I have some new insights into my winter moisture conundrum. I have a new theory, but I am trying to make complete sense of factors at play here. Currently, I think it is indeed a combination of condensation and drainage that are resulting in moisture entering the house.
Read ahead for an update.
Mold has reared its ugly, ugly head in my home, and I have recently been consumed with attempting to determine a solution to this problem. I ask readers (especially those with experience living in cob houses in cold climates!) to please read ahead and help me to determine the best course of action. Any advice would be dearly appreciated.
Here are all the details fit to print.
It’s nigh on bedtime and the wind’s been blowing hefty hard all day, with snow falling regularly since the morning. Snow drifts are over two feet high and blocking many of our walking paths throughout the village, and another foot of snow is expected over the night. Wind turbines are screaming and the temperature is expected to plummet to -10º on Wednesday night, with a wind chill clocking in at a brisk -25º. Damn! These are a harsh few days for us in northeastern Missouri, where snow often doesn’t accumulate beyond a few inches.
The house is holding up just fine and the stove’s been cranking on and off throughout the day. This is the kind of weather for watching out the windows, reading and writing, and cooking hot and simple meals — cornbread and refried beans for us.
I’ll be lucky if I can get to my chopping stump tomorrow to chop some extra wood. Good thing there’s some ready to go in the woodshed for when I do need it…
Hi there, I’m Ziggy. In 2008, I launched The Year of Mud while building my first natural home. This website is a collection of personal stories and experiences building with clay, straw, and wood over the past 15+ years. A few of the things that get me fired up are natural plasters, timber framing, & Japanese architecture. In 2012, we started offering Natural Building Workshops, so you can learn essential hands-on skills to build your own natural home.
