Customer Reviews

The Cob Builders Handbook: You Can Hand-Sculpt Your Own Home

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

From advice on 'snuggling' foundation rocks together to practical explanation of creating the right mix..Becky really shows she knows how to work with earth. I began a cob bench after falling in love with photos of hers. I don't know any other way to sculpt, have fun, get dirty, and still create something useful. People might not build a whole house, but a meditation room, or garden shed, even animal house would be doable. Local cobbers I know respect her skills highly, I'd love to see more finished home and project photos. Anyone can do this, it's fun and gets you in touch with dirt!

Becky Bee's Cob Builder's Handbook is well written in plain, understandable language which even the most basic beginners can clearly understand. Her illustrations are equally clear. There is no doubt that anyone who is interested in building with cob can follow the steps in this book and enjoy a reasonable degree of success. Hopefully, future editions might include more ideas for house layouts and more photos of completed projects. That would bring it up to 5 stars!

Well, I ordered Becky's book and started to dig a hole for the foundation on July 28th 2003, and after 9 months (with a 5 month break for the winter in the middle) I built a house! I did it all with a great deal of blind faith that you wouldn't mislead someone as to just how easy building can be, and it's true. It all worked out. It's cozy and quiet and I will never be the same. I learned so much about myself in the process, and the earth really was the teacher.
I am so grateful that Becky wrote this book, and made it possible for me to build my own house by hand. I love living in it !!!

Howie

Enjoyed reading how to build cob houses on a subject that is hard to find information on. Becky Bee's book on Cob House Building is thin because she delves only into the cob building portion. Those looking for electrical and plumbing ideas must go to other books. Still I believe that I could build a passable dwelling from the data within and some electrical and plumbing help.

Great book, but where are the photo's? This book could have been so much more if was full of photo's. Lots of info on Cob building, but the lack of photo's of peoples finished projects leaves you wondering.

Becky Bee does an EXCELLENT job of outlining the process for building a cob home. At first, I was a bit apprehensive because I am a very visual learner, and I noticed that throughout the book, the diagrams are all hand-drawn. I was concerned that without the actual photographs, I would get stumped on how to construct the house, or that some important idea would not be conveyed in the diagrams. Needless to say, I was wrong! The diagrams that Becky included in the book are all very clear and useful, and super-simple to understand. What I loved most about this book, though, was the very personal and encouraging manner in which she teaches you to build with cob. She gives several great examples in each section regarding inexpensive materials, reducing the strain on your body, and maximizing your creativity to get the cob house of your dreams. I have only owned this book for a little over a week, but I have already read each chapter three times, because it is so quick and easy to understand. You will definitely benefit from the knowledge in this book.

I found the book to be very informative. She made the entire process, excluding the plumbing and electrical, very simple and easy to follow. I don't doubt that with a little help with the plumbing and wiring I could also build a cob dwelling. Actually I have made plans to build a round cob excersise and meditation room off of my straw bale home when it is completed. The scuplted walls and window shapes will make for a very peaceful place to exercise and to meditate.

I completely enjoyed this book, it is informative, practical, and consistently puts forth the message that ANYONE can build a home. I bought some acreage and have started my own. When I get overwhelmed, I reread this book, step back, and break it down into smaller steps. One of the easiest, most encouraging books I've read on any subject, and the best of the dozen books I've read on this subject.

I found this book invaluable. With it's simply put illustrations and descriptive nature. It's a simplified context that compliments "The Hand Sculpted House" wonderfully! Between these two books and a little research on site and with consideration to additional components of the structure to be erected, I feel confident that even a novice builder (with proper planning and a little guidance from some pro's) could complete a humble starter home of their own. I only speak from my little (16 years as a builder) experience with completing homes. *never built one like this till now* With another couple years of planning and designing, hopefully mine will be completed.

This book is a fantastic resource, and full of practical tips on building with Cob in general, as well as site preparation, drainage considerations, roofing.

Definitely something to add to your alterative building methods resource collection.