Straw bale building

Straw bale building..

Really? Like hay? That is what comes to my mind when I hear straw bale building...Am I right in that thinking? Lets see...Learning as I go...

WIKI

From page:

Straw-bale construction is a building method that uses straw bales as structural elements, insulation, or both. It is commonly used in natural building. It has advantages over some conventional building systems because of its cost, easy availability, and its high insulation value.

OK when I think of that I think of a barn full of hay...
Not use to thinking of my house as cattle feed. This may take some major convincing.

How stuff works

OK one thing that strikes me is at first stage it does look like a barn built of hay and lumber supports...Does not seem very stable although I am sure it is if it can pass building codes..Bare bones its not so pretty. But energy efficient screams out at me loudly with the rise of electric bills every single month. And great insulation properties...Well I can certainly get behind that!

Lets dig some more on it....

Straw bale home: Paso Robles

A site with some nice pictures on the building of a straw bale building...I am sure this is not very typical of what straw bale building is scale wise...This house is incredibly huge...I don't see it being very economical or eco friendly on such a scale..Although I could be wrong in that thinking....I guess it would be a lot worse without the straw construction. And its a good step forwards...or is that a step backwards??? Hmmmm could be both....SOOO Kudos....It is very interesting to watch the construction picture to picture. The owner seems a bit less than pleased with the total outcome of the project but I think that has to do with the builders and not the design idea...I am going to have to dig a lot deeper ..I want it all I guess...Something that is beautiful yet eco friendly and cheap. Not to mention the word quaint or small. Not very impressed by large houses personally, more into practical and usable spaces..But that is all personal opinion...My thought being I wont have children around always and something smaller brings you closer..Plus the upkeep as I grow older, blah blah blah..I'm rambling.

Next!

Now this is more my style...Lovely!

A house of straw

OK she has me almost convinced on straw houses...Her pics are beautiful esp the last phase, She is my kinda gal! Glad I stumbled onto her site. She also has a video on youtube that gives info of what you have to go through....beautiful pics..nice!

back to it...

Dancing rabbit

Nice site with other links. Has a bit of information on the subject and pics as well.


Surfin Strawbale

Talk about links! Links to everything straw bale...

One of my biggest issues are what climate and can it be beautiful as well.

lets see...

Moisture barriers in straw bale construction

Great information on moisture barrier...Obviously Moisture would be a great downfall on this type of building as can be said with most building materials...Moisture is the enemy...It seems as far as insulation is concerned straw is a great insulator. So cold climates would be ok and if protective measures were in place wet climates as well..Although it seems that dry arid climates are ideal for this method as well.

As far as beauty lets see if I can dig up some pictures of what it can look like...

Flickr: Straw bale building.

Again I am sure there are pitfalls with this as well as advantages...It can be energy efficient as well as beautiful and with the right precautions work in most climates... Its not as cheap as it would seem from what I learned in my search, but seemingly cheaper than conventional...Although the range per square foot was very different from site to site that I searched...as far as 15$ psf to 400$ psf which in my book is a very extreme difference, so I am afraid to say I have no clue on that baby.



(I don't know why, I have no clue. When I am alone in nature my thoughts just lead to you)