Thursday, October 26th, 2006 | Popularity: 10%
This decision can be based on climate, structural requirements or design criteria. Just yesterday I spoke with some folks who had a desire to build a really cool building with bales. Unfortunately, the design was such that it was not practical to build with straw bales. I could have done it with bales, but it would have cost them more and they would not have benefited from the use. So, we are now looking at building it Green without bales. I think it will be an awesome building. So, the point is that we as builders and owner/builders need to be willing to be honest with ourselves and our clients about using bales. Even if you have your heart set on bales, if the climate won’t allow it, then let it go. If the design you are excited about won’t allow the use of bales then either let it go or change the design. Whatever you do, be honest.
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Well I landed in Denver, Colorado today right behind a big snow storm. I am lucky to have made it in, or so it seems. Some areas of Colorado got over two feet of snow today! Funny, when I left Oregon it was 65 degrees. Oh well. While I was traveling I thought about when and where to use straw bale construction. Surely this thought was egged on by the thought of landing in the Colorado snow. What I jotted down on the computer as we flew was that most areas of the World are perfect for SB construction, but some are not. As a professional builder I need to be able to inform people of when and when NOT to use bales.
This decision can be based on climate, structural requirements or design criteria. Just yesterday I spoke with some folks who had a desire to build a really cool building with bales. Unfortunately, the design was such that it was not practical to build with straw bales. I could have done it with bales, but it would have cost them more and they would not have benefited from the use. So, we are now looking at building it Green without bales. I think it will be an awesome building. So, the point is that we as builders and owner/builders need to be willing to be honest with ourselves and our clients about using bales. Even if you have your heart set on bales, if the climate won’t allow it, then let it go. If the design you are excited about won’t allow the use of bales then either let it go or change the design. Whatever you do, be honest.
Popularity: 10%
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Andrew Morison is a licensed contractor specializing 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 http://www.LearnStrawBale.com.
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September 6th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
At 9:14 AM, Andrew Morrison said…
Welcome Home Travis. I am glad you are back and I trust your time in Iraq was safe, or as safe as it could be. The area you describe sounds perfect for straw bale construction.
September 13th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
At 8:06 PM, Randy said…
What about the area near Abiquiu New Mexico? Would the climate there work for a stawbale home?
At 10:42 PM, Andrew Morrison said…
I think the climate would be perfect in Abiquiu. I have to admit that I have not been there in years, but I recall it is a desert environment North of Espanola and Albuquerque. If I am not mistaken, it is also where the Ghost Ranch Living Museum used to be. Anyway, that climate would be great as long as you design for heavy rains which are the norm there during the rainy season (again going on memory). Large overhangs would be sufficient to make that a perfect place for bales.
September 13th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
At 9:06 AM, Anonymous said…
WHAT ABOUT SOUTHERN INDIANA?
At 4:08 PM, Andrew Morrison said…
Southern Indiana should also be fine. I do not know the climate as well as I do other places, but it should be fine there. If anything like Iowa, it gets hot and humid in the summer and cold and dry in the winter. That is a climate suitable for bales.
September 13th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
At 6:00 PM, Anonymous said…
Bob here, I own property up in Washigton in the Okanogon Highlands, some call it the Banana Belt, I hope to start building in about 2 years. What is your thoughts of that area which is close to Oregon in weather conditions.
At 7:46 AM, Andrew Morrison said…
Bob, Oregon has a lot of weather and many micro climates, so it is hard for me to know exactly what kind of weather you have up in the Highlands. For example, I only get about 11″ precipitation where I live and Eugene gets about 30″ or so. If it helps, there are bale homes in Seattle, Portland Corvallis and Eugene, as well as dryer climates. Those homes are doing well and as long as the home is designed and built properly, it will be fine. Make sure to have adequate overhangs and if two story, a mid level roof to protect the lower floor. I would set the windows and doors flush to the exterior of the home as well. I hope that helps!
September 13th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
At 1:50 PM, Anonymous said…
Andrew, I am from St. Petersburg, Russia. We have a pretty cold climate overhere. I could compare it to south of Alaska. Do you think straw bale would succeed here?
Thank you.
At 9:04 AM, Andrew Morrison said…
The colder the climate the better! AND the hotter the climate the better! In fact, straw bale functions extremely well under both conditions. As long as you have a hewat source, the efficiency of the bale walls will be a blessing. If you have a source for cool air in a hot climate, like cool evening breezes, then the same is true. The bales act as an insulator from outdoor temperatures, not as a storage mass like adobe or cob.
September 13th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
At 9:58 AM, Travis said…
Hi,
I just got back from Iraq and it was amazing as to what they live in. I bought 40 ac NW of Casper, Wy. I wil be looking into building a Bale house soon. first I plan to build a barn for my horses. Practice makes perfect, so the horses get to be the gueny pigs. What do you think of the area? Usually below zero in winter, dry snow and ave 90 in summer.
Travis
Busted knuckle Ranch
Caasper, Wy
At 9:14 AM, Andrew Morrison said…
Welcome Home Travis. I am glad you are back and I trust your time in Iraq was safe, or as safe as it could be. The area you describe sounds perfect for straw bale construction.