Comments on: Connecting a Straw Bale Addition to an Existing House http://www.strawbale.com/straw_bale_addition The World's Leader in Straw Bale Education Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:14:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Andrew http://www.strawbale.com/straw_bale_addition/comment-page-1#comment-26823 Andrew Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:56:08 +0000 http://208.109.173.184/straw_bale_addition/#comment-26823 It's hard to wrap a building without running into the "extras" as mentioned here. You might be able to do it with a small rubble trench foundation and "mini-roofs" built to tuck in under the existing roof and supported on the outer edge with posts to small concrete piers. Just a thought. Good luck. It’s hard to wrap a building without running into the “extras” as mentioned here. You might be able to do it with a small rubble trench foundation and “mini-roofs” built to tuck in under the existing roof and supported on the outer edge with posts to small concrete piers. Just a thought. Good luck.

]]> By: Chris http://www.strawbale.com/straw_bale_addition/comment-page-1#comment-26819 Chris Sat, 14 Nov 2009 04:14:44 +0000 http://208.109.173.184/straw_bale_addition/#comment-26819 A nice little article, I am planning to do just that -add an addition to my mobile home. Thanks for being so specific! One word of caution reg'd wood heat in a mobile home -it may not be tolerated by your insurance. I was strongly advised against it by my insurance agent, the boost in premiums (if I could even find and insurer) would have covered half my gas bill!! I was also thinking of 'outsulating' the existing mobile home with straw bale, but the extra work on the roof and foundation has discouraged me from that. Can you think of an easier way to 'outsulate' the existing structure? Thanks again, cheers! A nice little article,
I am planning to do just that -add an addition to my mobile home. Thanks for being so specific!
One word of caution reg’d wood heat in a mobile home -it may not be tolerated by your insurance. I was strongly advised against it by my insurance agent, the boost in premiums (if I could even find and insurer) would have covered half my gas bill!!
I was also thinking of ‘outsulating’ the existing mobile home with straw bale, but the extra work on the roof and foundation has discouraged me from that. Can you think of an easier way to ‘outsulate’ the existing structure?

Thanks again, cheers!

]]> By: andrew http://www.strawbale.com/straw_bale_addition/comment-page-1#comment-23 andrew Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:59:07 +0000 http://208.109.173.184/straw_bale_addition/#comment-23 At 7:28 AM, Andrew Morrison said... Dale, Thanks for the question. This sounds like a good idea. Here's my feedback: If I read your post right, your roof on the new addition will be 12' from the trailer and the addition is also slated at 12'. The addition will need a roof overhang so the entire roof from trailer to end needs to be at least 14' yielding a 2' overhang on the bale addition. The floor joists need to carry the weight of the bales. I suggest you look in your code book and see what the requirements are for an additional 40 pounds per square foot of dead load on the floor system. That is a good number to consider for bale construction. Remember, bales are heavy. I think 2x8 floor joists will not be strong enough if spaced at standard intervals. I usually go with 11 7/8 engineered joists 24" on center at a minimum. If you need to stay at 8" due to the height considerations you mentioned, you will have to shrink the spacing to say 12" or double the joists and stick to 16" centers. Again, the code book for your location will give you better direction on this. I am not an engineer, so you need to confirm whatever you decide to do with an inspector or an engineer to be safe, but at a minimum, I suggest you follow the recommendations above. Good luck and happy baling. At 7:28 AM, Andrew Morrison said…

Dale,
Thanks for the question. This sounds like a good idea. Here’s my feedback: If I read your post right, your roof on the new addition will be 12′ from the trailer and the addition is also slated at 12′. The addition will need a roof overhang so the entire roof from trailer to end needs to be at least 14′ yielding a 2′ overhang on the bale addition.
The floor joists need to carry the weight of the bales. I suggest you look in your code book and see what the requirements are for an additional 40 pounds per square foot of dead load on the floor system. That is a good number to consider for bale construction. Remember, bales are heavy. I think 2×8 floor joists will not be strong enough if spaced at standard intervals. I usually go with 11 7/8 engineered joists 24″ on center at a minimum. If you need to stay at 8″ due to the height considerations you mentioned, you will have to shrink the spacing to say 12″ or double the joists and stick to 16″ centers. Again, the code book for your location will give you better direction on this. I am not an engineer, so you need to confirm whatever you decide to do with an inspector or an engineer to be safe, but at a minimum, I suggest you follow the recommendations above. Good luck and happy baling.

]]> By: dale basinger http://www.strawbale.com/straw_bale_addition/comment-page-1#comment-22 dale basinger Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:58:33 +0000 http://208.109.173.184/straw_bale_addition/#comment-22 At 7:00 AM, Dale Basinger said... Hello, I will tell you what I am doing and then ask your advice and opinion. I have a single wide mobile home, and I am putting a roof over it and an addition for two bedrooms. The mobile is 14 x 68, the roof will cover it and 12 feet along the entire length. The addition will only be 12 x 28, the rest of the area under the roof will just be open. I will support the roof with 26 treated 4x4s. I want to use strawbale for the addition, but need the floor to be even with the floor of the mobile, as I will only be heating with a wood stove in the center of the mobile, and a lower floor in the addition would not heat well by convection. If I frame up the floor of the addition, 2x10 band joists with 2x8 floor joists, would this be adequate for strawbale walls? Thank you for your time, Dale Basinger. At 7:00 AM, Dale Basinger said…

Hello,

I will tell you what I am doing and then ask your advice and opinion. I have a single wide mobile home, and I am putting a roof over it and an addition for two bedrooms. The mobile is 14 x 68, the roof will cover it and 12 feet along the entire length. The addition will only be 12 x 28, the rest of the area under the roof will just be open. I will support the roof with 26 treated 4x4s. I want to use strawbale for the addition, but need the floor to be even with the floor of the mobile, as I will only be heating with a wood stove in the center of the mobile, and a lower floor in the addition would not heat well by convection. If I frame up the floor of the addition, 2×10 band joists with 2×8 floor joists, would this be adequate for strawbale walls? Thank you for your time, Dale Basinger.

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