Gerald Longson Architect
#5-Alder Way V0N 1P0 Galiano Island, BC, Canada

COB House Construction Update - November 05, 2019. The project is continuing along in a number of areas at the same time. The installation of the insulation and cross purlins, which will shortly support the metal roof, is well underway and once completed will ensure that the interior is kept dry and the unsightly plastic tarps can be removed. The roof does a few yet to be completed difficulties as the fascia is required to follow the many curves of the cob walls below. The ...last of the scratch coats on the exterior of the cob walls is nearing completion with all the detailing around the columns and windows adding to the unique and whimsical features of the exterior. On the interior the installation of scratch coats on the cob walls continues with many unique details around the junction of the walls with the wood structure, around the windows and of course around the colourful old liquor bottles embedded in the walls. With the moisture in the air this fall the cob and scratch coats are drying very slowly but the Mud Girls continue with their spirit of "can do" to work around the issue. See more

COB House Construction UpDate October 14, 2019 Just in time to protect the COB walls the roof structure and first layer of plywood sheathing is up. The many layers of finishing material is being plastered to the inside and outside of the COB and Slip Straw walls. The placement of the glass bottles within the COB walls provide for interesting lighting on the interior.... With the roof on the interior volumes are starting to come thru with a large open curved, vaulted space over the Kitchen & Dining Room, a smaller, cozier curve vaulted space over the Living Room and the vaulted Loft space looks down from above into the Kitchen, Dining Room and Living Room. The other spaces Bedroom, Bathroom and Mudroom have flat nine foot high ceilings with exposed rafters above.

In building construction, topping off is a builders' rite traditionally held when the last beam is placed atop a structure during its construction. The practice of "topping off" a new building can be traced to the ancient Scandinavian religious rite of placing a tree atop a new building to appease the tree-dwelling spirits displaced in its construction. Therefore to appease the tree-dwelling spirits on Galiano on Sunday the Clients placed a hemlock tree on the recently insta...lled ridge beam. A small party then took place. The next major steps are the installation of the roof to protect the COB Walls from the rain that we know is coming and the plastering of the interior and exterior walls. The plaster is a mixture of horse poop (for fiber), clay and sifted masonry sand. This thick and sticky plaster is a little smelly to work with but is great for sculpting the edges to the COB Walls. Once dry the smell disappears and a smooth strong coating remains. See more

COB House Drying. With all the Slip Straw Walls 95% completed we wait for the wall to dry (once the wall stops growing). The COB walls are 75% completed and are as hard as rock. Now the post & beam framing is well underway with the platform of the Loft completed and the columns (made from logs claimed from the beach) being installed. Beams sawn by Sandy Moodie, our local sawyer, from Galiano Island DFir, are slowly being lifted into place. In some locations the framing is a little tricky. Next step is a big one, the framing of the roof so that the Slip Straw Walls and COB wall are protected from the rain. Everything is looking good and the Client can now visualize the interior of their new home.

The Galiano Island COB House - First hand experience is the best teacher. I spent a whole day working with the MudGirls and their Workshop Crew mixing and installing another 18" of COB to the Walls. The clients have strategically placed coloured glass bottles in the COB in various locations. I can hardly wait to see the light coming thru the bottles. I learned alot more about the details of the COB construction and enjoyed the comradery.