Find Answers To Your Straw Bale Construction Questions

Essential articles, how to guides, and stories from builds across the country

Dive 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.

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Timbo Scursso 12/12/25 Timbo Scursso 12/12/25

Hardwood Floors In A Straw Bale House

Straw bale homes work well with hardwood floors when you plan for floor movement and clean transitions at the walls. This post outlines why wood floors appeal to some straw bale homeowners, what expansion gaps do, and three reliable ways to finish the floor-to-wall connection.

Timbo Scursso 11/27/25 Timbo Scursso 11/27/25

Tool Organization Tips for a Smooth Straw Bale Build

Tool organization shapes how your job site runs. Clear homes for tools and a simple layout save time and keep work moving each day.

Dainella Nartker 1/20/24 Dainella Nartker 1/20/24

Off-Grid Living: 5 Advantages of Straw Bale Housing

Not all people who build straw bale homes build them off the grid, and not all people living off the grid do so in straw bale housing. But the two are as powerful a combo as peanut butter and jelly for many reasons! We’ll share five of our favorites, but first things first. Just what do we mean by ‘off-grid living’?

Andrew Morrison 3/16/19 Andrew Morrison 3/16/19

How a Straw Bale House Can Change the World

A straw bale house has the power to change the world, one occupant and one home at a time. Learn more.

Andrew Morrison 1/25/19 Andrew Morrison 1/25/19

Fire Resistance of Straw Bale Walls Outperforms Conventional Construction

The fire resistance of straw bale walls is superior to that of conventional construction. Learn why that matters and how it's possible.

Andrew Morrison 10/2/16 Andrew Morrison 10/2/16

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.

Andrew Morrison 12/29/15 Andrew Morrison 12/29/15

Simplify the Installation of Roofing Felt Behind Your Plaster

I wanted to share a few great tips to simplify the installation of the roofing felt needed on wood that lies behind your plaster. As you know (or may be learning...right now...) you have to cover all wood that will end up behind plaster with roofing felt or an equivalent product.

Andrew Morrison 9/3/15 Andrew Morrison 9/3/15

Wire Ties or Poly Twine Bales?

I'm often asked if using bales that are tied with wire is a bad or good idea. The reality is that there are advantages and disadvantages on both sides of the question. I do have a preference though, and that is for poly twine over wire.

Andrew Morrison 7/25/15 Andrew Morrison 7/25/15

Creating Straight Bale Walls On a Crooked Frame

It was immediately obvious while working on the exposed timber frame that the natural cut timbers would not line up with the plane of the bale wall once complete. What we did worked out really well and created a beautiful and STRAIGHT wall.

Andrew Morrison 6/5/15 Andrew Morrison 6/5/15

Land Development Process Revealed

Allow me to share with you what I've learned over my 20 years as a professional builder and land developer. This is for anyone interested in the start to finish process of finding, developing, and building on raw land.

Andrew Morrison 9/9/14 Andrew Morrison 9/9/14

Straw Bale Home is Cover of Fine Homebuilding

For those of you who have been curious what it will take to help straw bale homes become more mainstream, this may be a part of the answer. David Arkin and Annie Tilt (Arkin-Tilt Architects) have received many awards over the years and their straw bale homes have at least twice graced the covers of Fine Homebuilding Magazine, this time in the fall 2014 edition of Small Homes Cabins and Cottages.

Andrew Morrison 11/17/13 Andrew Morrison 11/17/13

Step By Step Guide To Creating Niches

One of the most artistic expressions of a straw bale wall are the niches that are carved into it. I have laid out a step-by-step process for the most common niche I see in straw bale homes: the arch top.