Ever since mankind left the caves, people have used the dried stalks of grain - after the heads were removed for food - as construction material. Straw bale house builders are believed to have started in Africa, but this method of building durable shelters has been used all over the world. This includes the American prairies of the mid-west, as pioneers found wood-framed structures inadequate for the harsh winters.
Straw truly is a great building material. It's cheap, since it has no food value and is good only for bedding or mulch. Unlike hay, it does not attract animals or insects which could damage the structure. Believe it or not, you can have a termite-free house - if you build with straw-bales.
Another plus is the insulating factor of a tightly-bound bale of straw. Thick walls made of this waste product of grain farming are very energy-efficient, keeping homes warm in winter and cool in summer. They also deaden sound, so much so that work crews have trouble communicating from opposite sides unless they have the forethought to insert 'speaking tubes' of PVC pipe at strategic points between the bales.
You don't need to be a contractor to build a house from straw-bales. It's not hard to find a contractor who can do the job, but many people consider a simple home of this type a DIY project. In the early days, people built one-story structures with a foundation to keep the bales off the ground and away from moisture. The bales formed load-bearing walls. Plaster inside and out, or stucco, protected the bales from the weather. A tight bale is also virtually fireproof.
To find out more, check out the many informational articles, videos, and blogs online or books full of how-to tips. There are workshops and community projects where you can get hands-on experience. Statistics show how much can be saved on initial costs and how much more on on-going energy and maintenance over the years.
Building a larger home is more complicated. It's recommended that this kind of structure be built tall rather than long and wide, since the foundation and roof are the most expensive components. The lines of the house should be simple, since room projections, roof peaks, and such things as wings increase both the cost of construction and the difficulty of the project.
Straw-bale buildings aren't only for drier climates. They work best in more arid environments, but there are many snug homes in New England and the Pacific Northwest. You can find all sorts of floor plans and photo galleries online, including shots of interiors, where the deep window and door recesses give an old-world charm to the rooms.
The photo galleries are great to see what's possible and get ideas, even if you're planning to build a simple home in the ancient tradition. You'll need to see if local building codes allow straw-bale construction and search for a bank that offers alternative-housing financing.
Straw truly is a great building material. It's cheap, since it has no food value and is good only for bedding or mulch. Unlike hay, it does not attract animals or insects which could damage the structure. Believe it or not, you can have a termite-free house - if you build with straw-bales.
Another plus is the insulating factor of a tightly-bound bale of straw. Thick walls made of this waste product of grain farming are very energy-efficient, keeping homes warm in winter and cool in summer. They also deaden sound, so much so that work crews have trouble communicating from opposite sides unless they have the forethought to insert 'speaking tubes' of PVC pipe at strategic points between the bales.
You don't need to be a contractor to build a house from straw-bales. It's not hard to find a contractor who can do the job, but many people consider a simple home of this type a DIY project. In the early days, people built one-story structures with a foundation to keep the bales off the ground and away from moisture. The bales formed load-bearing walls. Plaster inside and out, or stucco, protected the bales from the weather. A tight bale is also virtually fireproof.
To find out more, check out the many informational articles, videos, and blogs online or books full of how-to tips. There are workshops and community projects where you can get hands-on experience. Statistics show how much can be saved on initial costs and how much more on on-going energy and maintenance over the years.
Building a larger home is more complicated. It's recommended that this kind of structure be built tall rather than long and wide, since the foundation and roof are the most expensive components. The lines of the house should be simple, since room projections, roof peaks, and such things as wings increase both the cost of construction and the difficulty of the project.
Straw-bale buildings aren't only for drier climates. They work best in more arid environments, but there are many snug homes in New England and the Pacific Northwest. You can find all sorts of floor plans and photo galleries online, including shots of interiors, where the deep window and door recesses give an old-world charm to the rooms.
The photo galleries are great to see what's possible and get ideas, even if you're planning to build a simple home in the ancient tradition. You'll need to see if local building codes allow straw-bale construction and search for a bank that offers alternative-housing financing.
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