I built my passive solar straw bale house with earthen plasters in 2000 for K (will most likely cost more today, depending on many factors). This is an overview of the house; it is extremely energy-efficient. My electric bills are about per month.
Video Rating: 4 / 5
Hi.
Well done i love it. I just built 12 months ago my own house but it had to be modern for council regulations, but i have lived in 5 sheds 4 houses and a renovated shearing shed .now have a farm
Have a great day. Anthony.
Wonderful video!! =) Compact with allot of hard facts. Not just blabbering, like you see so often in other youtube information clips. Thanks for making this video, and sharing your knowledge… Youre a very strong person, good work!!! Cheers from Sweden! =)
@Farmer2492 No concrete – there is earthen plaster – clay, chopped straw and water mixture – over the bales. Now, I have a lime plaster covering on top of the earthen plasters. It all breathes, so if the bales get wet, they can dry out.
Fantastic job. did you spray concrete on over the bales.
Regards Anthony.
@strawladyhouse true! Also, straw bales are pressed and have very few oxygen inside, they can’t burn inside the plaster coating even at extremely high temperature… straw bale buildings are the best in the world. In Europe we have 3 floor buildings with more than 150 years and they are in perfect condition. Yours is a WONDERFUL WORK!
@strawladyhouse no oxygen, no fire!
@strawladyhouse Thanks for the quick answer. In my mind, I thought the earthen wall would crack. I see now that it does not.
@fralican To hang a picture, you just get out a hammer and a 6″ nail and pound it in. If you hit any resistance that might possibly be an electric wire, then stop and move the nail. =)
Wonderful work. May I ask you about how you puncture earthen plaster walls, for example with a nail to hang picture frames? Do you have to do that while the earth mixture is wet? Thanks.
@bakednapkin Thank you! I’m getting very tired of the fire fears and Big Bad Wolf comments. Thick earthen plasters coat the bales and there is no straw exposed.
straw bale walls have grade A in fire protection( grade A is standerd in large buildings stairwells so it protects great against fires
Fabulous!
@thescrimshaw No, fire is not an issue; the straw is covered with either adobe or plaster. If the bales were to burn, they would smolder, because fire requires oxygen. During the construction, we are careful to pick up the loose straw and of course, don’t plumb with blow torches and be a little careful until the straw is covered. Good luck!
Well done! Glad you are enjoying a sweet home, looking to build something similar myself, thanks for the video and info…
You’ve got a beautiful home, one you can definitely be proud of.
I think it’s a great idea for insulation. Is there a situation with an added threat of runaway fire? That is my concern.
I recently found this organization…..It’s called Redfeather Development group.
Building similar style homes on reservations to help alleviate housing problems.
I am very excited, because I have been looking for just this kind of effort to financially support.
@bluefrenchfries With fiberglass insulation in regular construction, you can have a lot of problems with moisture and insects like carpenter ants. I need more information on it from the people here who have built your way. We have 80% humidity during our summers. I can’t wrap my head around though the structures seem to be working. When you used different construction materials, they all have their unique issues and fixes. I like your house. It has a good “feel” to it.
Very good. Thank you.
@kinkyboyxxcdn
HAY is for HORSES!!
STRAW is for homes. ; )
@JewLoco
What are the benefits of strawbale construction?? Faaaar too many to mention here. A few are efficiency, cost, flexibility, sustainability, easy of construction, ease of repair, and most noticeably when inside it just “feels” right to many (cozy factor). There are many, many books and websites dedicated to strawbale and it’s many benefits. When combined with sustainable designs such as passive solar (as mentioned by Carolyn) it’s incredibly hard to beat. Have a look! : )
@strawladyhouse
Yes, fire is unfortunately another common misconception associated with strawbale construction. Stick frame with sheetrock is actually ideal for fire with it’s large air pockets and plentiful ignition sources. Strawbale construction with tight bales and plastered walls is the opposite of what fire loves. It may smolder (think cigar) but there are documented cases of it taking 3 days to finally burn through a wall–obviously plenty of time to get everyone out. Easy repair too.
@eotto2001, I counter with: How do you keep them out of sheetrock (drywall)?
The premise a strawbale home would be more attractive to mice and critters is a total misconception. This is not loose hay or straw like in a barn. In fact, if done ideally the bales are harvested (baled) in the morning still slightly damp. When they dry and are finished with mud or plaster etc this results in an extremely tight building material that’s ultra energy efficient. Many have achieved R40 + in this way.
@strawladyhouse Thanks for the reply. I found out that there are some here in Ohio which surprises me because moist here. They must have worked it out, too.
@eotto2001 The bales are raised a foot on CMU block and covered with thick adobe plasters. No straw is visible in the end product. Most people cover their bales with stucco.
Thank you for the post. How do you keep the mice and critters out of it?
Respond to this video… Thank you! A “total” education & very well-done.