Comments on: The Cost of Straw Bale Construction

By: Andrew Morrison

Andrew Morrison — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:52:57 +0000

Hi Dawn. I would frame just like a house and use a metal roof to allow you to collect rain water. One issue will be cleaning the walls as hosing down a bale wall is not a great thing to do with any frequency. I would suggest using a metal clad (roofing material) on the bottom 3′ of the walls to allow you to wash them more easily.

By: Dawn Beck

Dawn Beck — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:50:45 +0000

Hi Andrew.This might be a first for you but I’m planning on building a dog kennel building for my gang.The building would be a simple 16×14,with individual interior runs of 4×8.I would love for it to be rustic and simple looking.What I’m looking for would be cost per square foot.And recommendations for framing,style of roof,ect.
Thanks.

By: Andrew Morrison

Andrew Morrison — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 20:44:12 +0000

Hi Roy. Check out the Lime Stucco Sprayer on this site. It works great. I have one myself. You can also purchase the DragOn sprayer which is a great machine. Spraying works really well. You need an even spread with the machine, 2 people behind you with trowels (at least) and one person to fill your hopper to make it the most efficient. Furthermore, two additional people with trowels "pressing back" the plaster once ready and one or two scratching it.

By: ROY HUNT

ROY HUNT — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 18:00:34 +0000

Andrew,have been reading your info for the last couple of years,great stuff,and now I have a question for you,I` ve read where people have been spraying their STUCCO on the exterior of their SB buildings,need details,like how,how much and what all would a person need to do it this way,Thanks

By: Andrew Morrison

Andrew Morrison — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 03:43:28 +0000

That depends on the interior finish. If a basic and simple construction with simple finish, then yes. The more elaborate you get, the more expensive it will be.

By: Ola

Ola — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 07:54:07 +0000

Hello!

Could you please tell me if the price for this kind of building is going to be cheaper then 100$/SF? http://jordy.pixnet.net/album/photo/85437280

The building doesn’t not have any windows and has only front door, other doors are just frames (no doors themselves). Approximately 2000SF.

By: Martin Perry

Martin Perry — Thu, 19 May 2011 21:49:51 +0000

Hi,
I am writing a dissertation comparing the sustainable credentials, economics, and energy requirements over the life of a building for four construction types (straw bale being one of them).
Could you give me an accurate build price for a nonloadbearing and a loadbearing straw bale building? Just the wall price, not interiors etc. I have got proces for the other, standard types from pricing books, but can’t find anything for straw! I am in the UK, so ideally the price would be based here, but if you only have US information that would be a good start. Many thanks, I will be more than happy to send you a copy when its done if you would like. Martin.

By: Andrew Morrison

Andrew Morrison — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 20:42:45 +0000

I would suggest stick framed. Depending on the roof style, your carpenters should be able to create an inexpensive stick built roof. The main cost of that roof is the labor, not the lumber. The easiest and cheapest roof is a shed roof. Then a gable, then a hip.

Hope that helps.

By: Blee

Blee — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 20:12:51 +0000

hello we are in the process of designing our own straw bale home we have friends willing to help us build and some of them are carpenters and plumbers were still estimating bld materials and hopefully gunna start building making next summer or the year after. my question is what would be the best kind of roof to have expensive beams are not an option for us were trying to keep everything under 20 grand. any suggestions for roofing ideas would be greatly appresciated?

By: Andrew Morrison

Andrew Morrison — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 20:02:06 +0000

Okay Chris. Talk to you in the future. Good luck with everything in the meantime.