Get a leg up on the first little pig with the straw bale house, your guide to inexpensive, durable, earthfriendly construction that will stand up to much more than the big bad wolf. Buy the straw bale house real goods independent living books by athena swentzell steen, bill steen, david bainbridge, david eisenberg isbn. The red feather construction handbook corum, nathaniel, goodall, jane on. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. In a modern look at straw bale construction, i have presented what i believe are the best details for the highest quality construction available. Home straw bale construction since 1991 paja construction. Building your straw bale home by brian hodge published august 2006. The disadvantages of straw bale construction hunker. A good deal of standardization and refinement in regard to techniques, tools, and associated materials is now appearing. They are easily retied to make half or custom sized bales. The builders without borders bwb strawbale construction guide was created to meet the growing demand for easytounderstand instructions on building strawbale homes. Imagine building a house with superior seismic stability, fire resistance, and thermal insulation, using an annually. Click download or read online button to get straw bale construction book now. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read more straw bale building.
In 1994, when chelsea green published the straw bale house, the response from many people was a loud, huh. This book is a pictorial howto guide on strawbale construction basics that emphasizes lowcost methods to help those in the greatest need for affordable housing. If you are brand new to straw bale or are a straw bale construction specialist theres something for you at stra. In other jurisdictions without specific strawbale codes, straw bale construction is often approved under the building code provisions for alternate methods and materials. Chelsea greens the rammed earth house and the straw bale house chronicle the possibilities and realities of straw bale and rammed earth construction. Some builders construct frames around the bales and use the bales for insulation, while others eliminate the framing altogether. This book does not try to cover too wide an area, a trap that many other straw bale. With more than 100,000 copies sold, and straw bale projects underway in most regions of north america, weve entered a new era. After years of building, he has moved his practice entirely to consulting and teaching. It is a practical book reflecting the authors personal experience, with tips and wisdom learned from his own pitfalls and mistakes.
Building a home using straw bale construction mother. My brand new straw bale book, a modern look at straw bale construction is complete. The material is ecofriendly, fairly affordable, and reasonably easy to work with, making it an appealing approach to building a home. Im eager to know your thoughts and opinions on the advantages and challenges of straw bale construction, and if youre starting a project please let me know what youre up to in the comments, or send me an email if you have any questions. Could be the best book ive read on sustainable construction methods. Projects that incorporate some volunteer or workshopbased construction can deliver cost savings. Buildings of earth and strawfills in the gaps for professional builders, contractors, engineers, inspectors, lenders, and architectural students. There are some great reference books, volunteer workshops and courses on hand, making it easy to get involved in the community and to benefit from the knowledge and experience of the initiated. After the edible part of grains have been harvested, their stalks are disposed of by farmers and in many areas, they are burned. Straw bales are a highly insulative, lowembodiedenergy, natural building material made from an agricultural waste product. Top 8 advantages and challenges of straw bale construction. In 1994, when chelsea green published the straw bale house, the response from many people was a loud, huh those days are gone.
Some examples of straw bale construction are homes, farm buildings, churches, community centers, etc. A sustainable building material wins favor on multiple fronts. Clay plaster allow higher water vapour permeability through the walls than lime plaster, which in turn is much more than cement plasters. There isnt a lot of text in the book, just highquality drawings detailing how all the parts fit together in a straw bale house. These are the construction techniques i have used and finetuned over the years building, teaching, and consulting on hundreds of straw bale projects from. Articles on straw bale construction being probably the most querried topic within natural building on the internet, straw bale construction has become what some people refer to as a ladder or bridge technology. Straw bale construction is a method of building that uses bales or bundles of straw. A complete list of recommended tools for each stage of the building process. This new edition of the book building with straw bales by our director barbara jones contains the most up to date strawbale building techniques, including. Whats more, its fun, because the technique is easy to learn and easy to do yourself. It covers the latest research in the field of straw bale design and construction, including. These are the construction techniques i have used and finetuned over the years building, teaching, and consulting on hundreds of straw bale projects from australia to europe and canada to the united. Get a leg up on the first little pig with the straw bale house, your guide to inexpensive, durable, earthfriendly construction that will stand up to much more than.
The ebook rings in at 214 pages, contains 1 photographs to outline various points and steps, and has 22 professionally drawn architectural details created by chris keefe of organicforms design. Straw bales availability and low cost are definite draws. However, there are also pitfalls to using straw bales for construction. Straw bale construction designing buildings wiki share your construction industry knowledge. Straw bale home construction instructional video youtube. Straw is easy to work with for people new to construction as they are flexible and can be very forgiving. Everything you need to know about straw bale design. Authors athena swentzell steen and bill steen founded the canelo project, which promotes innovative building. The red feather handbook was, by far, the easiest quick reference as we delved into elements such as lime plastering recipes and building toeups to keep bales dry. If you want a chance to get a free copy, be sure to read this whole post or skip to the end if you prefer. Their insights into design, materials, and construction techniques provide a practical grounding by highlighting the special features and unique personality of each building. The straw bale house a real goods independent living book. Author and photographer catherine wanek organized the building of a straw bale greenhouse in 1992 and has been an advocate for straw bale construction ever since. Despite mushrooming interest in the technique, however, most straw bale books focus on selling the dream of strawbale building, but dont adequately address the most critical issues faced by bale house builders.
Athena and bill steen, coauthors of the straw bale house chelsea green, 1994, a book widely credited with popularizing and legitimizing straw bale construction, celebrate in gorgeous color photography the accomplishments of straw bale artisans. It covers the construction process from site preparation through to foundations, concrete slabs, strip footings and stumps. Details on the latest straw bale engineering, window flashing, and electrical wiring. Several different techniques are discussed, focusing much information on the needs of those building in wet andor cold environments. Welcome to my name is andrew morrison and welcome to my straw bale building site dedicated to anyone interested in building their own straw bale house. If you are brand new to straw bale or are a straw bale construction specialist theres something for you at. Straw bale construction is a building method that uses bales of straw commonly wheat, rice, rye and oats straw as structural elements, building insulation, or both. Plans are commonly required to be stamped by a licenced structural engineer. The pros and cons of straw bale wall construction in green building following are some pros and cons of building a straw bale house.
Ive written this book so that you can get a precise look at the details i recommend for building a high quality, long lasting straw bale home. Research has shown that strawbale construction is a sustainable method for building, from the standpoint of both materials and energy. Perfect for todays focus on green building techniques and. The authors draw upon years of experience with natural materials and experimental techniques, and present a compelling rationale for building with strawone of natures. Selecting from a variety of building types and applications, they vividly portray the sensuous versatility and crosscultural appeal of this most. Novice ownerbuilders and their friends can continue the work through lathing and plastering of the bales, giving the house their own special imprint, and achieving savings in construction costs, as well. Field bales are often laid in stretcher bond like bricks. We were putting in upwards of 50 hours a week at our day jobs. Bergeron and lacinskis new book serious straw bale is the first to look carefully at the specific design considerations critical to success with a straw bale building in more extreme climateswhere seasonal changes in temperature, precipitation, and humidity create special stresses that builders must understand and address. Straw bale construction uses baled straw from wheat, oats, barley, rye, rice and others in walls covered by earthen or lime stucco some use cement stucco, but we typically dont suggest it. A good stepbystep guide to construction details and processes used by the red feather foundation for simple, well designed strawbale houses they build. It is an easy path for people to follow and understand who are new to such a vast and underutilized family of construction techniques and systems in this modern age.
Like any building material, it is always best to evaluate your needs and your goals before committing to a particular material. Details on the latest straw bale engineering, window flashing, electrical wiring, and much more. Straw bales can be used as structural elements, insulation or both. Cadmon continues to work with new mexicos construction industries department to refine the straw bale building code. Humidity the arch enemy of any straw bale construction will accumulate inside bales covered in cement stucco. Straw bale construction is a relatively sustainable construction method, with straw being a renewable material that is readily available. Strawbale construction curriculum by katia lemone and dr. The book deals with every facet of building a straw bale house, from council approval. Moreover, since many developments in this field are recent, few books are completely up to date with the latest techniques. Building your straw bale home is a howto book for people interested in straw bale building. My name is andrew morrison and welcome to my straw bale building site dedicated to anyone interested in building their own straw bale house. The latest research in the field of straw bale design and construction is presented. Are you excited about the idea of living in a straw bale house but unsure of how to make your dream a reality or are flat out terrified to even get started. Building your straw bale home by hodge, brian ebook.
Constructing a straw bale solar house requires the merging of solar design with alternative building techniques. Whether you build an entire house or something more modesta home office or studio, a retreat cabin or guest cottageplastered straw bale construction is an exceptionally. Straw is baled material from oats, barley, rice and others. Books are great for acquiring information on these topics quickly and easily, while videos are essential for showing the actual building methods and techniques firsthand. Straw bale construction is a green building method that uses whole or partial bales of straw as a major part of a homes walls. Straw bale constructiontechniqueswalls wikibooks, open. For those who prefer using natural materials, building a straw bale house may seem like a great option. Many of the structures built back then are still standing and being used.
The basic material is dry straw left over from harvesting grains such as wheat, rye, and rice, which means it is readily found and reasonably priced compared to other highperformance insulation materials. Straw bale construction has been around since the early 1900s. Building with awareness how to build a solar straw bale. Constructing the house and salvaging building materials kept the powerses within their budget and green building ethics, but it wasnt easy. My focus is always on designing and building a structure that is beautiful, durable, safe, efficient, healthy, natural, and inspiring. Unlike many other straw bale construction books on the market, this one looks at building design issues from the perspective of straw bale builders and considers the particular needs of the medium. Cadmon whitty, owner and operator of paja construction, was a founding member of the new mexico straw bale construction association. Special techniques for straw bale construction and the integration of these techniques with those of conventional house building. We just finished building our own strawbale home and have read pretty much all the straw bale books published within the last several years.
Straw bale house construction, inspection, defects. A practical manual for selfbuilders and architects. Andrew has a passion for straw bale construction that is matched only by his desire to teach his knowledge to others. He has a wealth of experience in designing and building conventional, tiny, and straw bale homes. Accompanying the stunning visual display is a text that incorporates key lessons the steens have learned in their years as straw bale pioneers. Building your straw bale home, brian hodge, 9780643093867. Straw bale house construction dancing rabbit ecovillage. The most common straw bale construction method is known as the nebraska technique. The straw bale house real goods independent living books. David bainbridge is a california restoration ecologist.
That includes researching and sourcing the best books and products to help individuals master the skills they need in times like these and beyond. Straw bale constructiontechniquesfinishes wikibooks. Bale stacking is often done in community bale raisings, where family and friends pitch in together to raise the walls in a weekend or two. Straw bale constructiontechniquesfinishes wikibooks, open. Building a home using straw bale construction mother earth news. This construction method is commonly used in natural building or brown construction projects. Serious straw bale and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle.
The early pioneers built houses of sod, up until the late 1800s when baling technology provided the first compressed, stringtied rectangular bales. If you want to learn various construction techniques, building with straw bales. Cob construction is particularly easy to learn, requires no fancy equipment, uses local materials, and can be done in small batches as time allows making it extremely accessible to a wide. Straw bale house construction steps in straw bale house construction include stacking straw bales on toeups, among others. Straw bale house construction why build a straw bale house. Straw bale walls, thermal mass walls, earth plaster techniques, and passive solar design are all explained in this howto dvd on building with natural materials. Imagine building a house with superior seismic stability, fire resistance, and thermal insulation, using an annually renewable resource, for half the cost of a comparable conventional home. Straw bale construction download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl. The straw bale house is a great introduction to straw bale building.
This book highlights various benefits and critical points, allowing you to decide if this construction alternative is right for you. Innovative tips and techniques on all phases of wall building from design to finish. A good stepbystep guide to construction details and processes used by the red feather foundation for simple, well designed straw bale houses they build. Straw bale construction archives the last straw journal. Strawbale construction is a building method that uses bales of straw commonly wheat, rice, rye and oats straw as structural elements, building insulation, or both. Wheat straw bales for home building construction, available from aden brook visit for ordering and info.
She produced and directed the building with straw video series, and spent nearly five. How to plan, design and build with straw ebook written by chris magwood, peter mack. Apr, 2016 wheat straw bales for home building construction, available from aden brook visit for ordering and info. This practical guide is written especially for the ownerbuilder and provides stepbystep instructions supported by diagrams and photographs. Design and technology of a sustainable architecture english version see straw bale books in other languages section. Whether you build an entire house or something more modesta home office or studio, a retreat cabin or guest cottageplastered straw bale construction is an exceptionally durable and inexpensive option. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
For many, they are locally available and affordable. The use of straw bales is typically found in natural building projects, or earthen construction, and while historically it has been a common. Straw bale is a low cost material but requires labourintensive construction techniques. Buy a cheap copy of the straw bale house a real goods. If you want to make sure you are buying a valuable resource, here are the best books about straw bale houses available today.
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