Adding Shingles to Gable Walls
Adding shingles to gable walls may not seem like a straw bale specific topic at first glance. That doesn’t mean it’s not an important skill for you to learn for several reasons. Lot of straw bale houses use shingles on the gable end walls.
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.
Gravel in your toe ups. Is that enough?
Is it enough to have just gravel in your toe ups or do you need something more? Read more
Hiring the Right Contractor for Your Straw Bale Construction Project
Hiring the right contractor for your straw bale construction project could be the most important decision you make along the path to creating your new home. Here’s tips on how to find a great match.
Sierra Vista, Arizona Straw Bale Workshop: Meet the Hosts
Sierra Vista, Arizona is a beautiful location and host to the first straw bale construction workshop of the 2017 season. Come join us for an unforgettable experience.
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.
Easier Insurance and Lending for Straw Bale Homes
The inclusion of straw bale construction in the International Residential Code (IRC) has made it easier to get insurance and lending for straw bale homes. It may not be as easy as getting insurance and lending on conventional homes yet, but we are making major headway.
Acid Staining Floors While Protecting Plaster Walls
When acid staining concrete floors, it is important to properly mask off walls and doors so that none of the stain gets onto places where you don't want it. One of the hardest surfaces to protect is unsealed plaster.
Finish Plaster Texture Options
There are many of finish plaster texture options available for your straw bale home and knowing which one is best for you can be difficult. The best decisions are based on understanding the combination of application-technical difficulty, personal aesthetics, durability, crack hiding ability, and material availability.
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.