I hope you can forgive the following marketing! 
I am close enough to completion on two exciting projects to make an announcement today. In the next few months, we will be releasing a new DVD which will give step by step instruction on how to build a Load Bearing Straw Bale structure!
This production is about a year in the making and is full of every detail you will need to build your own load bearing bale structure! We do not have an exact release date yet, but stayed tuned for more…
Also in the next few months, we will be releasing a field manual that will detail all the steps of building a post and beam straw bale structure. The manual will walk you through all the steps from foundation to plaster preparation. It is full of tips and techniques that will make your job so much easier. If you have seen the DVDs we offer, you know that we have all the details you need to do the job right. In fact, the manual has new information that is not even in the current DVD! The layout is such that you can take it with you into the field and use it as you build.
Anyway, I am really excited about these things. I have been so busy with them for the last year that I have had a hard time keeping up on email responses and blog entries. Hopefully, I will find some breathing room once they have been released.
About the Author
Andrew Morison is a specialist in straw bale and green construction. He has shown thousands of people how to build their own straw bale projects through his comprehensive series of instructional straw bale, concrete foundation, and plastering DVDs. You can check these out at www.LearnStrawBale.com..
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September 13th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
Congratulations! And thank you. I have been looking into straw bale construction and get overwhelmed with all the information and trying to figure out what to do with all of it. It makes me crave an orderly, step-by-step manual. One question — how do I know whether I want a load bearing structure or a post and beam structure? I think I want the latter, but if you could explain how to know which direction to take, I’d appreciate it.
Thanks so much.
September 13th, 2007 at 1:56 pm
looking forward to that field manual, Andrew… sounds great!
— Leslie Cox, Ruch, OR
September 13th, 2007 at 1:56 pm
PS – I have another question. How many years do you recommend alowing for all the planning time before you can start building?
Thanks,
Katie
September 13th, 2007 at 1:57 pm
Katie and Leslie,
Thanks for your excitement and I look forward to getting this out to you!
Katie,
Load Bearing homes are great if the size you want is relatively small. If you want a second story then you cannot do a load bearing home. Another limitation is the size of the windows and door openings allowed. They are much smaller in a load bearing home. If you plan to have a more intricate design, post and beam is the way to go. If you plan a simple home with smaller window and door openings and a single story, load bearing may be a good choice. It is harder to get load bearing structures approved in many states, so that is worth considering as well.
I would plan on taking a full year for the development and construction of your project, again depending on size. It takes my crew about 6-9 months to build a custom post and beam bale house of about 2500 SF. An owner builder can expect to spend at least a year in construction. The planning stage depends on how much effort you put into it. If you really pay attention to the land, and design to fit it, you should spend a whole year watching the land. If you have an understanding of the patterns of the land already and you know what you want, plan on about 1-2 to design the home (with professional help_ and 2 months for approval from the building department. I have heard of 12 month approvals and I get an average of 1 month approvals so the variation is huge. Good luck Katie.
September 13th, 2007 at 1:57 pm
Congratulations on this and all your successes! It’s wonderful to see. Marta
February 26th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
Does anyone out there have experience with commerical buildings and straw bale construction. We are starting a school in our local community and would like to build it green with a living roof, photovoltaic solar panels, low flow or composting toilets and straw bale walls – would be 12 thousand square feet. Is this insane or feesable? Any experience out there? Also architects – is it imperative I hire one with straw bale experience or an architect that has always wanted a straw bale project. I’m told many things can go wrong and make the building difficult to cool in the summer like building orientation (must be true south not magnetic south) and window placement etc etc? Also a contractor – how do I find one with straw bale experience?
February 27th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Maggie,
I replied to you about this on the Predications for 2008 entry. Check it out and get back to me/us.
February 1st, 2009 at 7:23 pm
I’m trying to find the field manual mentioned above on your website but can’t seem to find it. Can you point me to the right place? Thank you.
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:47 am
Hi Joseph. Thanks for pointing out my old post information to me. We never released the field manual. I ended up working on a separate project instead and have not gone back to the manual to complete it. One day….sorry for the confusion.