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Off-Grid Living: 5 Advantages of Straw Bale Housing
Not all people who build straw bale homes build them off the grid, and not all people living off the grid do so in straw bale housing. But the two are as powerful a combo as peanut butter and jelly for many reasons! We’ll share five of our favorites, but first things first. Just what do we mean by ‘off-grid living’?
How a Straw Bale House Can Change the World
A straw bale house has the power to change the world, one occupant and one home at a time. Learn more.
Fire Resistance of Straw Bale Walls Outperforms Conventional Construction
The fire resistance of straw bale walls is superior to that of conventional construction. Learn why that matters and how it's possible.
Wildfires and Straw Bale Construction: Four Case Studies From California
The tragic wildfires in California have created massive devastation across the state; however, they have also given us an opportunity to see, first hand, just how well straw bale structures perform in wildfires.
Plaster Tip: Applying American Clay Over Natural Hydraulic Lime
In this article we review using American Clay plaster over a Natural Hydraulic Lime plaster, making sure that cure times are accounted for.
Simplify the Installation of Roofing Felt Behind Your Plaster
I wanted to share a few great tips to simplify the installation of the roofing felt needed on wood that lies behind your plaster. As you know (or may be learning...right now...) you have to cover all wood that will end up behind plaster with roofing felt or an equivalent product.
Free Arkin Tilt Plans Offered for Victims of California Wildfires
I spoke with David Arkin about the incredibly generous and caring offer that he and is wife Anni Tilt are making for those people who lost their homes in the California wildfires.
Wire Ties or Poly Twine Bales?
I'm often asked if using bales that are tied with wire is a bad or good idea. The reality is that there are advantages and disadvantages on both sides of the question. I do have a preference though, and that is for poly twine over wire.
Creating Straight Bale Walls On a Crooked Frame
It was immediately obvious while working on the exposed timber frame that the natural cut timbers would not line up with the plane of the bale wall once complete. What we did worked out really well and created a beautiful and STRAIGHT wall.
Land Development Process Revealed
Allow me to share with you what I've learned over my 20 years as a professional builder and land developer. This is for anyone interested in the start to finish process of finding, developing, and building on raw land.
Straw Bale Home is Cover of Fine Homebuilding
For those of you who have been curious what it will take to help straw bale homes become more mainstream, this may be a part of the answer. David Arkin and Annie Tilt (Arkin-Tilt Architects) have received many awards over the years and their straw bale homes have at least twice graced the covers of Fine Homebuilding Magazine, this time in the fall 2014 edition of Small Homes Cabins and Cottages.
Plastering Overhead in a Straw Bale House
Plastering straw bale window and door wells can be challenging, but the end result is beautiful. Learn some important tips on how to do it in this article.