the cobhouse in its early stage August 16 - 2010 the owner confronted a lot of problems regarding the unusual construction, so much of the work was delayed for paperwork; the local working force raised other problems and by now here is the third team. I have asked him to put the adventure in his own words and when I get it I'll post it here
here comes the text from the owners of the house Calin and Luminita - both can be seen here in the panorama D.
I add my best wishes and hope for the best
"hand moulding a dream
when everyone said we would need a lot of courage and patience, they just didn't say it convincing enough to stop us.
Part 1
so we started ! we were on the way back from our very short holiday spent at Sasca, were we tried to mix a relaxing time in the middle of a wild and very beautiful nature with a quick workshop at the 'green house' - our architect's cob prototype – when we finally received a call announcing we now have the authorization to start building. Suddenly all the extremely early mornings spent waiting at some queue with an eye on the ticking clock reminding us the working day starts in just a few minutes, all expenses with even the most insignificant copy of a document and most important - all the worries for the delayed start, turned into joy – finally we can bring the team to start working, the dream will slowly take shape. I said bring the team because we received a recommendation and actually wanted to bring a team of people from over 100 km away to work at the house. The following weekend we went and spoke to them agreed to discuss further over the week and in the weekend bring them here with everything they need for their work. It was just two days before we had to go there with a trailer and a second car to bring everything and everyone, accommodations had been fixed here for all of them, when they declared the money we had agreed upon just a couple of days ahead was not for the entire work we expected them to do, but for about half of it.
Confusing moment! We abandoned the plan, canceled the deal and tried to sort out a way of continuing with the plan. 'We want to move in the house this year' , was the main idea which had to be followed!
Part 2 – the team in Timisoara.
There was another recommendation we had received some weeks ago, we had spoken to the man – head of a team working in constructions for years - but at that moment considered we could get a better deal with the team mentioned above. So we went back to meet him. Didn't expect anymore to be both in budget and have a real help for the cob part, but found him reliable enough to start the work with him. So finally it was passed mid July when he sent a man to start digging. I specifically remember it was Wednesday when we signed the contract. On Thursday evening we went to see the progress – almost nothing. We returned to the the city very concerned, but still having in mind we signed a contract with a reliable person and moreover we had the promise of the man, sent there to dig, that on Monday the trenches should be done. We did appreciate there were some 30 cubic meters to dig. The next day we went with high hopes to see at least one trench finished. Of course we arrived after our working days had ended and only half of a trench had been dag. Excuses , excuses was all we heard and we still waited patiently until Sunday evening to see some progress; Sunday we did not allow him to work. On Sunday evening things were the same as on Friday, so Monday arrived and only half of the trench was finished. We were concerned , we were angry and we were stressed by the idea that 'cobbing' must start before August. Bottom line – the trenches and iron parts for the foundation were ready and assembled on the 6th of august –this means at least one week in delay. Then a massive storm ruined our plans to pour the concrete in, so another delay added up. Every evening after returning from the site , was dedicated to plan the time, the budget, to calculate and re-calculate everything. We then realized it will not be possible to build the house, or even the entire ground floor like this and unfortunately we cannot not rely on anyone for the cob part, except ourselves and some help from friends, within our very limited time off after work. After turning the issue on all sides we decided to try and build half of the ground floor and maybe we will even move in this year. Yes, the main idea was dropped – we can only hope at this point, after changing three sets of people in the constructing team, after all the delays, that we'll have a decently warm weather to build the walls and maybe finish the exterior. Moving in the house this year should be a bonus!
Part 3 – cobbing
this is planed start Saturday, should everything go well ! Hoping for the best!"
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