Calculating the Number of Bales in Your Straw Bale House
We are often asked how many bales will be needed for someone’s straw bale house. It is a number we need to know the answer to on all of our
We are often asked how many bales will be needed for someone’s straw bale house. It is a number we need to know the answer to on all of our
Bale type, which size is best, how to handle moisture content, and what are the ideal straw bales for home construction; are all common questions we hear at every workshop.
The bales you choose may be the most important decision you make on your house- Quality of your bales can literally make or break a project.
I’m often asked if using bales that are tied with wire is a bad or good idea. The reality is that there are advantages and disadvantages on both sides of
For years you have heard me say that there is no “perfect bale,” rather only bales that meet the criteria for construction: tight, uniform in shape, dry, good color, long
Looking for straw bales? I recently met a bale broker who can deliver quality straw bales across the US. He works with over 120 farms and many trucking companies to
Baling with jumbo bales, by which I mean the REALLY large bales that require pretty substantial machinery to place, is possible. However, there are multiple considerations that need to be
Last year’s straw bale construction workshop season started with a huge project: the 5300 SF Eco Learning Center at Ferncliff outside of Little Rock, Arkansas. Check out some mind-numbing facts
A question that I’ve been asked potentially thousands of times over the years teaching workshops is “can I stuff the wall with this?”. I like that people ask the question,
Several of you have, over the years, written to me about using plastic encased straw bales in the construction of a home. The suggested benefits of this have ranged from
There are a lot of things to consider when buying the best straw bales for your construction project. Here’s a bullet point list of the absolute “must haves.” 1. Long
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 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,”
 What is the perfect bale to use in a straw bale house? I am asked this question a lot. Most times, the question refers to what type of straw is
I received the following comment on my old blog. It got me thinking about building with bales in humid climates and rice straw. I noticed that many of the humid
Throw away your weedwhacker on your straw bale build! For years now I have been using a weedwhacker to smooth the walls of every straw bale house I have built.
When building a straw bale house, the bales are likely delivered to the site in squeeze blocks: tall 8′ x 8′ blocks of straw bales. Here’s a simple solution for
One situation you are likely to find yourself in when building a straw bale house is the ends of bales sticking too far into a room or beyond the plumb
A snake in the grass! I always remind people to clear the loose straw from their job sites for several reasons. The first reason is always fire protection. The second
I partly wrote this post just so I could use this picture, I admit it. Cool picture though huh? I often talk about knowing your bale source before you start
 Perhaps the greatest straw bale construction jobsite multi purpose tool is the straw bales themselves. Of course, I LOVE the straw bale needles I use, but there is nothing quite
Wondering what to do with old, wet bales and the loose straw created during your home’s construction? There is a good chance you will have a lot of straw left
All too often the conversation about protecting your bales before construction is held without any mention of how to protect those bales prior to their installation. So, how do you
Ready to retie straw bales, the new way?! The new way is to use the Miller’s knot instead of the trucker’s hitch which has been used for years. In the
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