We Built A $5,000 Cob House - Cob Hobbit House in Tennessee

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#ThisCobHouse #cobhouse #hobbithouse
#naturalbuilding #naturalhomes #sustainableliving #homesteading #offgridliving #greenbuilding #homesteadlife #selfsufficiency #cobhouses #doityourself #diy #rammedearthwall #cobbuildingcodes #rammedearthhouse

[@KE-yq2eg]

I just don't understand how we've strayed so far and live in less inspired homes that barely keep in the heat and pay triple the cost. Everything feels like a scam. Can't wait to spend 10k on my first cob home!

[@isaiasraiden4160]

I realize it's kinda randomly asking but does anybody know a good website to stream new tv shows online?

[@isaiasraiden4160]

@Kendrick Maurice thanks, signed up and it seems like they got a lot of movies there :) I appreciate it!

[@kendrickmaurice5419]

@Isaias Raiden you are welcome =)

[@theeclecticcollective8279]

I once read an article that stated that American home building practices changed severely after WW2, when a lot of soldiers who had shipped off as 18 year olds returned to America with no house to speak of. They needed someplace to stay. The article went on to state that architects and contractors became more concerned with building a house fast and not necessarily building one to last... many of these homes were built on military bases and were slapped together as quickly as possible.... The faster processes and cheaper materials went mainstream.

[@KimmyTexas]

It is a scam. Banks will finance a $400k stick home, but not a $20k home like this.

[@runningfromabear8354]

Brings back memories. My family are from Devon. I lived in a 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 1 fireplace, 2 storey cobb house with a thatched roof as a kid. It was listed in the doomsday book (1086) and was very old even in Norman days. A car once his our cottage and our house was fine with 2.5 foot thick walls but the car was totalled. It was probably originally one storey with two rooms with a door in the middle. They were quite large and the house wasn't quite square or round, but a bit of both. Going by village records, sometime around Henry I's reign they added a second storey with two rooms above. And then around 1920's they turned the garden in the back into an addition with running water with a little kitchen and a little bathroom. Build a good quality cob house, plaster it, make sure it breathes, look after it, and it lasts indefinitely. What I loved about that house as a child was how rock solid it felt. Storms passing overhead and I could hear the wind faintly outside, but it felt like I was underground and perfectly safe inside the ground. We didn't have a problem with rodents or anything like that but spiders galore. Might be why I like spiders. There were a large feature of my early development. We didn't have problems with flies or midges. It's great to see people still building cob houses.

[@maeveofthelongbows9552]

Btw, it is the Domesday Book (not Doomsday).

[@ratslayer110]

Sounded good until you got to the spider part...lol

[@onceinawhile7]

I find spiders to be wispy comforting little roommates as well

[@libertadbrito778]

Glad we have people being part of the solution. That's a great idea to teach young people how to build sustainable. The people should make the difference, because politicians are on another agenda with greedy developers. 🙏❤📚🐼♻️😀

[@chasethecat3839]

EXACTLY and they are getting more evil by the day

[@jameswright3972]

It worked I am 18 years I want to build my own

[@Books4Thought1983]

This is literally my dream. I’m planning this so that I can do this in the years

[@klivityloja3067]

Well, have you started? About to make ths decision to move to mtns on land . Cob may very well be a part. Any quick things you wish you did differently? Jahbless

[@carolmurray5794]

'not of the highest luxury'.......??!! *Wipes drool off mouth* Yeah it is!! It's wonderful and beautiful and not a museum! I would LOVE living in that house!

[@allisonviney9882]

I think the house is incredibly inspirational.For the cost compared to the end product and the method of building you chose, I agree it's a solid structure with a very charming artistic value. I'm sad to see people comparing cob work, in this case yours, to others. It is beautiful, well done :)

[@jchartcarver]

The rusticness is 90% of the appeal for me--I want that SO bad! XD

[@stephaniewilson3955]

I particularly like the stone foundation given the environmental problems cement production creates. The blissful thing I noticed was how peaceful it was inside the building.

[@remygirl-mn5kk]

I just moved to rural Tennessee and this is what I hope to get to. I'm living in an RV to save and get some land. Thanks for your channel. It's a wealth of information.

[@chasethecat3839]

Love the arbor that just sets the stage..adorable home. The door is impressive

[@justicematters5447]

I love the hobbit hole look and you even got the F on the door this is an amazing build.

[@emanurart]

This is EXACTLY what I want to learn. Unfortunately Im 2 years too late for your workshop. Will you be having another one anytime soon in 2023?

[@stopthatmikey]

Nice cob house! I dig the outside wall extending out with the open door and cutouts too.

[@TheSwordfish009]

May as well continue and build an entire Mansion. That's what I would do. WHy not????

[@grandfatherrabbit]

I cannot wait to build my own cob house next year. This is beautiful and well built. Thank you for sharing.

[@dwtalley]

I respect it, very much. Much commitment to ~relevant detail, with entirely appropriate allowances for variance in interpretation. Not especially loving the overall as a regular experience, I gotta say. But great respect and some thoughtful thinking on my side about what-if-I-took-this-on. So big congrats that you DID take it on and make it a real thing. Which I would certainly say it is.

[@LeahMiPop]

I would love to take a class from you. Me and my husband are in the process of buying land in NC and hope to build an earth house. I like the hobbit house here but I am curious about the AC unit in the window... Does it get used a lot? I've always heard the *thermal mass of cob helps keep the house cool in summer. Just wondering how necessary it was.

[@thiscobhouse]

Its barely used at all. Cob walls have thermal mass, which regulated the indoor air temps.

[@robertwagner2079]

I helped build a cob showerhouse at the Solar Living Institute in Hopland Ca. Massey Burke was in charge and she is, I heard, helping to get code written for cob. Shower house was great success, we also did a cob against wooden walls the removed the wood from the outside and did fine coat on it.

[@svetlanikolova7673]

The house is adorable. I will move in in a heartbeat. Thanks for tour

[@maggietaylor9713]

You are changing the world one cob house at a time, Alex thanks.

[@thiscobhouse]

Thanks! Making big progress every year.

[@hzlkelly]

Jesus was out here giving us architectural knowledge about building our house on a rock for a firm foundation 😂. That’s just what this reminded me of.

[@cadenpolen001]

That's the first heater I've seen on a Cob house; this is great! Love it bro!

[@SamaMuslimVillage]

Cheap and simple is the best..

[@jiat2001]

I love your video and I'm a huge fan of the Lord of the Rings. I really want to build my own Hobbit house and I look forward to more of your videos. Keep up the good work 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@JacobJ0626]

I know what im saving my money up for

[@kristinaasimova601]

Thank you for sharing!!! Great example!!!!

[@diniandasha1305]

Gorgeous!!!

[@elysiumfarm-thekrebsfamily7093]

Failure to name this video "The Cobbit House" is an absolute TRAGEDY

[@patandersen4271]

I love all your videos and this house is something I would spend time in, where is the bathroom? will you teach us how to build an outhouse?.

[@svetlanikolova7673]

Why? you need a closet a bucket and saw dust. Are you nuts to go out in the middle of the night in 20 below? Learn about compost toilets?

[@palipali4264]

vermicukture toilets work great

[@Bluegrassriver8]

Cobb houses are very popular now and so much better than frame. Cobb houses should be the priority.

[@estrelladelamanana8434]

I wish I could attend your class, but I’m in California

[@bananapatch9118]

How did you deal with building codes ? Thx Love the house....we’d love to build one in Mexico.

[@thiscobhouse]

If you build in Mexico you probably don't need to worry about building codes as much. Talk to your local building department and refer them to the cob code Appendix U of the IRC.

[@donnabrown6756]

I love cob everything. Thanks so very much for sharing this with me ❤️👣

[@lifestyleoffreedomfamily]

we are getting ready for our one. this is the future and past too ;-) just most people still dont see it but will ;-)

[@NazareneNerd]

We're coming next month!

[@saltybildo9448]

Nice work man

[@c.f.7408]

Im buying an acre in Oregon to do this :)

[@meheretnardos1894]

I watched ur Educational video. I love it all. But u live far away to come to attend ur class. But I will learn from u KZbin vidio.

[@BellaLesley]

Question, I noticed the lock on the outside of the door... are we locking people inside the house??? LOL LOL LOL

[@derekcraig3617]

That house needs a fresh lime plastering pronto

[@thiscobhouse]

Oh yeah! I'd love to put a lime finish on it. Just wasn't in the budget for the home owners.

[@simpleuser0001]

What was once the the most common dwelling of our ancestors, shall become the most common again but for our later generations to come. The fall of unsustainable and unreasonably expensive housing will decline. Arise the cob houses!

[@TIsunshineOffGrid]

Love it❤❤❤

[@kailahgoble9654]

how long did it take to build the hobbit hole and how many people did you need? i’m planning on doing this to be one with my home

[@rmar127]

Love the overall asthetics of the place, however not having any windows that open and having the iron bars on them, really detracts from the build.

[@thiscobhouse]

Yeah, I'm not a big fan of the windows either, actually. But it is what it is.

[@ArnicaRose]

Do you have some sort of online course, for those of us, who can’t physically make it? But sill want to learn?

[@thiscobhouse]

Yes, I sure do! Here's the link: www.members.thiscobhouse.com/online-cob-house-workshop/

[@ArnicaRose]

@@thiscobhouse Thank you!!!!

[@mariagood9121]

Great hobbit house. Great video

[@kelly59273]

Nice work!! I'm inspired

[@kellysnyder7224]

this place is awesome. but the foundation is definitely not just dry fit rock. I totally see concrete and pointed rocks. soooo yeah

[@thiscobhouse]

It's dry fit, and only pointed on the exterior.

[@ranulfwhitewolf1106]

Are you still doing classes? I'd like to learn how to build my own cob house in February or March after I return to the USA.

[@thiscobhouse]

Yes, absolutely. Please check the links for new upcoming classes.

[@CodygrimesHustle]

What were the permits and build process like with the county?

[@cliffhyde803]

Very nice I want one!

[@manikasaxena9206]

You n your house both r very good looking 👍👍❤️

[@sftaxi7245]

How about instructional digital book and video on line for a price........

[@Paarthurnaxdova]

I want to build something very similar! I just bought 3 acres. How long did it take to build this one?

[@thiscobhouse]

A few months. With many hands though.

[@shannonbaldus5458]

YES NEEDS CLEANING I SAW COBWEBS

[@ryotaarai3816]

Those cracks look scary... Or are they just on the surface?

[@JohnWhite-gd4tx]

Those are very scary, and not surface cracks. The final plaster looks good, but those long deep vertical cracks are going to come back.

[@rowenamoser4996]

We are trying to build a 5 bedroom home with 2 bathrooms with a loft and sunroom on it but we are STRUGGLING with the layout

[@ppac300]

Will this work in the rainy tropics?

[@thiscobhouse]

Yes. Or do wattle & daub, or adobe perhaps. I have a video about building these in the tropics.

[@arikopel9289]

Can someone contract you for building some of these on our land?

[@juliebryan2549]

Why is there green around the rocks and some lumber?

[@felixperalta9135]

Do you have virtual classes fro people who live far away?

[@leighanneddy8859]

What part of Tennessee? I'm in middle Tennessee near Woodbury 🙂

[@nordicpink]

Very nice.

[@kpaka1810]

Wooow go on 💚👏🏻

[@ancientpathsoul]

Is the cob cracking because there wasnt plaster?

[@spdelta3]

2:32 is that an aircon? 3:44 Yes it is.

[@gloomy4fun86]

I think you put too much sand in the mixture hence the cracks, the house looks great tho

[@HEMZbEATS]

So cool my bro

[@rrhodes75rr]

What do you do to repair the cracks on the front of the home

[@bulletproofmofo]

From what I've read, cob is really easy to maintain. Just slap some more on. I'm sure he'll be filling everything in as he finishes plastering.

[@sailingmagic111]

Where is the bathroom?

[@gracerp]

Nice work

[@nc3765]

Mulțumesc 💰🎱👈 nu este necesar, Nicu România 👍

[@estrelladelamanana8434]

I loved it !!

[@kjack3211]

This is wonderful but just have concerns about the roof. It's made from wood so what protects it from termites and wood rot ?

[@thiscobhouse]

You can also do a metal roof.

[@kaiabeltran2384]

Are you going to hold other future workshops besides the one in November that goes over foundation all the way to roof ? Or is the one in November the only one that’s going to be held for a long while ?

[@thiscobhouse]

Its my last one until April 2021.

[@esekivie647]

At 5k dollars I don't see why there should be homeless people, we have traded our humanity for luxury.

[@mylothebigkid]

How do you find land to build one of these bad boys on?

[@mylothebigkid]

Also, what part of TN?? I also live here!

[@kimpossiblehayden]

My dream

[@christinah128]

How well do these hold up with extreme wind, straight line winds and tornadoes?

[@thiscobhouse]

Very well. Much better than a stick-framed building. As long as the cob building is built properly that is.

[@jamesphipps5536]

❤Tennessee❤

[@stitches318]

Are you having any more classes? Do people travel quite far to come to your classes? I am in the NE can't find a class near me

[@thiscobhouse]

Yes! Many more for 2021. People travel from all over the USA, Canada, and even Mexico to come to my workshop classes. Here's the link for class details: www.thiscobhouse.com/cob-workshops/

[@nicolecoralluzzo4299]

Where do I start? How can I find someone to do blueprints and build?

[@elisebunny1102]

My question is how do you deal with radon mitigation?

[@thiscobhouse]

Build in a rural, unrestricted area, or build according the the cob building code.

[@elisebunny1102]

This Cob House No no, I don’t mean like the codes, I mean, the toxic gas, radon. Is there a way to build a cob house so the radon can’t penetrate the floors?

[@elisebunny1102]

This Cob House By the way, I really love your videos

[@thiscobhouse]

@@elisebunny1102 Oh, my mistake! I read your question wrong. Actually, I'm not sure how all that works with radon testing. But it would be done the same way its done for any conventional building. Cob houses typically have floors built conventionally like standard homes these days.

[@0712jordan]

How do Cobb homes hold up to rainy humid climates

[@thiscobhouse]

Great, actually!

[@MemoryPallace]

My question is is this is an accessory dwelling or by itself?

[@WhitesOnlyPie]

TENNESSEE BABY LETS GO BRANDON

[@gothboschincarnate3931]

how many square feet is this home? and the footprint in feet?

[@thiscobhouse]

If I remember correctly, it's probably about 200 interior, 250 exterior. I don't remember the specifics, it was so long ago that I built this.

[@HaleyK.P.]

Question: How long did it take to build this one? Thanks!

[@thiscobhouse]

About 4 months total.

[@HaleyK.P.]

@@thiscobhouse Good to know, thank you!

[@tracimackhouse1147]

@@thiscobhouse with how many people working on it?

[@randyjohnson3412]

Could you put some plaster over the exterior walls? Or would that perhaps mess with the cob?

[@thiscobhouse]

Yes, absolutely. This house was finished with exterior plaster too.

[@passion4vintage559]

Hi thanks for the video. Question: do you know if I was to mix Portland cement, backyard dirt/soil, and grass that it will bond and harden? Thanks!

[@thiscobhouse]

You still need to add an aggregate, such as coarse sand or gravel. Then you should be good. I would avoid grass though. It will decompose fast.

[@DoomBunnyJr12341]

What county in Tennessee? Love to do something similar in my part of the State.

[@valmirsantos6109]

I have a land in South Florida, the soil is very sandy, how can I get clay soil around here?

[@thiscobhouse]

You might need to have it shipped in from further north. South Florida has few clay deposits.

[@sendcoffeeplz2553]

Does Tennessee require running water and electricity? How would you apply that to a cob house?

[@sendcoffeeplz2553]

Ohp, just saw the electricity!

[@cynthomsen9133]

hi quick question. Can you add cob to a concrete slab foundation has the flooring?

[@thiscobhouse]

You can put an earthen floor on top of a concrete slab.

[@cynthomsen9133]

@@thiscobhouse sweet. Thank you

[@user-kh9ki3kq8m]

Do you have any resources for cob building codes in Tennessee? The Cob Code is great but I can’t find out if it applies to my area (around Sullivan Co.) I can’t really find any info about Tennessee laws regarding cob building! Thanks!

[@thiscobhouse]

You'll need to contact the building department for that county and see what building code they abide by. The cob code is part of the 2021 IRC, so if the county uses that one, you'll have no problem. If they're not updated yet, you can still propose the new cob code.

[@user-kh9ki3kq8m]

@@thiscobhouse thank you!

[@Tigris_River_Sand_Fleas]

Big gov. makes laws making these builds illegal for use even on your own property. I think that's total bs when it's *YOUR* property!

[@donnabrown6756]

Is this house for rent?

[@thiscobhouse]

It is on Airbnb for rental. Check the link in the description.

[@DailyBread_Homestead]

Can you not put a gas stove inside a cob house?

[@thiscobhouse]

Sure can! Just ventilate it as normal.

[@steveandjenny149]

What are the steel bars over windows for??

[@Pinguim35]

support weight

[@solarpunk9994]

How many sq ft were you able to get?