Anyone here have a straw bale house

[MattBaggins]

or attended a building workshop?

[HEyHEY]

1. Not since the friggin' kids got ahold of matches

[Don_G]

2. I've Only Read About It

I'll tell you I remember though.

[Champion Jack]

3. Nope, not yet

But I am planning to build one in the near future...

[burrowowl]

4. Requires real lathing and plaster

and even in dry climates straw maintains humidity and humidity very often means mold and it seeps out. You could use whitewash, twice a year, very snaitizing but you are stuck with white since no paint holds on whitewash.

[Don_G]

6. You're Wrong

Plaster and Lath with Stucco on the outside.

There are plenty of examples of 100+ year homes in the Plains States that disprove your opinion.

The problem, as in any house, is to direct the water away from both the house and foundation. Solve that and you'll put "This Old House" out of business.

[burrowowl]

7. Know of several homes

and it is possible that the straw was not properly dried but problems have arisen and Albuquerque is a dry climate. Remember we don't season anything like we used to, including lumber (controlled drying may be better for some types).
I was speaking of the lathing and plaster on the inside, yes stucco on the outside. Some have used cement, the mortar would act like whitewash.
Adobe is a better choice in this area.
Both straw and adobe are more expensive than conventional methods given it is hard to find real plasters, many builders only know how to install sheetrock.

[Champion Jack]

12. hmmmm

>and it is possible that the straw was not properly

Which is why you check the bales before construction, moisture levels over 20% are discarded

>dried but problems have arisen and Albuquerque is a dry climate. >Remember we don't season anything like we used to, including lumber > (controlled drying may be better for some types).

a strawbale house is nothing like a 'stick'frame house.
The Nebraska houses are load bearing SB walls. Most common today is post and beam with SB in fill.

>I was speaking of the lathing and plaster on the inside, yes stucco >on the outside. Some have used cement, the mortar would act like >whitewash.

Don't need it. You can apply a first coat of earthen plaster directly to the bales. A lime cement mix is better for the exterior finish.
Colored lime wash can be applied in sucessive coats to build up the color.

>Adobe is a better choice in this area.

much more work than straw

>Both straw and adobe are more expensive than conventional methods >given it is hard to find real plasters, many builders only know how >to install sheetrock.

wrong on both counts. Depending on how much sweat equity you invest SB is the same or cheaper than stick framing. You will also save in heating and cooling bills for years to come.

[burrowowl]

14. Sweat equity does

make it cheaper, I've known people who have lived in a trailer for years before they finally got their house finished. Sweat equity is not for the impatient but does give one satisfaction.
I agree, SB should be loading bearing, however, try to convince city code makers who don't know dip-shit or who for polictical reasons require frame and fill.

[Champion Jack]

8. Good point Don

Also earthen and lime plasters can really help with the "breathability' and how it handles the ambient moisture

[Don_G]

15. Thank You

You have to know where you're building a house, what one expects out of it and the environmental conditions.

As much as I liked Frank Lloyd Wright, he screwed up a lot of times because he was more of an artist than an engineer, but understandable because engineering was more art than science then.

Check out the Japanese approach to building through the centuries: they define culture/space/liveability with mobility (earthquakes/fire.)

[liberalmuse]

5. The earthship is my dream home...

Tires or straw bales--it doesn't matter which. I know straw bales make a house virtually fire-proof and rodent-proof. That's about it. I know a little more about earthship construction, but have never attended a workshop.

[Don_G]

9. Concentrate On The Foundation....

To paraphrase, didn't the Bible state that a house built without a good foundation was a piece of crap?

Water is fluid, erodes and dissolves rock and metal over time.

I can't control Gaia, but I can minimize her destructive urges and try to intimate her beneficial aspects as much as I can.

On Edit: 25-Year "The Mother Earth News" reader....

[mistertrickster]

10. I'm very interested in a poured cement house

Anybody know anything about them?

[Champion Jack]

13. These are cool too

http://www.monolithicdome.com/

[Don_G]

16. A Little

Depends on the material/labor costs in your area.

[trof]

18. ICF home?

Insulated Concrete Form?
I've seen a couple go up. Supposed to be 15-20% more expensive than stick framed, but the super insulation is said to pay that back in a few years.

[intheozone]

11. My nephew has one

he built his about 5 five years ago in Sonora, California. So far, other than the thick walls, it seems the same as any regular house. It really is nice looking. I think it is better insolated and quieter than a regular wood frame house. I don't know that it was any cheaper to build (might be today since price of wood has gone up so much) but that is probably due to problems with their contractor.

[Don_G]

17. I Know Contractors

Some are good, others aren't....

If you decide to sub your own house out and can afford it, I suggest getting a job with a temp agency to learn who does what, when and why.