Cob houses are built using clay, a mixture of sand and straw, lending eco-friendly credentials when compared to modern materials like brick and mortar. Moreover, they are recyclable and non-polluting when demolished.

If you have doubts about the durability of a cob house, then it’s worth mentioning that the oldest cob house still stands after 10,000 years of exposure to the elements. Also, making one for yourself and your family isn’t rocket science as it is very easy to build with the basic knowledge of construction.

Before having a look at some of the best cob houses from across the globe, let’s have a look at the advantages of building one.

Why a cob house?

Firstly, a cob house looks beautiful due to the design freedom one has while erecting the structure. Cob as a building material is very easy to find, which makes it a practical option. Let’s have a look at some of the highlighting advantages of building a cob house.

# Low cost of building

Since the material used for cob house construction is locally sourced, it is a dirt-cheap method of building a dwelling which will last for years. All you need is a piece of land to erect the structure, and it will cost you almost one-tenth the cost of building a conventional home. As an added advantage there is zero carbon footprint which goes very well for eco-friendly living.

# Healthy indoors

As the cob house is built from natural earth materials, it is absolutely healthy to live in. There are no toxic emissions as compared to a conventional building which uses synthetic and industrial formed materials.

# Energy efficient

One major advantage that a cob house has is its energy-efficient design. This is due to the high thermal mass which keeps the indoor temperature consistent. It is a good option for hot climate areas, as the inside temperature is automatically regulated without the need for any fancy equipment.

# Building flexibility

A cob house is very easy to create in any intended manner, as the user can incorporate unique design elements. Also, the building material (cob) is compatible with other materials like wood or stone which gives the user the option to add some more structural strength.

# Durable and earthquake resistant

Cob house is extremely durable as the base material for its structure is natural re-bar which gives strength to the building. The eco-friendly home is also earthquake resistant as the whole structure acts as one monolithic piece which doesn’t develop cracks when the earth shakes.

# Weather-proof

You might think that a cob house would give way to extreme weather conditions like rain or hailstorm, but it’s exactly the opposite. A cob house is, in fact, durable and will last for years to come. There is no degradation of the material and it stays completely dry.

# Termite and fireproof

Since soil is used as the base material for the building it is almost completely fireproof and termite-proof. This makes cob house one of the safest DIY homes that one can go for.

# Sound insulation

When one talks of acoustic insulation, cob houses are right up there among the best. Walls made from earthen material has excellent sound-absorbing properties which keep the outside noises subdued to a great extent and vice-versa.