http://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-houses-and-high-wind The World's Leader in Straw Bale Education Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:26:36 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 http://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-houses-and-high-wind/comment-page-1#comment-26413 Andrew Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:59:34 +0000 http://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-houses-and-high-wind#comment-26413 Thanks Matt! Thanks Matt!

]]> http://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-houses-and-high-wind/comment-page-1#comment-26311 Matt Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:33:33 +0000 http://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-houses-and-high-wind#comment-26311 Hi Andrew I see the exchange between you and Bob (re straw bale geodesic domes) took place a year ago. In my internet searches on this topic, I have only found three examples of straw bale domes, one type stackinging the bails into a dome curvature, one where the cylindrical base of the structure was straw bale then a geodesic dome was built on top, while the third is closest to Bob's concept; http://www.kibbutzlotan.com/blog/?p=87 This was part of kibbutz project in geodesic dome structures. Hi Andrew
I see the exchange between you and Bob (re straw bale geodesic domes) took place a year ago. In my internet searches on this topic, I have only found three examples of straw bale domes, one type stackinging the bails into a dome curvature, one where the cylindrical base of the structure was straw bale then a geodesic dome was built on top, while the third is closest to Bob’s concept; http://www.kibbutzlotan.com/blog/?p=87 This was part of kibbutz project in geodesic dome structures.

]]> http://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-houses-and-high-wind/comment-page-1#comment-6908 Andrew Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:49:25 +0000 http://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-houses-and-high-wind#comment-6908 You can build multiple stories with ease with SB construction as long as the frame is engineered to handle the loads. I have built two stories homes over a daylight basement (3rd floor) with minimal engineering requirements above and beyond what would be required for stick frame. You can build multiple stories with ease with SB construction as long as the frame is engineered to handle the loads. I have built two stories homes over a daylight basement (3rd floor) with minimal engineering requirements above and beyond what would be required for stick frame.

]]> http://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-houses-and-high-wind/comment-page-1#comment-6884 Ann Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:33:11 +0000 http://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-houses-and-high-wind#comment-6884 I am interested in urban development and wonder to what height capacity can a straw bale development safely achieve. Would it be possible ,with the aid of maybe steel support, to construct a multiple floor community building ? I am interested in urban development and wonder to what height capacity can a straw bale development safely achieve.
Would it be possible ,with the aid of maybe steel support, to construct a multiple floor community building ?

]]> http://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-houses-and-high-wind/comment-page-1#comment-3326 Phil Tue, 29 Jul 2008 20:46:01 +0000 http://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-houses-and-high-wind#comment-3326 I understand Andrew, If it were me, I would place a inner wall buck direct to the straw , then I would coat the entire inside of the window or door opening with polyurethane foam. let it cure , and cut it back for squareness , Slope the bottom sill out to the exterior. When you apply the exterior concrete coating , hit the window openings too, right over the foam and mesh. Your finish frame then goes in and is screwed through the concrete, foam then to the inner buck . For both of these bucks I would use composite (plastic) lumber. I understand Andrew, If it were me, I would place a inner wall buck direct to the straw , then I would coat the entire inside of the window or door opening with polyurethane foam. let it cure , and cut it back for squareness , Slope the bottom sill out to the exterior. When you apply the exterior concrete coating , hit the window openings too, right over the foam and mesh. Your finish frame then goes in and is screwed through the concrete, foam then to the inner buck . For both of these bucks I would use composite (plastic) lumber.

]]> http://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-houses-and-high-wind/comment-page-1#comment-3300 Andrew Tue, 29 Jul 2008 05:22:21 +0000 http://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-houses-and-high-wind#comment-3300 Phil, You are absolutely correct about the bucks. The issue comes into play when the bucks are placed in a curved wall. The windows themselves can remain flat, but that means that a space is created on the exterior of the wall that must be addressed with some type of sill. The fact that curve plus flat equals exposed bale on the exterior of the home must be handled with care or water (from rain) will get into the bales. That is something that will raise the cost of construction and is what I was referring to. Sorry if I was ambiguous. Phil,
You are absolutely correct about the bucks. The issue comes into play when the bucks are placed in a curved wall. The windows themselves can remain flat, but that means that a space is created on the exterior of the wall that must be addressed with some type of sill. The fact that curve plus flat equals exposed bale on the exterior of the home must be handled with care or water (from rain) will get into the bales. That is something that will raise the cost of construction and is what I was referring to. Sorry if I was ambiguous.

]]> http://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-houses-and-high-wind/comment-page-1#comment-3296 Phil Tue, 29 Jul 2008 03:46:59 +0000 http://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-houses-and-high-wind#comment-3296 Monolithic domes use what is called "Window and Door bucks" These are ether inset or extended out of the shell ....like a bay window...... Being inset into the thick bale, the curvature does not affect the mounting surface for flat windows or doors. Thats a huge plus for the thickness of bales. Monolithic domes use what is called “Window and Door bucks” These are ether inset or extended out of the shell ….like a bay window…… Being inset into the thick bale, the curvature does not affect the mounting surface for flat windows or doors. Thats a huge plus for the thickness of bales.

]]> http://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-houses-and-high-wind/comment-page-1#comment-3293 Andrew Tue, 29 Jul 2008 03:09:53 +0000 http://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-houses-and-high-wind#comment-3293 Pricing a structure like that out will take some details about the actual building. Round is almost always more expensive, not because of the bales, but because of the rigid elements like windows, framing, and doors. In square construction, I would plan on about $150/SF these days. Round could be upwards of $190 or so. The best thing to do is draw the plans and price it out or at least talk to some local builders to get a better ball park price. With so much market fluctuation, is hard for me to even get you into the ball park from Oregon. Good luck. Pricing a structure like that out will take some details about the actual building. Round is almost always more expensive, not because of the bales, but because of the rigid elements like windows, framing, and doors. In square construction, I would plan on about $150/SF these days. Round could be upwards of $190 or so. The best thing to do is draw the plans and price it out or at least talk to some local builders to get a better ball park price. With so much market fluctuation, is hard for me to even get you into the ball park from Oregon. Good luck.

]]> http://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-houses-and-high-wind/comment-page-1#comment-3289 Angie Tue, 29 Jul 2008 02:33:22 +0000 http://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-houses-and-high-wind#comment-3289 I live in northern Arizona. I want to build a Navajo hogan in strawbale. How much would it cost for maybe a 500 to 700 sq. foot hogan cost? Are there any designs out there of a round strawbale house? I live in northern Arizona. I want to build a Navajo hogan in strawbale. How much would it cost for maybe a 500 to 700 sq. foot hogan cost? Are there any designs out there of a round strawbale house?

]]> http://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-houses-and-high-wind/comment-page-1#comment-2951 Phil Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:39:51 +0000 http://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-houses-and-high-wind#comment-2951 Not so much a geodesic dome to shred wind But a Round walled or curved wall Home will help very much against wind and wind driven objects. With a wall being round - ish the wind cant build up as much force against it . Wind driven objects will have a hard time pinpointing a direct line of sight hit. In other words , the object will more than likely hit the wall at an angle of some sort and deflect off . Not so much a geodesic dome to shred wind But a Round walled or curved wall Home will help very much against wind and wind driven objects. With a wall being round – ish the wind cant build up as much force against it . Wind driven objects will have a hard time pinpointing a direct line of sight hit. In other words , the object will more than likely hit the wall at an angle of some sort and deflect off .

]]>