Clayworks

Clayworks are a specialist in natural materials, new build and restoration. The services division of Clayworks (known as ‘Cob in Cornwall’ until 2010) restores traditional buildings and builds new ones, using clay-based materials, traditionally known as ‘cob’.

Wherever possible, the organisation sources the raw materials from the actual building site. It has developed specific techniques to analyse the quality of clay subsoil on site, which it then turn into ‘cob’ masonry and clay-based internal renders.

As such, the building is receiving materials with the lowest possible carbon footprint.

Since 2001 Clayworks have restored and new built more than 100 structures in this way. The vast majority of these are in Cornwall. These are often buildings in remote locations that would raise a significantly higher carbon footprint should they use conventional building materials hauled from distance.

When buildings are restored/built in such a way, a system of ‘cob’ and internal clay plasters eliminates the need for gypsum/cement based products such as breeze blocks, plasterboard, gypsum plasters and indeed, paint (the topcoat plaster is pigmented according to customer choice). The use of conventional materials with high embodied energies means that the average 2-3 bedroom house can create up to 10 tons of CO2.

Clayworks are able to reduce the embodied energy of any given structure by 90%, when the local clays are suitable and abundant.

It principally designs and builds for private individuals, local councils, and for companies such as the Duchy of Cornwall.

In 2003, it was recognised by The Queen with the award for “Pioneers to the Nation” and in 2010 with the Duke of Cornwall’s award and at the recent Ecobuild exhibition in London, it was selected by the Times property section as one of 5 ‘truly sustainable’ construction solutions that they witnessed at the event.