Hey all! I'm getting ready to start breaking ground for a sauna and was thinking about experimenting with a hybrid. I'd like to make the stem wall from stone and make the north wall slip straw and the rest cob. My question is: when setting up the slip straw forms, how do they attach to the stem wall or do they attach? Thanks for any info!

Hey guys, I had an idea for a new video where I'm going to record the screen of me designing a cob/natural home for you so you can see the process I go through. I want to hear some of your thoughts on what you'd like to see in a house design? - Size/square footage - Shape/rooms needed - Style - What climate it will be for? - Materials (timberframe, cob, hemp, etc) Let me know in the comments. Thanks!

Sage found his materials right on the property — cob, wood, all free stuff. Only paid for screws, glue, and silicone. And honestly the house looks really nice! $200 is a rare situation, but it proves the $400K/30-year-mortgage thing isn't the only option. I can relate to his tiny living situation too. It really connects you back to the outside world by not being cooped up indoors for everything. What's your target budget for your build? Drop it below, and let me know what you think of this build. 👇

I have a brand new calculator app for you! It will calculate material and labor cost for your cob wall projects. Give a try! You can find the calculator on my website here: https://www.thiscobhouse.com/cob-wall-cost-calculator/ If you have any feedback or bug reports, please let me know!

Here's some research I've compiled. Feel free to discuss below! **Build a Cob House For $58K Instead of Paying $400K For a Mortgage (Full Breakdown)** The average American paying off a $200,000 house will hand over $343,000 by the time they actually own it. $143,000 just vanishes into interest payments. But there's a proven alternative that eliminates debt entirely: building a cob house with your own hands. Let's break down the REAL numbers behind debt-free natural building and show you exactly how regular people on normal incomes are opting out of the mortgage system. **The Brutal Reality of Mortgages:** A $200,000 home financed at 7% interest = $1,331 monthly payments Total paid over 30 years: $478,000 Pure interest paid to banks: $278,000 First year breakdown: $14K interest vs $2K toward equity **Cob House Cost Breakdown ($58K Total):** • Land: $10-15K for 5 acres (rural areas) • Permits: $3K (varies by location, can be $15-50K in strict areas) • Foundation: $6K (with DIY labor + equipment rental) • Roof: $12-15K (metal roofing, quality materials essential) • Walls & Structure: Under $2K (clay, sand, straw) • Interior Finishes: $2K (earthen floors, clay plasters) • Total: $58K with ZERO interest payments **Where The REAL Savings Come From:** ✓ Wall materials: $2K vs $10-15K for conventional lumber framing ✓ Interior finishes: $2K vs $9-12K for tile and drywall ✓ Contractor markup eliminated: Save $20-50K in management fees ✓ Labor costs eliminated: Save $60-80K by doing it yourself ✓ Interest payments eliminated: Save $278K over 30 years **30-Year Total Cost Comparison:** Conventional $200K house: $658K-748K (mortgage, taxes, insurance, maintenance) $58K Cob house: ~$109K (taxes, insurance, minimal maintenance) **Difference: $549K-639K stays in YOUR pocket** **Realistic Timeline & Savings Plan:** Year 1-2: Live cheap, save $1,500/month = $36K saved Year 2: Buy land ($15K) + build tiny 250 sq ft starter cottage ($12-15K) Year 2-4: Live rent-free in cottage while building main 800-1000 sq ft house