"Will My Mud House Melt in the Rain?" (And 9 Other Myths Busted)

No.89— Read old posts on Tinyfarmlab.com
Reading Time 4 minutes

We get this a lot.

“Isn’t a mud house weak?”
“Won’t it melt?”
“Only for villages, right?”

If you’ve heard these doubts,
or had them yourself,
this is for you.

Let’s bust 10 common myths about cob homes.

You might be surprised by what’s actually true.

1. "Cob houses melt in the rain!"

Only if you forget to give it a hat and boots.

• A good hat = solid roof with wide overhangs.

• A good pair of boots = raised stone plinth + proper drainage.

There are 600-year-old cob homes in rainy Devon, UK still standing proud.

Cob walls can collapse as a result of prolonged soaking during flooding above the level of the stem wall/plinth. That’s why you should not build in a flood plain.

2) "You need pure clay to build."

Nope.

Pure clay cracks on drying and contracting.
Cob = clay (binder) + sand (compressive strength) + straw (tensile strength).

The right mix is the magic.

3) "Cob homes are weak. "

Cob is very durable.

• Taos Pueblo, New Mexico: 900+ years old.

• Jericho: traces of cob from 9500 BC.

Done right, cob lasts generations.

4) "They should be dirt cheap!"

Cob is affordable, but not always cheap.

Costs depend on:

• Design complexity, if and who you hire to design it.

• Who builds it. Hiring skilled labor or building it yourself.

• Material availability

It's flexible, not free.
It is a labor-intensive process.

5) "They’re cold and damp."

Thick cob walls = thermal mass = comfort.

• Warm in winters

• Cool in summers

• Needs night ventilation

A fireplace makes it even cozier.

6) "Only for rural areas."

Think again.

Cob can work in:

• Rooftop studios

• Urban infills

• Suburban villas

You can have all the luxuries.
It’s not about where you build, it’s about how.

7) "They need more maintenance than concrete."

Both cement and cob buildings would need maintenance if the design and construction quality are poor.

The advantage of cob is that you can repair it with ease.

Whereas repairing concrete might need different materials and skills.

8) "Pests and mold will invade."

Cob breathes.

No condensation = no mold.

As for spiders and lizards…
that depends on your location, not your material.

9) "They’ll collapse in an earthquake!"

Cob can actually do well in seismic zones.

Why?

• Monolithic walls = fewer weak points

• Curved forms = better energy distribution

• Straw fiber = natural reinforcement

Add bamboo or mesh for extra strength.

Some cob homes have survived centuries of quakes.

10. "You can’t build a normal-looking house with cob."

You can make it big and boxy.

But cob shines when you let it flow.

Curves.
Nooks.
Sculptural walls.

A cob home is not a compromise.

It’s a conscious choice —
for beauty, breathability, and earth.

And yes, it can be strong, modern, and long-lasting.

We have forgotten that the most abundant and natural material is beneath our feet. It is non-toxic and biodegradable. Another thing to observe is that you don't feel like touching a cement building. Clay is sensual. You are naturally attracted to it.

Building with clay is intuitive, soulful, ecological, and gives power back to the people.

If you have any other queries regarding building with Cob.

Please write to us. :)

Love and light,

Raghav and Ansh

What you can watch - Geeli Mitti: Why are Mud Houses more eco-friendly and sustainable than concrete?

Shagun Singh, the founder of GeeliMitti farms and educational research center talks about the common myths that are associated with mud houses.

What you can listen - Building Sustainability Podcast: Natural Homes - Materials, Myths and Empowerment - Sigi Koko - BS071

Sigi Koko is the principal designer of Down to Earth Design. She has been working with natural materials for almost a quarter of a century. She has been informing & inspiring your natural building enthusiasts like us. She often dispels the technical myths about natural building and showcases the range of beauty that is possible.

In this episode with Jeffery Hart, she talks about materials, myths, women in construction, and empowerment.

What you can read - Building with Cob: A Step-by-Step Guide (Sustainable Building)

Building with Cob' is a step by step guide with lavishly illustrated with over 300 colour photos and 85 diagrams on how to apply this ancient technique.

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