Neat stuff, Mike!
> From: Mike Lazzari <watershed@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
> First of all a straw bale house is much more fire resistant than a
> stick-framed house.
Yes! There's just no source of oxygen there, if they're finished properly.
> Most problems around here with straw bale construction are caused
> by traditional cement plaster inhibiting moisture movement through the
> walls.
I'd call cement plaster "conventional" rather than "traditional."
Clay plasters breathe, and keep the straw dry.
> Typical construction around here where there isn't a guaranteed window
> with no rain is post and beam with straw bale infill. This allows the
> roof to be on before the bales arrive. The bales are not load bearing
> which allows for a hybrid construction. e.g. interior walls are stick
> framed as are hard to bale gable ends.
I've worked on both infill and load-bearing straw bale houses. The load-bearing
ones can be much cheaper, but as you note, angles are an issue. The
load-bearing straw bale house I worked on used light clay infill for the gable
ends.
I think infill is popular primarily because it's easier to get past building
inspectors, who can look at a frame, do the math, and say, "Yup, that will stay
up." But they don't know what to do with load-bearing straw bales! (Which are,
incidentally, just as strong as post-and-beam infill.)
> Here's a photo of us unloading the double semi load of bales.
Nice! I'm glad to see these techniques spreading.
----------------
:::: He who loves with purity considers not the gift of the lover, but the love
of the giver. -- Thomas Kempis
:::: Jan Steinman, EcoReality Co-op ::::
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