WatchI really like the idea of straw bale construction, I like the look and the energy savings. I also like the idea of community coming together to build a home.
Anyone here have any experience with straw bale? I have read through some of the information online of people who have built or are building. My biggest concern are the building permit fees and codes, I just don't want to underestimate what these costs are, or how hard of a time the city will give us.
I haven't had much luck finding a house I want to buy. I have my eyes on a piece of land I want to buy, I can buy the land cash (asking is 140k) and would have about half that left to begin construction.
It would be really easy to just go buy a McMansion in the suburbs like everyone else but that is not what I really want. My grandparents used to own an orchard and this property has an orchard on it. I'm looking for an option with a more sustainable way of life and one that reflects my roots.
Any help is much appreciated.
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topcoates's website
My biggest fear would be a fire or the wind.
Need I remind you how easily the big bad wolf blew down the straw house ;-)
Seriously though, I watched a show on tv where they built a house out of bales. It looked great and, like you say, the energy savings were immense! I'm sure it would smell a bit weird after a while though. Good luck!
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and talk about Mold and Mildew.
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McKeesport, PA
I too looked at strawbale houses, there are several good books on construction and design ideas in amazon. That's where I got mine. The bales are encased in a concrete mix of some type or mud so there really is no concern for fire. The trouble is with building codes. You'll have to build where the codes are lax, or where many strawbales have been built before and they are used to them. I don't remember the url but there are several websites dedicated to strawbale construction. Good luck
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in regards to fire, what I understand is that the bales are so tightly packed there is little room for oxygen and fire to consume the bales. regular insulation actually burns more whereas the bales don't catch on much b/c of lack of oxygen.
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Silly Peasant.
Do you really think the govt/real estate/construction mafia would allow you to build such a house - especially in Califormia ???
BWHAHAHA !
And don't forget, they hate us for our 'freedom' - you know like if you were allowed to actually build your own house, the way you want it to be, think of how many unemployed govt parasites you would create.
I would LOVE to have built an alterntive house, and there are dozens of brilliant techniques out there. But good luck actually pulling it off. BTW, something like 50% of marriages fail during the course of building a house.
It is a travesty what this country has become.
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Check out Mother Earth News magazine, they've been running articles on these, and on zero energy houses, since the 1970s at least. A lot of the myths can be put to rest, but like anything, it depends on if it's done right. And stick built houses are not particularly resistant to wind or fire, either. Some of the new engineered wood beams, etc burn hotter, faster, and are more dangerous than regular lumber. Many stick built houses are insulated with stuff that's as flammable if not more so than straw. The right straw is even resistant to termites supposedly. Again, it all depends on if it's done right. Do any house wrong and it'll suck.
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they hate us for our 'freedom', ha! that's brilliant propaganda!
thanks for the Mother Earth News recommendation.
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Patrick,
For what it's worth, my company is commercializing a green building technology that turns anything from common soil to a variety of non-toxic municipal and industrial wastes into masonry units that are laid as they are made, onsite, by a portable machine. Highly energy efficient, the finished product is also highly resistant to fire and wind damage, insect infestation, sound infiltration, and projectile penetration, while costing no more than conventional stick-built/concrete-block construction.
If you would like to know more, I can be reached at david.white@ramrock.net.
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I know someone who had a straw bale house. It burned down. Insurance companies will not insurance straw bale houses. The house burned down because the batteries for their solar panels caught on fire. I guess the lesson is to make sure that whatever material your house is made out of is insurable. Otherwise, don't dump a lot of dough into your home unless you're ok if a big bad wolf happens by.
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Corning, NY
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Didn't the Three Little Pigs already try this?
What happens when the Big Bad Wolf comes along?
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i have about a bazillion books on these, and have read them all but still not built (not in the financial position to do so).
as i understand, you're going to use about the same amount of wood that a 'normally constructed' house will. especially if you plan on a multi-level structure. bales can hold the roof up, but most don't take the chance with that and built a traditional truss system that is wide enough to accomodate the bales.
your best bet is to find an experienced builder of these, and also take some lessons (lots of these happen in a kind of 'vacation/workshop' way). there are a number of considerations that a 'regular' house doesn't have, or doesn't have as much of (siting, drainage, foundation, roof, etc). the community 'coming together' is going to be you and your personal friends, as the locals will probably find you crazy.
mold depends highly on how the harvester baled them and stored them, so 'it is written' that you know a great deal about the source of your bales, store them properly and build only in the right weather.
as was said above, dealing with building codes, insurance, and financing can be a headache. it seems most of these have been built way out where no one could be bothered to pester the owner, with personal money and a lot of freely given beer.
i'd say a trip to the bookstore is in order for you. i would look on the web for a very good website that has a bulletin board with members who have actually built and/or own one of these. they can clue you in, and may even let you visit.
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Phillipsburg, NJ
http://www.genesisfarm.org/showcase.taf?_function=detail&showcase_uid1=100
Visit Genesis Farm near Blairstown NJ. They put up a straw bale house a few years back.
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Move to Colorado if you want a straw bale home... lots of them here and the view is better :)
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Corning, NY
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It's always a good idea to build a straw bale house in places subject to wildfires.
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Oakland, CA
Aren't you worried about the big bad wolf?
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San Francisco, CA
sunflowerstation1 says
I read an article in a United Airlines magazine about contstructing a straw bale home in Aspen. It sounded like the walls were very thick to obtain the desired level of insulation. The builder wrote that the priciples behind using the materials was worth have a smaller space. This particular structure was some kind of vacation house, too, so they only wanted it to be big enough to have some friends over and store skis.
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Harrison, AR
There is a charitable outfit that is similar to Habitat for Humanity that builds straw bale houses for Native American families. I think it is called "Red Feather" or something like that. You can volunteer to help if you donate $250 plus/minus. You bring your own tent or RV to live in, but I think your donation covers your meals, which are also prepared by volunteers.
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Pleasanton, CA
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1.4million dollar straw bale homes fore sale in Cupertino! Come and get yours now before the big fire!
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Saint George, UT
elliemae's website
There are many different types of building materials, but you have to use common sense. I knew a guy who built a house out of tires, didn't pack them right and they ended up catching fire. It burned for over a week.
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Clearly, most of the comments are from a place of ignorance and lack of education. I built my own straw bale home in 2006/7 and have been living here ever since. I will NEVER live anywhere else. Some facts to set you 'non believers' straight: a strawbale house is approx 4 times more fire retardant than a stick frame home, in which the majority of the population live in; it is twice a structurally integral; (these facts are per Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation, CMHC, here in Canada). There is no chance of mold as long as you build it right and keep water away. Water is the arc enemy of all building materials, wood, concrete etc, so that applies to any home. You have to have 'good boots (foundation) and a good hat (decent roof, with 3' overhangs);Mold and mildew can only grow in 25% ++ humidity, so as long as you keep the walls dry (free of moisture) and allow them to breath you are fine. I have been here 5 years now and the moisture content is around 8% in my walls. Lets touch on energy saving: I live in the snow belt of Ontario and last year, my heating costs were just under $470! I don't need AC either, due to the high insulation factor of straw bales - between R40 to 50.
I am still waiting for the Big Bad Wolf to come on down - I have a spare room and guest quarters if he would like to stop and rest for a while too! Maybe you should check out my web site and my book that I recently released to pic up a free sneak preview . www.EcoStrawHouse.com
Yes, I had a B I T C H of a time with the building department, but persevered and in the end got what I intended.
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Strawhouses are perfectly safe, assuming they are built correctly. To do so requires a lot of odd configurations concerning the configuration of pipes and wiring, the type of plaster used, etc.
Just remember that any house will burn down under certain conditions, there are no fire proof houses that I know of.
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Corning, NY
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I'll go with a house of sticks rather than a house of straw. A house of bricks is even better, but a bit expensive.
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Insurance companies do insure but check that out first
Fire is not a problem despite what some here say, check out testing by Australia's peak science body on straw bale building here . It survived 1000 degree heat with 30 minutes of radiant heat build-up followed by 110 seconds of full flame immersion...inside only reached 25-30 degrees c and no damage http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150599129103843.394020.142468583842&type=3
As for the battery fire... solar batteries should not be stored in your house and should be in a purpose build area that ensures that gas buildup and acid spills can be managed. If you put a bomb in a house (effectively) then you have to expect your house to burn down sooner or later. They are lucky they didn't kill someone.
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Pleasanton, CA
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If fire doesn't get you, the wind surely will. Straw houses. Didn't anyone read children books? What's next gingerbread houses? Living in a shoe? Buy a regular overpriced piece of particle board junk like the rest of us and die just when you get that last 30 year payment done.
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wthrfrk80 says
Wow, talk about a classic.
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Corning, NY
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Wow that's a flashback! Thanks rootvg.