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Owned by Alex

Cob & Natural Building School

1.5k members • $10/month

Learn how to build your own natural, non-toxic house with cob and straw-clay. Save money, live debt-free, and be healthy!

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93 contributions to Cob & Natural Building School
Cob Wall Cost Calculator
I have a brand new calculator app for you! It will calculate material and labor cost for your cob wall projects. Give a try! You can find the calculator on my website here: https://www.thiscobhouse.com/cob-wall-cost-calculator/ If you have any feedback or bug reports, please let me know!
Cob Wall Cost Calculator
0 likes • Nov 4
@Marie Meyer Sure! Do you mean those cooling tubes they put underground to channel cool air in?
0 likes • 7h
@Liz Callister Yeah, just automatically does it in USD. If you find any trouble with this, I can maybe create one to convert for Australia.
Soil test results. What does it mean?
Hi , I have a question. I did a scratch test and made a little brick with my soil and it's hard as rock so I thought it would be perfect for adobe or cob. I then did the jar soil test and waited over 24 hours. It doesn't look like the soil separated at all. What does this mean? Both soils samples were from the same area on my land.
1 like • 7d
The jar test is almost never accurate, and will usually not separate into distinguishable layers. I don't use this method anymore because it's so inaccurate. Sometimes, it can give you a rough idea of soil composition, but that's about it. I have been told that if you add a tablespoon of dishwasher detergent powder into the jar test, it will help separate it more. The best test, without taking soil to a geological lab, is to just make cob. Continue making cob test batches, and making small test bricks. Once you find a mix ratio that works, make a big test brick, about 3 feet long, 18" wide, and 1 feet high. This will expose any major issues with your mix.
1 like • 5d
Overall, Arizona soil works great. I've heard that some soils there don't even need sand or extra aggregate added. Just take the soil and add water.
4 Proven Foundation Systems for Any Natural Building
This lesson is important so I wanted to share it with everyone.
1 like • 7d
@Kristy Nicole You're welcome.
Building a Homestead on a Budget - Land Layout and Strategies for Building
In this video, I share my journey of developing my six-acre land, showcasing various structures I've built, including a tiny house, a shed, and an outdoor shower. I discuss my strategy of starting small with multiple buildings instead of a single large house, which has allowed me to manage costs effectively while enjoying the outdoors. I also touch on my plans for a root cellar, gardens, and different barn projects, emphasizing the importance of checking local regulations. I'm eager to engage with your thoughts and experiences. Thanks for watching!
Building a Homestead on a Budget - Land Layout and Strategies for Building
2 likes • 8d
I've built incrementally over 4 years so far. My tiny house was maybe 6 months of continuous work, for example. That's fully finished. The kitchen will take a long time, only because I'm sure I'll be building/adding to it incrementally. It'll probably be 6 to 8 months of work for me to do overall though. It'll be really detailed.
The Ultimate Property Purchase Checklist for Alternative Homes
Planning to buy land for your alternative home, tiny house, or off-grid property? This comprehensive property purchase checklist will help you avoid the costly mistakes that trap most first-time land buyers. Whether you're building with cob, strawbale, hempcrete, or planning a tiny home, proper due diligence is essential. This guide covers everything from verifying building code status to checking for restrictive HOAs, ensuring you can actually build the alternative home of your dreams on your new property. Click Here to Get the Property Purchase Checklist
The Ultimate Property Purchase Checklist for Alternative Homes
0 likes • 13d
@Apollo Rose For sure! Let me know if there are any other sorts of guides you all need.
1-10 of 93
Alex Sumerall
6
827points to level up
@alex-sumerall-5026
Professional cob house builder and instructor at This Cob House. I teach people how to build their own natural earthen homes.

Active 7h ago
Joined Jan 30, 2025
Greeneville, Tennessee
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