![]() I have seen too many very poor examples of foundations for earthen buildings that have led to a myriad of problems for them. In this section, I’m going to categorize them very distinctly as either good or bad materials for foundations. There are many kinds of materials and alternative materials that are used for foundations. Water collection around foundations can cause leaks and frost heave. The drainage system should keep excess water away from the foundation components. Rebar strengthens concrete and holds it in tension, similar to how straw fiber acts within cob.Ī good foundation will also have a drainage system along the outside perimeter. Steel reinforcing, also called rebar, is used throughout any concrete foundation components, such as the footers and stem walls. This portion of the foundation acts as a moisture break between the ground and the walls, and further integrates the building into the solid ground beneath it. Stem walls for earthen buildings should generally rise between 1.5 to 2 feet above ground level. The stem wall sits on top of the underground foundation footers and they extend above-ground. They are wider than the actual width of the foundation stem walls. Footers support the foundation and help prevent it from settling. ![]() There are a few main components that will make up the foundation for a house.įoundation footers are the deepest part of your foundation and sit underground beneath the foundation stem walls. If your foundation is well designed, your building will enjoy a much longer life. Do your due diligence and plan for a solid, strong foundation. You still want to have a raised stem wall.Įspecially for earthen building, the importance of foundations cannot be overemphasized. ![]() Even in arid climates, it is not recommended to build the cob walls starting at the ground level as this shortens the life of the structure. It’s important for your foundation to protect your walls from water since cob walls will deteriorate if they are exposed to water. Water runoff along the ground is also not able to touch the cob portion of the walls, and water splash-back from rainfall cannot reach the height of the cob walls. It acts as a moisture break so that water does not seep up from the ground into the walls. The stem wall acts as protection for the earthen walls from water damage. ![]() The stem wall, which extends above ground on top of the footers, stands at least 1 ½ feet above ground level. The footers below ground level work with the stem wall to further distribute the weight of the building evenly and to anchor the building into the ground. A good foundation is vital to the life of your building and it should be given the thorough consideration it deserves as a critical piece of the structure.įoundations for cob buildings can include the footers below ground and the above-ground stem wall that holds the cob walls above grade. You must build on solid, dry ground with good soil drainage.Ĭob house foundations can be built using a variety of materials, but they are mostly built with solid, non-corroding materials like concrete or stone. It also distributes the weight of the house over a larger area and helps prevent the building from sinking into the ground, which can be catastrophic to a structure. The foundation is a unified, stable base which holds the weight of your walls, upper floors, roof, and any live loads. This is the first major component to consider when building any structure, and the information presented in this chapter will be relevant to most types of buildings. The first part of building your cob house will be the foundation. ![]()
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