Bond Beam and Cast-In-Place Header

The continuous concrete bond beam is finished. Earthen buildings do not resist lateral pressure well over the decades and centuries, but this concrete bond beam will take those lateral pressures and turn them into compression pressure, which is cob’s bailiwick. The bond beam will also help distribute any localized loads throughout a broader area and resist cracking in any sensitive areas such as lintel spans and corners.

Over the front door is a 7’ cast-in-place concrete header for the 6’ wide front door with two side lites. This is tied into the remainder of the bond beam that is constructed of specialized U-shaped CMU’s (concrete masonry units). J-bolts are spaced every 6’ to secure the treated 2” x 12” that will cap the wall. This will be some of the only treated wood we have had to use for this project, as the clay binder’s natural desiccating properties allow the use of untreated wood in contact with the cob even in our humid climate.