The Importance of the Right Sand in Your Plaster
The sad and ugly aftermath of using the wrong plaster sand! In a recent workshop we discovered that the sand that was ordered for the plaster was not acceptable. I
The sad and ugly aftermath of using the wrong plaster sand! In a recent workshop we discovered that the sand that was ordered for the plaster was not acceptable. I
It’s not unusual for people to get excited about plastering their straw bale structure. After all, this is when a simple structure starts to look like a home. When the
I just got an email from a man who wanted to know what I thought about moving a straw bale structure. He plans to use more modern techniques, but I
Why would I want to do that? You may be asking yourself that very question and rightfully so. The answer may be simple or complicated depending on the situation. It
If you have interior partition walls in the straw bale structure you’re building, you’ll need to attach them to the structure before you install your drywall on the interior walls.
I’m not a big fan of bales in the roof as you likely already know. They are so heavy and there are several areas of concern in regards to using
If you’ve ever made an electrical spike for your straw bale home, you know just how dangerous the process can be. At the seven day comprehensive workshop in Hurley, NY
Picture this. Your bank loan is on a strict timeline. Your plastering job seems overwhelmingly huge because you plan to do it yourself. You don’t have any money in the
I remember visiting a job site some time ago during the plastering stage. I noticed that the plastering crew had removed the protection around the windows and the floor where
Here’s an interesting question I received today about straw bale load bearing wall heights. Â I hope to hear more about this idea of multi-story load bearing structures in the future.
Lots of people want the look of adobe homes when they build with bales. The biggest risk to that is in the inset window details. If this detail is not
Proper framing techniques will speed and simplify your process Follow these straightforward steps to get your frame erected quickly and much more easily than standard post and beam framing practices
The most common time I’m asked how to identify moisture issues is when someone buys an existing straw bale house. Moisture is not often a problem in straw bale homes
Sometimes even the best planning can result in a mistake. For example, I recently heard from someone who purchased a house and found that there is no dryer vent through
If you plan to build with bales, you absolutely must have a straw bale moisture meter with a probe. It is so valuable that I consider it a “must have,”
Straw Bale Walls as Soundproofing Many of you have written to me in recent months asking about straw bales as soundproofing options against noisy streets and neighborhoods. I have responded
I don’t know what the weather is like where you are while you read this, but it’s pretty rainy here today! It’s always a concern for bale builders that the
Do you live in a loud neighborhood? Are you tired of looking at the same style of wood fence around every home in your neighborhood? Building a straw bale landscape
 Working with Natural Hydraulic Lime, you’ll want to have a big bottle of white vinegar on hand. It has a lot of great uses, beyond making volcanoes with baking soda!
When working with straw bale buildings, some people wonder whether mesh is necessary or not. I personally think it offers so many advantages that I don’t consider not using it
I can’t believe it, but I have been converted! I never thought I would stand on the side of spraying plaster as I have always believed that hand troweling is
One of the cool things I learned this last week about lime plaster is the use of “pressing it back.” I had never heard this term, nor had I heard
I just got an email from someone who plans to install his windows and doors the following way. I think it is an interesting approach to adding openings in load
I got an email the other day from a company that works with Japanese trowels. These trowels are amazing, especially for detail work. The shape and flexibility of the trowels
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