HOME ABOUT US PRICES WHAT'S COB? FAQS GALLERY NEWS / BLOG ARTICLES COURSES CONTACT US LINKS Contact Details Email Edwards Eco Buildings Cromer Norfolk Tel: 01603 613218 Mob: 07949 241815 Web design by bmsoftware.com	Edwards Cob Eco Buildings Sustainable Cob Design FAQs / Frequently Asked Questions What is Cob? See our separate article on What is Cob? Cob is made of Earth. What happens to it in the rain? Cob is a mixture of Earth and clay, sand and straw. This means it sets hard and the rain definitely won't wash it away. Cob buildings are also protected from the rain by an over hanging roof, self-draining foundations and a lime render. Does cob need lots of up keep? No. Cob is low maintenance and can be repaired very easily and cheaply if damaged over the years. What about building regulations? This shouldn't be an issue at all. Cob structures exceed building regulations in terms of insulation by more than three times. It's non-combustible, load bearing and safe. We have experience in dealing with building regulations and will deal with that side of it for you. How easy is it to get planning? Depending on the size and nature of your cob structure planners are only really interested in what your house looks like. So many cob houses are welcomed by planners as their beauty wins out. Garden studios often don't need planning permission as they come just below the cubic meterage allowed. Different areas have different regulations. In certain streets in Norwich you can build what you like as long as it doesn't go above four meters and doesn't take up more that half of your garden. In North Norfolk it goes on cubic meterage. Can I take part in the construction? Yes. You can do as little or as much as you want. A tailor made service can be developed so that you can get the experience of helping to build your own structure, or you can leave it all to us. Is it environmentally friendly? Cob couldn't be more environmentally friendly if it tried. Usually the earth dug out to produce your foundations is enough to make the walls of your house. Any added ingredients such as clay or sand can be sourced very locally. And timbers for lintels or doorframes can be made from reclaimed wood and or driftwood. No chemicals are used on your cob house and certainly no cement. What about U values and insulation? Cob and cob bale use a combination of thermal mass heating and extra insulation values of straw. Cob houses have extra thick walls, and straw bales cobbed into cold north walls for added insulation. Basically cob holds the heat provided naturally and free from the sun and slowly releases it back into your house through out the day and night. It also holds onto its heat longer than bricks and mortar.	Cob oven, being built Cob artists studio, Norfolk Cob artists studio, Norfolk For more images see our GALLERY