Repairing and Patching Water Damaged Bales in Your Wall
Nobody ever looks forward to repairing water damaged bales, but from time to time, the need exists. I hope you find this recommendation valuable.
Experience a Straw Bale Workshop With Us!
As the workshop season continues on, you may be wondering what it’s like to experience a seven day, hands-on workshop. This new video will give you a delicious taste of what it’s like. As I’ve heard many times from participants: “It’s so much more than just a workshop.” I hope you will join me at […]
2-Day CASBA Workshop June 3-4, 2017
Learn how to wrap an existing structure with straw bales at a 2-Day workshop presented by CASBA, the California Straw Building Association.
The Importance of Protecting Natural Plaster During Installation
The importance of protecting natural plaster can’t be over stated. It’s not the same as conventional stucco and it needs specific conditions for application.
Enjoying Your Straw Bale Build
Enjoying your straw bale build is something that many people simply assume will happen. They believe that since they’re really excited about the idea of building their straw bale home that their excitement will turn into enjoyment during the actual process of building or contracting that project. Unfortunately, the reality is often something very different. The good news is […]
Hiring the Right Contractor for Your Build
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. This decision is more important than the size of the house, the layout of the floor plan, the finish materials you choose, and any other choice you make along […]
Geico Insurance and Straw Bale
Maybe I’m being optimistic, but I can’t help but notice how front and center the idea of a straw bale house is in this advertisement.
Sierra Vista, Arizona Straw Bale Workshop: Meet the Hosts
Sierra Vista, Arizona is a beautiful location and host to the first straw bale workshop of the 2017 season. Come join us for an unforgettable experience.
Inspiring Straw Bale Workshop Video
This is a must watch if you are interested in attending a straw bale workshop. In fact, even if you are not planning on attending, this inspiring straw bale workshop video is worth watching anyway. The video really sums up the workshop experience and the potential for life changing relationships that are born there.
Contracting Part VII: Working with Neighbors
Learn the key points for positive communication with your neighbors before and during construction to minimize complaints, time delays, and other issues.
Contracting Part V: Working with the Building Department
Learn the ins and outs of creating a positive relationship when working with your local building department, right off the bat.
Contracting Part IV: Estimating and Creating a Budget
The primary place where both owner-builders and contractors fail when building a home is in the estimating of construction costs. Learn some tips to help you avoid that pitfall.
Contracting Part III: Site Evaluation and your Building Process
As a contractor, you’ll need extensive knowledge of each site evaluation and what it means. There are some easy to forget details that might surprise you…
Contracting Part II: Reading Your Jobsite Construction Plans
Mistakes are often made in contracting when reading plans. Make sure you know your plans well and know how to read them to catch any potential mistakes.
Plastering Tip for Straw Bale Walls
Plastering has a lot of challenges to it from mixing recipes to application techniques. Some challenges may not be obvious from the start, so be sure to spend some time learning what you need to know before you jump in. Today I spoke with a client who had spilled Natural Hydraulic Lime (NHL) all over their […]
Call For 2017 Straw Bale Workshop Hosts
I am currently accepting host applications for the 2017 straw bale workshop season. If you hope to host a workshop on your project, please apply today.
Easier Insurance and Lending for Straw Bale Homes
The inclusion of straw bale construction in the 2015 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.
Help Define a New Name for SBC
Here’s your call to action. We need a new name; one we can all get behind and present to the world in a new and powerful way. What ideas do you have? Please comment below with your ideas and share this article with anyone you think may want to help define the way forward for this amazing building technology.
FREE Three-Day Crew Training May 24-26, 2016
If you are interested in straw bale construction and live near Gravette, Arkansas, then you will want to join us for a FREE three-day crew training on May 24-26, 2016.
Add Your Straw Bale House to the International Straw Bale Registry
Here’s a simple call to action. Please add your straw bale house to the International Straw Bale Registry!
New Pricing on Straw Bale Plans
A quality designer or architect is absolutely worth every penny spent on them; however, if you don’t have the money to spend, it doesn’t matter how amazing they are. So for those who cannot afford to hire a private architect or designer, there is a “next best” option: previously designed homes.
Heading to the Desert
I’m heading to the desert to celebrate the 20th anniversary of CASBA and to share and learn about straw bale construction.
The Power of Education – A 15 Question Test
It may sound obvious, but learning how to build a house, of any kind but especially a straw bale house, is a good thing to do before you actually start building. Ask yourself the following 15 questions and if you cannot answer them with a high level of confidence, you would be best served to gain some more experience before you start building.
California Straw Building Association’s 20th Anniversary Gathering
The California Straw Building Association (CASBA) has done amazing work in the field of straw bale construction for the last twenty years. This year’s annual meeting will celebrate those achievements and look to the future to see how CASBA can continue to build positive relationships in the field.