What?

"COB" is a term used to describe the method of applying a mixture of loam and straw to build walls, furniture or other forms. Traditionally COB is made by stacking big balls of straw and loam on top of each other to form a wall.

Even birds use COB to build their houses!

How?

Step 1
Get your loam ready. Click here to learn more about loam

Step2
Mix loam with straw and water until you get a mixture that is similar to dough to bake bread, preferably a little stronger (read: less humid).
The more straw you use, the less cracks will appear and the stronger the construction will be.
Make sure the mixing is done thoroughly! The better it is mixed, the better the COB balls will attach one to the other. 
Often small "loam stones" are formed in the mixture. It is crucial to break these stones apart and get a homogeneous mixture.

Mixing can be done with your feet, but  you'll get a faster result with a paint mixer.

Step 3
Make COB, by hand

Step 4
Stack balls.
When building walls, it is important to make the base wider than the top as a COB wall is very heavy and might become unstable when made straight

Step5
​Tamp the wall by pushing it with your hands or hitting it with a wide stick

Step 6
Fil joints with the same straw and loam mixture

Step 7
Render both sides with loam render

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