straw bale house construction

The basic bale-building method is now increasingly being extended to bound modules of other oft-recycled materials, including tire-bales, cardboard, paper, plastic, and used carpeting. Each layer (or course) of bales are stacked up and pinning them until you have reached your desired height, during this process staves of willow should be driven down through alternate bails to fix it to the bail below. Learn more... Building a straw bale and plaster house is a low-cost and environmentally friendly way to create a home. Monitoring work of the structure carried out by architectural researchers at the university has found that as well as reducing the environmental footprint, the construction offers other benefits, including healthier living through higher levels of thermal insulation and regulation of humidity levels. Load Bearing: Load-bearing straw bale homes (infill design) are constructed so the bales are stacked within a structural framework, such as steel, wood, etc. Will a straw house be warm enough for New Brunswick, Canada? It’s an ambitious task which has been put to the test by Rikki Nitzkin and Maren Termens in a 2020 English-language update to their 2016 second edition of Casas de Paja: Una Guia para Autoconstructores.. These range from funky sheds to family homes and commercial premises. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. For simplicity, this article will not include instruction on the installation of services such as natural gas, electricity or water and sewer: It covers only the details about how to build the shell. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 192,588 times. Straw is easy to work with for people new to construction as they are flexible and can … Building and Environment39.12 (2004): 1443-51. This knowledge is not definitive, it is just here as guidance; always get a second opinion. To determine how our straw bale construction experience can best serve you, we offer a complimentary consultation, please contact us if you are interested. [8], Straw-bale construction was greatly facilitated by the mechanical hay baler, which was invented in the 1850s and was widespread by the 1890s. Building in Straw Bale “I don’t know where it came from, but we had a strong idea that we wanted to build in straw bale,” says Linda of the construction. The earliest mobile homes had R-8 or less. 261-288, Black, Gary, and Mannik, Henri, "Spar and Membrane Structure" The Last Straw journal, #17, Winter 1997, Whitty, Cadmon. Rats and mice can infiltrate straw bale homes during construction, so care must be taken to keep such animals out of the material. This will allow you to minimize the number of bales that you cut and will also minimize waste. Always consult a structural engineer where building permits are required, before building anything. Kay, John, David Anthone, Robert Kay, and Christina Hugly (1990). in the few places where suitable sod could be found, it was more valuable for agriculture than as a building material. The three string bale is the larger in all three dimensions. [27] The technique was used successfully for strawbale housing in rural China. Committed to collaborative working, we can support you all the way from initial vision and design concept through to the finished build. However, in the Sandhills, the soil generally made poor construction sod;[10] Straw bales can also be used as part of a Spar and Membrane Structure (SMS) wall system in which lightly reinforced 5 - 8 cm (2 - 3") gunite or shotcrete skins are interconnected with extended "X" shaped light rebar in the head joints of the bales. It is a common misperception that building with straw bale necessitates rounded corners and wavy, uneven walls. [10], Since the 1990s straw-bale construction has been substantially revived, particularly in North America, Europe, and Australia. There are different ways of building with straw. Straw Bale House Building Construction Defined & Illustrated. Strawbale construction is a construction method ascribed to early settlers in the United States in Nebraska in the 1890's, and a method popular in the U.S. into the 1940's with a continuing following of straw bale enthusiasts to the present. During the construction phase, buildings need to be protected from rain and from water leakages into the body of the walls. Alternatively, bale buildings can have a structural frame of other materials, usually lumber or timber-frame, with bales simply serving as insulation and plaster substrate, ("infill" or "non-loadbearing" technique), which is most often required in northern regions and/or in wet climates. Another method to reap the benefits of straw is to incorporate straw-bale walls into a pre-existing structure.[30]. Milutiene, Edita, et al. There are a number of ways to build in straw, including: loadbearing straw bale, with the straw providing a structural role [25] The Harrison Vault,[26] in Joshua Tree, California, is engineered to withstand the high seismic loads in that area using only the assembly consisting of bales, lath and plaster. [13] This revival is likely attributed to greater environmental awareness and the material's natural, non-toxic qualities, low embodied energy, and relative affordability. As an experienced straw bale builder, and, having seen some disasters, while I think in the right locations and with the proper precautions straw bale is an excellent building option, you should change No 4 of the ‘Cons’ to: Areas of extreme humidity and rain are inappropriate for straw bale construction. [21] In this wall system the concrete skins provide structure, seismic reinforcing, and fireproofing, while the bales are used as leave-in formwork and insulation. ", was the most beneficial article I have read to date on straw bale buildings. The same is done with a straw-bale house. In 2001, Corum wrote a step-by-step guide for building a straw structure and the group uses this book as a guide for those interested in building their own projects and as a way to … In turn, this can cause more cracking through which more moisture can infiltrate. However, there are also pitfalls to using straw bales for construction. [33], Two significant problems related to straw-bale construction are moisture and mold. Straw bale building concepts are simple to understand and put into practice. This guide covers the materials and methods you might use to build a straw bale house, a house that can last hundreds of years, is energy efficient and is cheap to maintain. "Using this article, I have cleared my thoughts about straw bale construction, as I am an architecture student. [17] There are two types of straw-bales commonly used, those bound together with two strings and those with three. Visit various straw bale photo galleries. Paja has consulted for hundreds of houses, and will work with clients on all or any part of a straw bale … In many parts of the state, the soil was suitable for dugouts and sod houses. [18] Bale walls can be tied together with pins of bamboo or wood (internal to the bales or on their faces), or with surface wire meshes, and then stuccoed or plastered, either with a lime-based formulation or earth/clay render. Can I make the framing on the building from bricks instead of timber? Completed in 2019, Nepal’s first strawbale house showcases an earthquake shake table tested straw bale wall system costing about half the price of a conventional earth-quake resistant buildings. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Straw bales were used in construction 400 years ago in Germany; and straw-thatched roofs have long been used in northern Europe and Asia. This is especially important on the top course. In South Africa, a five-star lodge made from 10,000 strawbales has housed luminaries such as Nelson Mandela and Tony Blair. Advantages of straw-bale construction over conventional building systems include the renewable nature of straw, cost, easy availability, naturally fire-retardant and high insulation value. Straw bales are a highly insulative, low-embodied-energy, natural building material made from an agricultural waste product. These “Green” buildings use a natural renewable resource and are very energy efficient. Straw-bale construction has encountered issues regarding building codes depending on the location of the building. Each section of the exterior wall should be a multiple of the standard bale length you plan to use. A passive ecological house can easily be assembled with those panels. Straw-bale construction is a building method that uses bales of straw (commonly wheat, rice, rye and oats straw) as structural elements, building insulation, or both. Types of Straw Bale Construction There are 2 types of straw bale homes—load bearing and non-load bearing. Straw bale building typically consists of stacking rows of bales (often in running-bond) on a raised footing or foundation, with a moisture barrier or capillary break between the bales and their supporting platform. [6] Research has been done using moisture probes placed within the straw wall in which 7 of 8 locations had moisture contents of less than 20%. It doesn’t. If you dream of a sustainably built, natural, healthy, breathable building – whether it’s a home, a garden room, an extension, a warehouse, whatever you desire – straw bales offer you an ideal solution in the UK. Spencer, Janet Jeffries and D. Murphy (1979). [14][15] However, in the USA, the introduction of Appendices S and R in the 2015 International Residential Code has helped to legitimize and improve understanding of straw-bale construction. Straw bale construction is a sustainable construction technique, with straw as a renewable material that is readily available. Draw up the floor plan. To combat this, builders began plastering their bale structures; if cement or lime stucco was unavailable, locally obtained "gumbo mud" was employed. Is it safe for South African (Cape Town) weather? Merrily throwing clay onto the bale walls seems like so much fun, you may want to build a starter house to vent your feelings about the housing market prices and collapse thing. [9] The infill or timber frame method, where the straw … Building a straw bale and plaster house is a low-cost and environmentally friendly way to create a home. [8] It proved particularly useful in the Nebraska Sandhills. R-value is a measurement of a materials insulating quality, higher the number the more insulating. Additionally, the inclusion of a skeletal framework of wood or metal allows the erection of a roof prior to raising the bales, which can protect the bale wall during construction, when it is the most vulnerable to water damage in all but the most dependably arid climates. Field bales might support around 900 kg per linear meter of wall (600 lb./ lin. Thank you! For those who prefer using natural materials, building a straw bale house may seem like a great option. Nebraska Historic Buildings Survey: Custer County, "National Register of Historic Places Inventory–Nomination Form: Pilgrim Holiness Church", "Nebraska Historic Buildings Survey, Reconnaissance Survey Final Report of Arthur County, Nebraska. including the 1928 Pilgrim Holiness Church in the village of Arthur, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Straw-bale construction does, however, guarantee deep windowsills—the result of superthick walls. Our aim – … Straw’s primary value is as an insulating material that enables houses to use less energy and have lower carbon dioxide emissions over the building’s life. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. 31, No. Also, it helped to have a complete list of materials. Click HERE if you are new to straw bale construction and want to start learning. Even if there are no straw bale homes in your immediate, area you can still get a sense of what building one will cost by looking at conventional construction values. In this case, 91% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. When European Settlers came to North America, teepees were insulated in winter with loose straw between the inner lining and outer cover. Research has shown that straw-bale construction is a sustainable method for building, from the standpoint of both materials and energy needed for heating and cooling.[2]. Print. The California Straw Building Association (CASBA) is an all-volunteer non-profit organization committed to straw bale building. The second method of straw bale house construction is load-bearing, also known as Nebraska-style, because it was employed by the first straw bale builders in the Sandhills. In France, the approval in 2012 of professional rules for straw-building recognized it as “common technology” and qualifies for standard-insurance programs.[16]. The exterior should be painted with breathable paint so that moisture can escape the walls. In northern regions, the potential snow-loading can exceed the strength of the bale walls. Make sure you follow health and safety guidelines and regulations to avoid hurting yourself, helpers or children, etc.. ), and more. I'm grateful to the authors of this book for coming together to publish the answers to our straw bale FAQs, and I am indebted to them for creating a text I plan to share with young, emerging … "I Wrapped My House in Straw: A Straw Bale Builder Turns an Ugly old, Energy-Eating House into a Cozy, Efficient Home with a Unique Straw Bale Retrofit Process. "increase in Buildings Sustainability Using Renewable materials and Energy." In 2012, members of COSBA were able to obtain a straw bale that was taken out of a historic 1920’s bale house in Nebraska (to make way for an addition). Paja Construction has consulted straw bale construction projects all across the United States over the past 22 years. Straw bales are inexpensive and, as long as they haven't been … [8] In 1990, nine surviving bale buildings were reported in Arthur and Logan Counties,[12] [28] Straw bale domes along the Syrio-African rift at Kibbutz Lotan have an interior geodesic frame of steel pipes. Search online, typing in "Appendix M Straw-Bale Structures" for some more detailed info, from US standards. When the desired height has been reached some kind of strap can be placed around the entire wall (top to bottom) to add further stability and strength, but not stressed extremely tightly. [4][5], Straw bales have also been used in very energy efficient high performance buildings such as the S-House[23] in Austria which meets the Passivhaus energy standard. The width and density of the bales make them inherently sturdy, and some people … Further damage to the wall can be caused by mold releasing potentially toxic spores into the wall cavities[35] and into the air. A good straw bale home is significantly warmer than conventional building methods, because a well-packed bale is rated at R30 - R35 minimum, or considerably more. Straw houses have been built on the African plains since the Paleolithic Era. Straw bale building typically consists of stacking rows of bales (often in running-bond) on a raised footing or foundation, with a moisture barrier or capillary break between the bales and their supporting platform. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. You can sign up for a "Free Straw Bale E-Course". [29] The combination of insulation and mass provide an excellent platform for passive solar building design for winter and summer. There are some important differences between the two. That is why we live in our own straw bale house. A combination of framing and load-bearing techniques may also be employed, referred to as "hybrid" straw bale construction.[20]. Long Branch Environmental Education Center: This page was last edited on 15 October 2020, at 01:56. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. The first straw-bale structures we know of were built about a hundred years ago by European settlers in the Sand Hills of Nebraska. Welcome to SBUK – the straw bale building association for the United Kingdom. The University of Bath has completed a research programme which used ‘ModCell’ panels - pre-fabricated panels consisting of a wooden structural frame infilled with straw bales and rendered with a breathable lime-based system - to build 'BaleHaus', a straw bale construction on the university's campus. Different Ways to Build With Straw Bale. There are many articles online about designing straw bale building, construction, and techniques that you will enjoy and should find useful. The group has published a number of research papers on its findings. ft.), but the high density bales bear up to 6000 kg per linear meter of wall (4,000 lb./lin.ft. Compressed straw bales have a wide range of documented R-value. Make U shaped staves: Select a one meter willow stave and mark the stave at 33 centimeter (13 in) from each end, take a big hammer and bash the green stave on these marks until the fibers of the wood are mashed, split and softened. [11], The first documented use of hay bales in construction in Nebraska was a schoolhouse built in 1896 or 1897. ICC Digital Codes is the largest provider of model codes, custom codes and standards used worldwide to construct safe, sustainable, affordable and … References Science, Technology, & Human Values, Vol. By using our site, you agree to our. This website is a place to ask questions, find answers, seek inspiration, share photos, articles, advice and contribute to the growing movement towards better, smarter, ecologically … Bale walls can be tied togethe… This article has been viewed 192,588 times. Today, insulated homes usually have R-20 in the walls, and many old homes have R-14 for insulation or considerably less. Some builders construct frames around the bales and use the bales for insulation, while others eliminate the framing altogether. Compressed and plastered straw bale walls are also resistant to fire. "Straw Bale as a Viable, Cost Effective, and Sustainable Building Material for use in Southeast Ohio". To browse through pictures and videos of some homes we have built… VIEW OUR PORTFOLIO A typical straw bale home, built by a contractor , will cost about 10-12% more than a conventional home of the same square footage. This guide covers the materials and methods you might use to build a straw bale house, a house that can last hundreds of years, is energy efficient and is cheap to maintain. To create this article, 31 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Notably, a Swiss architect named Werner Schmidt has been capable of building modern multi-story houses over 2700sq.ft (250sq.m). wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article has been viewed 192,588 times. The lime and clay plastered straw bale walls provide super-insulation, moderating extreme temperatures, while the breathable clay and … [11] Between 1896 and 1945, an estimated 70 straw-bale buildings, including houses, farm buildings, churches, schools, offices, and grocery stores had been built in the Sandhills. Approved. [24] In the Swiss Alps, in the little village of Nax Mont-Noble, construction works have begun in October 2011 for the first hotel in Europe built entirely with straw bales. Ausbale is a group of building industry professionals, researchers, owner builders, and interested people who share our knowledge and experiences. The reported R-value ranges from 17-55 (in American units) or 3-9.6 (in SI) depending on the study, differing wall designs could be responsible for wide range in R-value. This, "This article is perfect for the novice, or anyone unfamiliar with straw bale building. On the outside have either wood or brick, since the rain will cause the straw to rot. The technique has also been extended to bags containing "bales" of wood chips or rice hulls. In straw bale and straw panel building, cement-free foundation systems, healthy, low impact earth plasters & paints, and lime or lime stabilized earth renders. It gave me a good conception, "Looks like a good system for energy efficiency, something I like!". When kept dry, straw (and wood) can last hundreds if not thousands of years. Building a Home Using Straw Bale Construction. Straw-bale home construction is a building method that uses bales of straw (commonly: wheat, rice, rye, and oats straw) as structural elements, building insulation, or both.. The plastered bale assembly also can be designed to provide lateral and shear support for wind and seismic loads. "An Investigation of the Moisture Content in the Walls of a Straw-Bale Building." It is now over 22 years since we brought straw bale building to Australia and for the past 18 years we have had the amazing benefits of living in a straw bale home made up of 7 pavilions. The U staves are use to attach between lined up blocks. In wet climates, the imperative for applying a vapor-permeable finish precludes the use of cement-based stucco. [7] However, proper construction of the straw-bale wall is important in keeping moisture levels down, just as in the construction of any type of building. And, since virtually all straw-bale walls are plastered on both sides, these walls are relatively airtight. The popularity of straw bale construction is growing in the US. Architect Greg Rothers builds both conventional and straw-bale … Pioneers seeking land under the 1862 Homestead Act and the 1904 Kinkaid Act found a dearth of trees over much of Nebraska. Hay bale construction is often permitted in rural areas, but not in the usual towns and cities. Most non breathable paints will not disclose an Sd value as they can be much higher than 3. "Straw Bale Building Details is an incredibly comprehensive explanation of how and why so many of us are utilizing this housing typology. Always make sure to choose a location with the materials (where clay and willow stems are available) and where such building is legal. We are now manufacturing our tilt-up panel system we call SITUPS. Paints with an Sd value less than 0.1 offer adequate breathability for most straw bale/plaster applications. Permits: Get the relevant planning and the required building permits. % of people told us that this article helped them. In this video, you can see how we built complete STRAW BALE HOUSE. ", These pictures and information are useful to me. The bales may actually provide the structural support for the building[19] ("load-bearing" or "Nebraska-style" technique), as was the case in the original examples from the late 19th century. Straw bale buildings . wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. ", https://www.homebuilding.co.uk/how-to-build-with-straw-bale/, https://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-articles/straw-bale-building-and-the-foundation/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQIVU0Fnis4, https://www.machines4u.com.au/mag/how-to-build-a-straw-bale-house/, http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/musings/straw-bale-walls, http://www.strawbale.com/new-to-straw-bale, http://www.treehugger.com/green-architecture/how-to-build-a-house-from-straw-bale-and-mud.html, construire une maison en bottes de paille, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. [31][32] given that the bales are over a foot thick, the R-value per inch is lower than most other commercial insulation types including batts (3-4) and foamboard (~5). Many hands-on workshops and volunteer opportunities exist to help owners and builders learn the basics, and a bale raising is a fun and satisfying event. There are two types of straw-bales commonly used, those bound together with two strings and those with three. The four main ones are: The load bearing or Nebraska method, where the straw acts as structure, insulation and surface for plaster — for this type of build, there is no need for a frame. If you are wondering … The low afternoon sun cast a warm, rich light on the straw bale walls of a newly completed structure. [36] In hot climates, where walls may have become internally dampened, internal temperatures may rise (due to decomposition of affected straw). For many, they are locally available and affordable. Paints are rated in Sd values: Paints with high Sd values have are detrimental to the underlying surface, as they do not allow it to breathe and dry out. Several companies have developed prefabricated strawbale walls. The UK straw bale sector is vibrant and growing with more than 1000 buildings so far. Putting your building project in the forefront of sustainable building industry development is an exciting and rewarding prospect, made all the more attractive by the fabulous look and feel achievable … Straw Bale Construction, Mortgage and Insurance information Cross section drawing of the straw bale house, by Mark Morgan of Bear Paw Design Boiler Brochures Learn more about the wood, gas, coal and other boilers we sell. Kathryn Henderson Goodhew, Steve, Richard Griffiths, and Tom Woolley. ", "Ten years Later: Strawbale in the Building Codes", http://rfcp.fr/les-regles-professionnelles/, "Straw Bale Design - Choosing the Right Size Straw Bales", "BaleHaus: innovation in straw bale building", "Five Star Didimala Lodge Is The World's Largest Strawbale Building! This is a moisture level that does not aid in the breakdown of the straw. To create this article, 31 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Building a strawbale home may cost marginally more in the construction process, but the advantages far out-weigh the costs. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Use the straw as a insulator. Straw bale construction is a green building method that uses whole or partial bales of straw as a major part of a home's walls. Straw bale construction … "The step-by-step process of building (especially building the roof first) and tips on breathable paint and. ", "Huff as hard as you like - you can't blow a straw house down". A complete guide to straw bale building in 320 pages? {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/5b\/Build-a-Straw-Bale-House-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Build-a-Straw-Bale-House-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/5b\/Build-a-Straw-Bale-House-Step-1.jpg\/aid489058-v4-728px-Build-a-Straw-Bale-House-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"485","licensing":"