Hardwood Floors in a Straw Bale House
Hardwood floors in a straw bale house may not be the most common, but they sure are beautiful. The reason they are not the most common is that most people
Hardwood floors in a straw bale house may not be the most common, but they sure are beautiful. The reason they are not the most common is that most people
It’s obvious that they are differences between a straw bale house and conventional homes. What is not so apparent are the differences encountered during the construction process. For example, the
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
In general, detailing a timber frame straw bale home is very much like that of a regular post an dream straw bale home; however, the differences are important to discuss.
When people talk about the cost of straw bale construction, they often get things a bit muddled up. They either come in way too low or way too high. Let’s
It was immediately obvious while working on the exposed timber frame in Arlington, Vermont that the natural cut timbers would not line up perfectly with the plane of the bale
For years you have heard me say that there is no “perfect bale,” rather only bales that meet the criteria for construction: tight, uniform in shape, dry, good color, long
Allow me to share with you what I’ve learned over my 20 years as a professional builder and land developer. All tweaks and adjustments aside, this will be a good
Whether you are an accomplished builder or just starting out, this book will help define the myriad of details that a quality builder, contractor, sub contractor, consultant or any other
For me, the extra work of compressing your straw bale walls is more than worth it and the quality of the overall job you will get as a result of
Here’s a great use for left over bags of natural hydraulic lime you may have from your straw bale plastering job.
I know that the topic of metal in straw bale wall assemblies is a contentious one, and that is why I want to bring it up and talk about it
There is no question that the more elaborate your design, the more expensive it will be to build! BUT there are ways to find that balance to please both your
Water damage in straw bale walls is something that does not happen very often, especially in well built homes; but, even with the best construction practices, it can happen. When
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.
Whether you’ve ever tried to talk through a straw bale wall during construction or not, you’ll immediately see the value in this tip for simple and clear communication.
Baling with jumbo bales, by which I mean the REALLY large bales that require pretty substantial machinery to place, is possible. However, there are multiple considerations that need to be
Last year’s straw bale construction workshop season started with a huge project: the 5300 SF Eco Learning Center at Ferncliff outside of Little Rock, Arkansas. Check out some mind-numbing facts
Planning to build your straw bale house with angular walls, instead of using common right angle intersections? This post will give you a simple, fast, and effective way to build
Water is enemy number 1 in straw bale construction. The good news is that with proper design and construction details, your straw bale house will stay dry and moisture issue
A myth lurks still that somehow running electrical wiring through straw bale walls is more dangerous than running it through a conventional wall system. That is complete nonsense and I’ll
One of the most artistic expressions of a straw bale wall are the niches that are carved into it. I have laid out a step-by-step process for the most common
One of the most stunning aspects of a straw bale home is the shape that window and door openings take. These curves that bring so much joy and serenity can
A consulting client recently asked me about the best practice is for removing rotten straw from an existing straw bale house. Whether you need to replace a small amount of
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