Find Answers To Your Straw Bale Construction Questions
Essential articles, how to guides, and stories from builds across the countryDive into step by step how to articles, code and permitting tips, materials sourcing, design strategies, and workshop updates. Whether you are dreaming, planning, or building, you will find practical answers and inspiration from the field.
Explore by Category
- Construction Details 41
- Natural Plastering 20
- Workshops 14
- Tips and Trade Secrets 11
- Tools and Materials 10
- Strawbale FAQs 9
- Inspiration and Community 8
- Design and Engineering 6
- Foundations 6
- Framing 6
- Moisture Management 6
- Contracting and Consulting 5
- Financing and Insurance 4
- Homesteading 4
- Repair and Maintenance 4
- Codes and Building Officials 3
- Costs 3
- Landscaping and Yard Art 3
- Load Bearing Construction 3
- Flooring 2
- Performance and Testing 2
- Product and Book Reviews 2
- DIY & Owner Builder 1
- Electrical 1
- Finish Work 1
- Fire 1
- How To Straw Bale Construction 1
- Timber Frame 1
- Utilities 1
- Videos 1
Looking for Straw bale homes for Sale? View Here.
How NOT to Plaster a Straw Bale House - Avoiding Cold Joints
It is always best to limit the cold joints in your scratch coat as best you can. Here’s how you can avoid cold joints on your straw bale house walls and get the best result for your bale-protecting plaster job!
Plaster Tip: Applying American Clay Over Natural Hydraulic Lime
In this article we review using American Clay plaster over a Natural Hydraulic Lime plaster, making sure that cure times are accounted for.
Finish Plaster Texture Options
There are many of finish plaster texture options available for your straw bale home and knowing which one is best for you can be difficult. The best decisions are based on understanding the combination of application-technical difficulty, personal aesthetics, durability, crack hiding ability, and material availability.
Properly Wet Your Plaster on a Straw Bale Wall
There is far more water used in the preparation and curing process than in the mix itself. If you have a limited water supply, be sure to account for this extra water requirement. Follow these steps to make sure you have the best plaster job available. Be sure to protect your walls from wind, rain, and direct sun by hanging tarps.
Spray or Hand Plaster Application: Which is Better?
There are many details to a quality plaster job and many places to make mistakes. The real question may not be whether to spray or to apply by hand, but rather, what steps need to be taken, no matter which application method is chosen, such that the plaster job will be successful.
The Importance of the Right Sand in Your Plaster
A hard lesson about the importance of finding the right sand for your plaster mix.