What We Build
Monolithic Cob
Cob, sometimes referred to as “coursed adobe” or “monolithic adobe” is an ancient building material comprised of sticky clay, coarse sand, and long straw. Traditionally, cob is mixed manually, by hand or foot, and applied onto a stone or masonry foundation in layers of moist cob “loaves” that form a solid, monolithic wall system. Solid cob walls are incredibly strong, have immense thermal mass, and regulate moisture and humidity because of their breathability. Building with cob offers unique opportunities to add sculptural elements such as niches, shelving, window sills, and “built-in” furniture directly into the walls. This creates a living environment full of curves and accents that few other building materials can achieve.
“Pallet-Cob” is a method pioneered by Miguel “Sir Cobalot” Elliot that incorporates a post and beam structure with modified pallet wall cavities, which all receive a thick base layer of cob plaster and one or two coats of finish plaster. This method offers a faster build time, higher insulation value, and fewer labor hours to create a finished product that appears very similar to a solid cob construction without sacrificing the breathability of earthen walls.
