It comes in large 4x8 panel shapes. It lasts 50 years, is paintable, and recyclable. With temperature and pressure it is pressed into a very strong waffle-shape building material. It weighs half as much as plywood, but it is twice as strong. Cob - We recommend a Cob, rammed straw hybrid for the building structure.
Cob is an organic building material made out of soil, sand, clay and straw.
The clay acts as the binding agent and the straw at the tinsel threading the wall together. This building material is recommended for the south facing wall where it can act as a heat sink by absorbing the suns rays during the day and releasing the warm air in the evenings into the structure. The shade from Sycamore trees in the summer will prevent too much solar absorption, allowing the Cob walls to act as temperature regulators, thereby cooling the interior. Rammed Straw - We are also recommending a rammed straw wall for the northern side. The rammed straw wall has a similar R-value as the straw bale.