Comments on: Straw Bale Greenhouse

By: Andrew Morrison

Andrew Morrison — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 17:59:21 +0000

I don’t see that as a big problem. I would recommend leaving space between the materials you stack and the plaster to allow for adequate ventilation for the material AND the wall.

By: Richard

Richard — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 03:32:34 +0000

Hi Andrew,
Sorry for going off topic on an older article, but I was wondering if a wood shed could be safely built against the side of a straw bale house.

I’m thinking of something fairly small that sits under an extension of the roof, is made of wood, is well ventilated, and is used for housing seasoned wood and building materials.

I don’t think humidity would be an issue like a greenhouse(?), but it would be a cooler, dark area and was wondering if there might be any detrimental effects on the bale wall.

-Thanks-

By: Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 22:01:10 +0000

Jamie,
The humidity questions is always a concern with a greenhouse. I would build a separate greenhouse and not have it be a part of my home structure. Fans could be used to regulate the humidity, but the plants WANT humidity much of the time, so removing it would be a bad idea for the plants. If it were mine, I would only use it for part of the year and then dry it out thoroughly in the summer. If the weather did not permit a thorough dry, then I would use a fireplace inside to drive the moisture out of the walls over several days.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:48:42 +0000

Doug,
That is a great way to build with load bearing and my favorite approach. Courtyard living, module living or even attached sectionals like that make for simple construction that can be added onto as time and circumstances change.

By: Jamie McKay

Jamie McKay — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 06:14:26 +0000

Andrew,

How do you address the high humidity and vapour drive from the greenhouse, especially if it is attached to the end of a strawbale house? Let’s also assume that ventilation from the greenhouse is not perfect.

Thanks

Jamie.

By: Doug

Doug — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:34:34 +0000

Iv’e always wondered about the “limmitation” that people put on building load bearing structures of 30ft X 30ft. Why not build 2 end to (gable) end, sharing a wall?
Then you’d have 30ft X 60ft requiring the joining of 2 ridge poles, not too difficult.
So why not 3 in a row? Or 5? True modular housing!
)

By: Betty J Polley

Betty J Polley — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 21:51:05 +0000

Andrew
Good to have you back. Thanks for all the updated information.
It has been a cold winter here but my Igloo was great, it was not only warm but I did not have to listen to the howling winds.
Thanks for all the great information, I am looking forward to my next project as soon as it gets warm.
Betty J Polley

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 18:29:38 +0000

The size and number of buildings depends on your zoning. Where I live, I am allowed as many of the buildings as I want; however, on a friend’s property in Medford, they are limited in number. The interior versus exterior debate is ongoing. I always consider it interior. My argument is this: Straw bales take up too much room for the structure to be useful with a 200sf exterior measurement. I use the bales to be environmentally responsible and to create an efficient structure. I should not be punished for building high efficiency and green structures. It has worked so far.

By: Scott M.

Scott M. — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 14:28:09 +0000

Hi Andrew,

Is there a limit to the number of permit-free 200 sf structures you can build on one tax lot? Is it 200 interior sf or 200 exterior sf?

Thanks,

Scott.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 06:27:01 +0000

Yes Tamra, that would work. You will need permits for a larger structure like that.