# Why don't (more/any) people live in hobbit holes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 16, 2009, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-more-any-people-live-in-hobbit-holes/510300 "2009-09-16T09:57:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-more-any-people-live-in-hobbit-holes/510300/41 "2009-09-17T23:54:47Z")
Plaster over straw also gives you excellent insulation. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-more-any-people-live-in-hobbit-holes/510300/42 "2009-09-18T00:05:12Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Plaster over straw also gives you excellent insulation. Yes, that’s the part I like. It seems so obvious and cost effective. The wiring would have to be done in conduit. However, the floor needs to be isolated from termites. They can and would destroy the entire structure in short order starting with the wood pallets. ---
**Author:** ![Sri\_Theo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Sri\_Theo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sri_Theo)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-more-any-people-live-in-hobbit-holes/510300/43 "2009-09-18T01:34:34Z")
Do they get termite’s in Wales? Also the wood looks like its only been stripped off its bark not made into beams or planks, I’ve heard retaining the cylindrical shape can increase the strength of wood by 50%. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingRamenMonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@FlyingRamenMonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingRamenMonster)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-more-any-people-live-in-hobbit-holes/510300/44 "2009-09-18T01:41:37Z")
Something that I don’t think has been mentioned: it’s hard to get much population density with hobbit holes. Have you _tried_ stacking them on top of each other? And where do you put the car?\* They’re only good for a handful of houses in a commune or something. \*The only places where it’s practical to build a hobbit hole are the kinds of places where you need a car if you want to go anywhere besides your hobbit hole. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-more-any-people-live-in-hobbit-holes/510300/45 "2009-09-18T01:45:09Z")
Consider the following: Termites are for the most part found south of 50 degrees north latitude (and north of 50 degrees south) The house depicted in the link is in Wales. I located the lat & long for Cardiff, which is near the southern border of Wales. It is slightly above 51 degrees north. Most of Wales is north of Cardiff. Therefore, it may be that, being in Wales, the house depicted is far enough north that termites are unlikely to be a problem simply due to climate. Nonetheless, **Magiver** ’s caution would still stand for much of the world. ---
**Author:** ![santiago42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@santiago42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/santiago42)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-more-any-people-live-in-hobbit-holes/510300/46 "2009-09-18T02:59:59Z")
From Ripley’s Believe It or Not Sept 17,2009. After living in a 7 foot wide cave for 16 years, officials evicted Hilaire Purbrick of Brighton, East Sussex, England because his underground home lacked a second fire exit. This may be why no hobbit holes. Zoning regulations. Zoning Regulations would be a good band name. ---
**Author:** ![Hadrian\_s\_Wall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/58956e/32.png) [@Hadrian\_s\_Wall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hadrian_s_Wall)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-more-any-people-live-in-hobbit-holes/510300/47 "2009-09-18T03:38:10Z")
> [@santiago42](#): > > From Ripley’s Believe It or Not Sept 17,2009. > > After living in a 7 foot wide cave for 16 years, officials evicted Hilaire Purbrick of Brighton, East Sussex, England because his underground home lacked a second fire exit. > > This may be why no hobbit holes. Zoning regulations. > > **Zoning Regulations would be a good band name.** Stolen! Thanks! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-more-any-people-live-in-hobbit-holes/510300.md?page=2)