather. i even saw a cob house in northern CA that had been in the path of a flood. completely under water for a few days and it survived intact!
@minyguy Because cob is porous it can get wet and not turn to mush. Also, most cob homes are built with roof overhang to prevent the walls from getting too wet.
@jjrants Most building codes don't cover cob building. If there is no code this means you as the homeowner have to do more work to get a building inspector to approve it. Some codes do cover adobe (I grew up in one in not particularly alternative Mountain View, CA) so you could try to use the argument with an inspector that cob is simply a variation on adobe. Other options I've heard of: an agricultural permit, getting an architect to approve it (inspectors like this), or going without a permit.
@kijordan1 The dugouts are a common feature in many cob homes and shouldn't weaken the walls if done right. I'm not an expert, but I know there are a lot of books out there that talk a lot about the details of building your own earth built home. I did a video series with Michael Smith (one attached as a video response) who has several books out on the topic.. one of which - "The Hand-Sculpted House" - was used by one of the builders in this video.
@pianosyrup123 I know Margaret was on the farm property of others. I know they had solar and wind power right by her cottage. I'm not sure if she had plumbing in her cottage but I know others with cob cottages who do. If you look at the videos in the video responses above (and there are 7 or 8 more with Michael) you can see cob and other earth buildings that are finished and appear more like conventional homes when done (plumbing, electricity and all).
It's right in the text "North Carolina's Pickards Mountain Eco-Institute". I also filmed a longer video with them, including Margaret, called "Living like it's 2050: a Transition Farm in North Carolina".
@999gandalfthekid I can't answer your question, but I just uploaded a series on natural building by an expert in cob and other earth materials (straw bale, slip straw, etc). He co-wrote the book "The Hand-Sculpted House: A Practical and Philosophical Guide to Building a Cob Cottage" which was a resource for the guys in this video. You can find the videos on my channel-- the overview piece is called "DIY home from earth and straw".
@spider23000 I haven't been back to North Carolina to do a follow-up, but there are some photos of the finished cottage. Try a google photo search using "Pickards Mountain cob cottage".
@61804shill What did they use as an exterior wall? Straw bale is usually used as insulation or structural elements, so once it is covered with whatever exterior you choose, it should be just as durable as conventional insulation. I just shot an interview with a natural building expert (which I'll be posting soon) and he talked about how as long as cob buildings are built right (with a good roof and foundation, plus exterior plaster) they should be as stable as conventional homes.
@herculesAML I'm not an expert, but from what I've read it is fairly resistant. I've read it's stronger than brick or block because it's a monolithic unit reinforced by straw which means no weak straight-line mortar joints. In one study, a test structure survived a simulated 7.4 quake with only minor cracks. Anecdotally, a cob mansion in NZ survived 2 major earthquakes which destroyed the town it's in. And South Yemen- a fault zone- has surviving Medieval earthen skyscrapers (13 stories).
@fromkellytowilliams A lot of people have asked that. So I had an expert in natural building (Michael Smith, co-writer of "The Hand-Sculpted House") talk about that in a video. You can find it in my videos under "Natural buildings don't melt"
@Bajaheat I don't build. I just videotape and edit videos about small homes, as well as many other environmental sustainability/simple living topics for a website I started with my husband called faircompanies
@Timothy2035 Once the manure is old it won't smell anymore. I did a video with a woman with a composting toilet and she said that after a year the pathogens are all gone from human manure. In fact she showed us what it looks like and it looked like dirt and smelled like dirt. If you want to see the video it's called "An urban composting toilet & humanure for the garden".
@sam8988378 It's in North Carolina. Though there are plenty of cob homes- and very old ones- in England where it rains a lot and not that hot so really this can be done anywhere. Though you're better off using a mix of cob and straw bale for better insulation and passive heating/cooling functions. I recently learned this when interviewing a natural building expert for a series I've posted. For more on this topic, see "An earth-built passive solar house: cob (south), strawbale (north)"
@mcddesignbuild Thanks for the information. I didn't realize the cottage was wired for electricity, though I had guessed perhaps she was using communal bath facilities. It looks like you've continued working in earth building (if those are your websites). Hope to profile you again on the channel!
What a neat little home! These videos make me want to live in a house like this. I love how it's all natural and made from readily available building materials.
@monteshasta1 The investment wasn't so much in materials as labor. It took 10 months to build the cottage with anywhere from 1 to 10 people helping when they had time. I've talked to other people who have built their own earth homes and they've done things like "work parties" to get friends to help out (e.g. making things like mud bricks in a weekend). I did a video with a natural building expert who talked about the labor/materials costs of earth building, see: "DIY home from earth and straw".
another great advantage of this house is that if there is a leak in the roof one can easily repair it by simply shitting on it and filling in the cracks! thus occasional repairs are not only purely ecological but they also enhance the natural aroma in the house
Wonderful! The only thing I'd mention is a personal revelation regarding "acquiring things". Absolutely, I agree with the sentiment, and at the same time I've come to realize we really must acquire as many useful things as possible now that will be invaluable in the future, when those materials are not as easily obtained in the future, when the economy will look quite different. BRILLIANT BUILDING and great video!
Very interesting video. I like the house and I agree about that people tend to acquire more "stuff" to make them happy. I will have to attend a work shop to learn how to do all of this...thanks for sharing.
If you go to Devon/Cornwall in the uk you will find loads of cob house that have been built 100's of years ago and still are lived in and there standard house size
Since so many people had asked about that I asked a natural building expert to talk about this. Video is called "Natural buildings don't melt". You can find it here ruclips.net/video/MCfS2-m-cpE/видео.html
@InuvikPhil I asked natural building expert Michael G. Smith the erosion question for a video called "Natural buildings don't melt" youtube . com/watch?v=MCfS2-m-cpE His basic response: it's not a problem if you have a roof, a foundation (to protect from ground moisture) and possibly a protective plaster (“if you live in a place with wind-driven rain that comes in horizontally”).
Speaking of water, on the next build you should incorporate a way to collect the water off the roof into a cistern. Of course, you would also need a water purification system in order to safely use the water.
I love it. I worry the roof isn't pitched enough, given the rainfall levels of NC. I know the walls won't melt, but just the weight of all that rain soaked in on the roof, I'd want it to shed water more than it looks like it will. Otherwise,, I'm a huge fan, have wanted to build one of these for years. Someday...
@kirstendirksen I'm one of the guys that built Margaret's cottage at pickards mountain, and it has electricity but not plumbing. There are kitchen and bath facilities in separate buildings on the property.
Wow have fun with your wad of dirt and ill live in my sweet a/c cooled apartment sucking power from the planet watching birds fall from the sky. Altho I love the video you guys post while I could never live in something like that its very fun and cool to see other people enjoying themselves and learning about new things. :D
@superkagome Actually cob homes are very water-resistant. It's important they have a good roof and good foundation, but if so, they don't collapse. I did a video with a natural building expert on the topic called "Natural buildings don't melt" watch?v=MCfS2-m-cpE
living in a place that small would be cool but I would have to build another place for my books. That is one thing I have to have with me! Then maybe a wrkshop area would be cool to. I would want to conect them with a cob wall and have a garden court yard.
I love it! Personally I would need a bit more space, simply because I have a husband and child. My question though is where are the bathroom and kitchen?
Beautiful work, guys! Love the attention to detail. How long did it take to complete? Approximate number of full work days? Just two guys building? Can you give the ratio of materials used for interior plaster? Thanks in advance!
it's more comfortable. it doesn't need gas, electricity, AC or heating (or not very much of it). the materials are natural and campers are made of all kinds of synthetic things which are always leeching chemicals. in a place like this you'd feel like you're part of the land, and in a camper you'd feel like you're a foreign object.
Great video Kristen, hay since I already own a horse and do not mind getting a little crappy once in while, how many parts of crap to clay may I ask. Keep up three good work on the Hobbit house or cabin.
@empouse I couldn't agree more. I am planning on this and helping others to do the same. Building in your spare time for less than $50'000 is possible if you do some of the grunt work yourself. Imagine you pay 3 and half times what you borrow so a $200'000 mortgage will cost you $700'000 over 25 yrs etc. Or pay nothing and live a free and richer life in more ways than one. Genius!
I am not quite sure how they get this by the building code here in North Carolina. A "dwelling unit" is suppose to include toilet and kitchen facilities. In my county (Randolph) they do not accept ANY composting toilets or gray water systems and claim none are approved for use in North Carolina per the health (septic systems) inspections dept.
We're in the process of building a partially-cob home, and the part that is completed so far is very charming and easy to live in, with a beautiful kitchen and bathroom. It will ultimately be about 800-900 sq.ft., more than enough for two people. Why only partially cob? It's in an urban setting, and building codes aren't yet up-to-date with "modern-yet-old" technology! Otherwise, a completely cob home would be even more satisfying.
Great job guys, i'm tossing up between a cob house or stone house, both materials i have in abundance, Question how do you seal the internal walls so you don't get clay dust on you when you touch it ?. I am keen to try an outhouse first to see the finished effect.
Yeah, People prefer cement and wood though they can save a lot of money if they can use clay instead and it would be fun to learn how things actually work.
How cold can it get outside, when you stay in that building the whole year? Would you survive freezing temperature? And if not, are there ways to build a mud house that can manage these temperatures? I would love to find out.
So is it just clay or is there dirt in it too? In other words, do you have to separate the clay from the dirt in order for it to work right? I have been trying to get into cob building and that little detail seems to get overlooked. Thanks!
Yes, depending on the building method. Several projects I've seen used a thin "plaster" layer to smooth the surface using a diluted version of the cob without the hay. The top coat can even be dyed.
I would absolutely LOVE to see how she's living in this house now! This cob cottage is absolutely gorgeous and I want to live in something very similar in the future. I don't want to be a slave to a mortgage all of my life.
the 1000 year old houses in devon, england, that are famous for their thatched roofs (and their old age) are made of cob. as long as the drip line is far enough away from the walls, they are great in wet weather. i even saw a cob house in northern CA that had been in the path of a flood. completely under water for a few days and it survived intact!
@minyguy Because cob is porous it can get wet and not turn to mush. Also, most cob homes are built with roof overhang to prevent the walls from getting too wet.
@jjrants Most building codes don't cover cob building. If there is no code this means you as the homeowner have to do more work to get a building inspector to approve it. Some codes do cover adobe (I grew up in one in not particularly alternative Mountain View, CA) so you could try to use the argument with an inspector that cob is simply a variation on adobe. Other options I've heard of: an agricultural permit, getting an architect to approve it (inspectors like this), or going without a permit.
@kijordan1 The dugouts are a common feature in many cob homes and shouldn't weaken the walls if done right. I'm not an expert, but I know there are a lot of books out there that talk a lot about the details of building your own earth built home. I did a video series with Michael Smith (one attached as a video response) who has several books out on the topic.. one of which - "The Hand-Sculpted House" - was used by one of the builders in this video.
@pianosyrup123 I know Margaret was on the farm property of others. I know they had solar and wind power right by her cottage. I'm not sure if she had plumbing in her cottage but I know others with cob cottages who do.
If you look at the videos in the video responses above (and there are 7 or 8 more with Michael) you can see cob and other earth buildings that are finished and appear more like conventional homes when done (plumbing, electricity and all).
It's right in the text "North Carolina's Pickards Mountain Eco-Institute". I also filmed a longer video with them, including Margaret, called "Living like it's 2050: a Transition Farm in North Carolina".
@999gandalfthekid I can't answer your question, but I just uploaded a series on natural building by an expert in cob and other earth materials (straw bale, slip straw, etc). He co-wrote the book "The Hand-Sculpted House: A Practical and Philosophical Guide to Building a Cob Cottage" which was a resource for the guys in this video. You can find the videos on my channel-- the overview piece is called "DIY home from earth and straw".
@spider23000 I haven't been back to North Carolina to do a follow-up, but there are some photos of the finished cottage. Try a google photo search using "Pickards Mountain cob cottage".
@61804shill What did they use as an exterior wall? Straw bale is usually used as insulation or structural elements, so once it is covered with whatever exterior you choose, it should be just as durable as conventional insulation. I just shot an interview with a natural building expert (which I'll be posting soon) and he talked about how as long as cob buildings are built right (with a good roof and foundation, plus exterior plaster) they should be as stable as conventional homes.
@TheSmilehuge It's in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
@herculesAML I'm not an expert, but from what I've read it is fairly resistant. I've read it's stronger than brick or block because it's a monolithic unit reinforced by straw which means no weak straight-line mortar joints. In one study, a test structure survived a simulated 7.4 quake with only minor cracks. Anecdotally, a cob mansion in NZ survived 2 major earthquakes which destroyed the town it's in. And South Yemen- a fault zone- has surviving Medieval earthen skyscrapers (13 stories).
@fromkellytowilliams A lot of people have asked that. So I had an expert in natural building (Michael Smith, co-writer of "The Hand-Sculpted House") talk about that in a video. You can find it in my videos under "Natural buildings don't melt"
@Bajaheat I don't build. I just videotape and edit videos about small homes, as well as many other environmental sustainability/simple living topics for a website I started with my husband called faircompanies
@Timothy2035 Once the manure is old it won't smell anymore. I did a video with a woman with a composting toilet and she said that after a year the pathogens are all gone from human manure. In fact she showed us what it looks like and it looked like dirt and smelled like dirt. If you want to see the video it's called "An urban composting toilet & humanure for the garden".
@sam8988378 It's in North Carolina. Though there are plenty of cob homes- and very old ones- in England where it rains a lot and not that hot so really this can be done anywhere. Though you're better off using a mix of cob and straw bale for better insulation and passive heating/cooling functions. I recently learned this when interviewing a natural building expert for a series I've posted. For more on this topic, see "An earth-built passive solar house: cob (south), strawbale (north)"
@mcddesignbuild Thanks for the information. I didn't realize the cottage was wired for electricity, though I had guessed perhaps she was using communal bath facilities. It looks like you've continued working in earth building (if those are your websites). Hope to profile you again on the channel!
Where are they located.
What a neat little home! These videos make me want to live in a house like this. I love how it's all natural and made from readily available building materials.
This is SO NEAT! The house has a warm interior color too. I would love to see it furnished. I'm sure it will be quite cosy and homey.
@monteshasta1 The investment wasn't so much in materials as labor. It took 10 months to build the cottage with anywhere from 1 to 10 people helping when they had time. I've talked to other people who have built their own earth homes and they've done things like "work parties" to get friends to help out (e.g. making things like mud bricks in a weekend). I did a video with a natural building expert who talked about the labor/materials costs of earth building, see: "DIY home from earth and straw".
another great advantage of this house is that if there is a leak in the roof one can easily repair it by simply shitting on it and filling in the cracks! thus occasional repairs are not only purely ecological but they also enhance the natural aroma in the house
Wonderful! The only thing I'd mention is a personal revelation regarding "acquiring things". Absolutely, I agree with the sentiment, and at the same time I've come to realize we really must acquire as many useful things as possible now that will be invaluable in the future, when those materials are not as easily obtained in the future, when the economy will look quite different. BRILLIANT BUILDING and great video!
Very interesting video. I like the house and I agree about that people tend to acquire more "stuff" to make them happy. I will have to attend a work shop to learn how to do all of this...thanks for sharing.
If you go to Devon/Cornwall in the uk you will find loads of cob house that have been built 100's of years ago and still are lived in and there standard house size
Cob is a welsh word apparently.
Since so many people had asked about that I asked a natural building expert to talk about this. Video is called "Natural buildings don't melt". You can find it here ruclips.net/video/MCfS2-m-cpE/видео.html
I think having those interns around would be a great way to keep things warm in the winter...
@InuvikPhil I asked natural building expert Michael G. Smith the erosion question for a video called "Natural buildings don't melt" youtube . com/watch?v=MCfS2-m-cpE His basic response: it's not a problem if you have a roof, a foundation (to protect from ground moisture) and possibly a protective plaster (“if you live in a place with wind-driven rain that comes in horizontally”).
I loved that there were no hard angles - and it was all at angles: awesome
This is SO NEAT! The house has a warm interior color too.
This video was a great presentation of Cob Structures, without them even trying.
thank you very much, for taking your time for answer me, send you a hug in the light.
Wow, she's beautiful & ecologically minded! Thumbs up!
Speaking of water, on the next build you should incorporate a way to collect the water off the roof into a cistern. Of course, you would also need a water purification system in order to safely use the water.
It looks like a refreshingly natural setting to live in.
I love it. I worry the roof isn't pitched enough, given the rainfall levels of NC. I know the walls won't melt, but just the weight of all that rain soaked in on the roof, I'd want it to shed water more than it looks like it will. Otherwise,, I'm a huge fan, have wanted to build one of these for years. Someday...
I love the mud wasp nests on the rafters! Perhaps the inspiration for the first 'cob' sheter?
@kirstendirksen I'm one of the guys that built Margaret's cottage at pickards mountain, and it has electricity but not plumbing. There are kitchen and bath facilities in separate buildings on the property.
i like how the lady says "horse manure." It's just cute.
The material's insulating properties are rather impressive.
Wow have fun with your wad of dirt and ill live in my sweet a/c cooled apartment sucking power from the planet watching birds fall from the sky. Altho I love the video you guys post while I could never live in something like that its very fun and cool to see other people enjoying themselves and learning about new things. :D
You all are awesome! Such a cool thing to put your energy into
@superkagome Actually cob homes are very water-resistant. It's important they have a good roof and good foundation, but if so, they don't collapse. I did a video with a natural building expert on the topic called "Natural buildings don't melt" watch?v=MCfS2-m-cpE
Hello L Ortiz. It's called humor. And I am a carpenter. Which is why I watched the video. Beautiful house to all who worked on it.
living in a place that small would be cool but I would have to build another place for my books. That is one thing I have to have with me! Then maybe a wrkshop area would be cool to. I would want to conect them with a cob wall and have a garden court yard.
I love it! Personally I would need a bit more space, simply because I have a husband and child. My question though is where are the bathroom and kitchen?
Nicole Junkin outhouse.
I love how the clay come from the same property.
Beautiful work, guys! Love the attention to detail. How long did it take to complete? Approximate number of full work days? Just two guys building? Can you give the ratio of materials used for interior plaster? Thanks in advance!
Sweet home! It's quite warm and welcoming
Wow! Really gorgeous!
Michelle Grace The guys?
it's more comfortable. it doesn't need gas, electricity, AC or heating (or not very much of it). the materials are natural and campers are made of all kinds of synthetic things which are always leeching chemicals. in a place like this you'd feel like you're part of the land, and in a camper you'd feel like you're a foreign object.
Outhouse, clayovens (clay ovens are freakin adorable)
beautiful interior. It will be a lovely little space!
Great video Kristen, hay since I already own a horse and do not mind getting a little crappy once in while, how many parts of crap to clay may I ask.
Keep up three good work on the Hobbit house or cabin.
Great little documentary!
Intelligent people doing creative things.
I would love to build this and I live in Chapel Hill too! I wonder how much is to build something similar.
@empouse I couldn't agree more. I am planning on this and helping others to do the same. Building in your spare time for less than $50'000 is possible if you do some of the grunt work yourself. Imagine you pay 3 and half times what you borrow so a $200'000 mortgage will cost you $700'000 over 25 yrs etc. Or pay nothing and live a free and richer life in more ways than one. Genius!
I am not quite sure how they get this by the building code here in North Carolina. A "dwelling unit" is suppose to include toilet and kitchen facilities. In my county (Randolph) they do not accept ANY composting toilets or gray water systems and claim none are approved for use in North Carolina per the health (septic systems) inspections dept.
guy with a six pack... all i notice
Not as big as the Tardis. Now THAT would be an awesome home.
Very nice. Thanks for sharing.
Neat little house and I really like the idea but... where is the bathroom? What is going to be done about cooking?
We're in the process of building a partially-cob home, and the part that is completed so far is very charming and easy to live in, with a beautiful kitchen and bathroom. It will ultimately be about 800-900 sq.ft., more than enough for two people. Why only partially cob? It's in an urban setting, and building codes aren't yet up-to-date with "modern-yet-old" technology! Otherwise, a completely cob home would be even more satisfying.
Just wondering if there were any finished picture of this cottage.
My what an intricate fantasy world you've concocted for yourself.
The interior reminds me of Fred Flintstone's house
That's what I was thinking!
very beautiful, i will keep this in mind as i continue living life ok?
Great job guys, i'm tossing up between a cob house or stone house, both materials i have in abundance, Question how do you seal the internal walls so you don't get clay dust on you when you touch it ?. I am keen to try an outhouse first to see the finished effect.
There's a million friggin' Mud Dauber nests on the rafters!!!
what about plumbing? kitchen? bath? cooking fuel(s)?
looks awesome...just curious about the "little" details!
Wow, I want to build and live in a house like that so badly I can taste it!
How would a cottage of this construction hold up to an area with high rainfall, snow, or persistent weather shifts?
well don't know who thought it was a hobbit house, which it isn't, but its very cool
Yeah, People prefer cement and wood though they can save a lot of money if they can use clay instead and it would be fun to learn how things actually work.
I need to find someone to build one of these for me!
Cool mud brick house
How cold can it get outside, when you stay in that building the whole year? Would you survive freezing temperature? And if not, are there ways to build a mud house that can manage these temperatures? I would love to find out.
At 1:16 I noticed a bunch of "tubes" on the ceiling rafters. What are they?
I love the roof
I would LOVE to have a house like this. Unfortunately with two young boys, I'd need a little more space than this :)
I want to see the finished one
@kirstendirksen so do you guys build small cabins or do u just do interviews of them?
Where is the bathroom?
this is so awesome!
i wonder if its just clay if it rains a lot would it melt away whats keeping it from decomposing
how do you prevent leaks and dry rot in the roof and ceiling?
Very inspiring!
BEST HOSTESS EVER.
So is it just clay or is there dirt in it too? In other words, do you have to separate the clay from the dirt in order for it to work right? I have been trying to get into cob building and that little detail seems to get overlooked. Thanks!
@Slagythor
The bushes about 40 yards infront of the house.
If you used hay for binding instead of manure, would the walls look as smooth?
Yes, depending on the building method. Several projects I've seen used a thin "plaster" layer to smooth the surface using a diluted version of the cob without the hay. The top coat can even be dyed.
Cool, thanks. Paint wouldn't be able to do the same
I love this!!!! :)
Out of curiosity doe you have indoor plumbing,or electricty, and can a personbuild a cob just by oneself
how long did it take to finish and how much did it cost roughly?
CUTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Who will build a city with me
Shouldnt you have added a fireplace and a door for winter? Other then that it looks great.
what happens when it gets wet does it just turn..to wet mush again?
She needs a carpet just to roll around with her dog? Lonely nights I guess.
@ruffneck168 well they said the walls were partly made of manure so I guess when it rains it smells like shit