Cob homes are a type of house that’s built from a combination of sand, clay, and straw. They’re popular in areas where the local soil has good drainage and ideally don’t need much maintenance. The homes are also incredibly affordable compared to their conventional counterparts—you can build one for less than $10,000 if you follow one of the many cob-building guides available online or in print. The average cost to build your own cob home is about $70 per square foot (20% less than conventional wood frame construction), but this figure will depend on several factors such as the size of your lot and whether you’re planning on adding any extensions later on down the road (which would raise costs considerably).
Building a cob house is a great way to build a sustainable, eco-friendly home. It’s also an excellent way to get your hands dirty and learn some new skills. Cob is an ancient building material made of sand, clay and straw, or other fibres that’s been used for thousands of years. The mixture is typically hand-packed into forms and then left to dry naturally for several days before being finished by either plastering over it or adding a layer of lime plaster.
Cob offers many benefits over conventional building materials such as wood or concrete. Cob walls are breathable so they don’t trap moisture inside them which means you won’t need to use dangerous chemicals like formaldehyde for insulation purposes. And because cob can be used on uneven surfaces without any reinforcement (such as plywood), it’s ideal for creating homes that fit in with their environment rather than disrupting it with straight lines and flat surfaces (which often require more resources).
Cob House Cost Factors
You will have to decide how big you want your house, and how much time and money you’re willing to invest. You can build a small cob cottage for less than $1,500 if you have only one person helping—or as much as $10,000 if there are three or more people involved.
- The size of the house is going to be the biggest factor in determining cost. If you go with a smaller structure, it will likely cost less than building a larger home would. For example: A 400 square foot cob home should cost between $3K-$5K; while 600 square feet of living space could be priced around $9K-$12K (assuming all materials are bought new). As with any construction project though: If you buy used materials instead of new ones then this could potentially lower costs dramatically.
- Materials will also affect overall price; so an artful builder might spend extra on beautiful finishes like windowsills made from old wine bottles rather than simple plywood shelves (which would be cheaper). Again though: It’s always best not too overspend here either because otherwise your cob house won’t look very good when finished.
Cost To Build A Cob House
Cob houses are constructed with a mixture of clay, sand, and straw. The cost to build a cob house varies based on the size of the structure and the materials used. A cob house is typically built up to four stories high; however, some can be as tall as eight stories.
The most expensive part of building a cob house is the foundation because it must support all four stories above it. The more expensive your home will be is determined by how much labor you want to invest into building it yourself or hiring others for help in constructing your home’s foundation.
Permits and Labor
To build a cob house, you’re going to need permits. Permits and labor can vary wildly depending on the size and location of your home and what materials you choose to use. Some areas require more stringent building codes than others, so keep that in mind when figuring out how much it will cost for your cob house project.
Permits: $1,000-$10,000
Labor: $5,000-$50,000 (or more)
The Foundation
The foundation is the most important part of your cob house. It must be made of materials that can withstand the weight of the building, and must be able to support it for at least 100 years. The type of foundation you choose will depend on where you live and what kind of soil you have on your property. If your land has good topsoil, but does not have enough clay or sand to build with, you should use pea-gravel instead. If there are any large rocks in your land that might interfere with construction, get rid of them first by digging them out or removing them from the area altogether (you may need an excavator or backhoe for this).
If there is water on or near your property (e.g., a stream) make sure there are no signs indicating danger before starting construction
Wood for the Structure
A great first step toward building your cob home is determining what types of wood you want to use. You can choose from many different options, ranging from common materials such as cedar or pine to more unusual choices like bamboo or strawbale.
If you plan on using untreated wood (ie: not pressure treated), it’s important that you choose a lightweight species like cedar or pine. If you’re going with pressure-treated wood, make sure it’s not pressure-treated with chromate copper arsenate (CCA). This chemical can be harmful when inhaled or ingested and may leach out of the wood into the soil where it could potentially contaminate groundwater or be eaten by animals who then get sick after ingesting them.
Another consideration is whether or not reclaimed/recycled lumber would work for your project; if so, this will help reduce costs and also help protect natural resources by reducing demand for virgin timber products which take years to grow back once cut down.
Framing (Interior & Exterior)
After you have chosen your site, it is time to begin the actual construction. You will need to frame the interior and exterior walls of your house in preparation for cobbing (mixing). This process can be done by hand or with power tools, depending upon how large your project is and what kind of equipment you have available.
Cob houses are built from a mixture of sand, clay, and straw that is referred to as “cob” because of its natural appearance when mixed together. It can be used alone or combined with other materials such as wood shingles or bricks in order to create an aesthetically pleasing piece for homeowners who want something more than just a simple structure on their property
Plumbing and Electrical Components
Plumbing and Electrical Components
Plumbing and electrical components are not required in a cob house. If you want to add plumbing and electrical components, it will cost more because it will require hiring a professional. The materials needed to complete the setup of your new home can be found at your local hardware store.
Roofing Materials
- Roofing materials should be durable and long-lasting.
- A cob house can be built without a roof, but this is not recommended. Without a roof, your home will be vulnerable to the elements and prone to water damage. If you’re okay with the risk of water damage and potential leaks, then by all means go for it. Just know that it’s harder to fix leaks in cob than it would be with wood or corrugated metal sheets like tin.
- Roofing materials can typically be sourced locally if you live near an area where cob is used for construction purposes (and there are many such places). Other options include using recycled materials or salvaged goods from other projects around the house—if you have leftover tiles from an old bathroom remodel project, those might work well as a last-minute solution until you can get more permanent ones installed.
Building Labor
When it comes to building a cob house, labor is the biggest cost. If you have family or friends who can help with the construction, then your labor costs will be significantly reduced. If you are doing it on your own, expect to spend several months working on the project part-time.
If you are planning on building a large cob house by yourself or with just one other person in mind, then plan on spending at least two months working full-time during the summer months (when temperatures are high and humidity is low) if there are no major hiccups along the way. If there are hiccups (and there will be), add an extra month for each minor snag that arises during construction. However if things go smoothly without any delays or issues arising from weather conditions or other unexpected events outside of your control (such as running out of mortar), then it could take less than two months to complete
A cob house is a home built from a combination of sand, clay, and straw that can cost as much or as little to build as you want.
A cob house is a home that is built using a mixture of sand, clay and straw. This ancient building method has been used for thousands of years in Europe and can cost as much or as little to build as you want.
Cob houses are low-cost to build because the materials are abundant and can be found locally. If you live in an area without access to these materials, they can be easily shipped in from other parts of your country (and even other countries).
The fact that cob homes are made from natural materials means that they’re also more sustainable than many other building methods. Cob buildings have been shown to sequester carbon dioxide while providing insulation against cold weather and heat waves.
Conclusion
Building a cob house can be an affordable option for your next home. The cost will depend on the size and features of your home, as well as how much labor you want to do yourself. If you hire contractors, it could get expensive quickly. But if you have some DIY experience and want something special for your new home, then cob might be worth looking into.
