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.
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Strengthen Your Walls
For me, the extra work of compressing your straw bale walls is more than worth it and the quality of the overall job you will get as a result of this step is measurably better than working with soft or loose walls.
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.
Testing Moisture Levels in Your Straw Bale House
People often ask about testing the moisture content of the bales in their walls after their straw bale house is complete. The best way to accomplish this is to utilize the space behind the electrical boxes throughout the home.
Timber Frame and Straw Bale Homes
There may be no more beautiful look than a timber frame house wrapped with straw bales and plaster. It’s as if the two were made for each other. Creating that look can be a bit troublesome if you don’t approach the project from the right angles. Here’s how…
Bales Over Wood Floors vs Concrete Slabs for Straw Bale Construction
Building with bales over wood floors is an option that's often overlooked in straw bale construction.
Speed Up Your Post and Beam Framing - StrawBale.com
Proper framing techniques will speed and simplify your process. Follow these straightforward steps to get your frame erected quickly and much more easily than standard post and beam framing practices.
Firmly Attach Mesh to Protect Your Plaster
When working with straw bale buildings, some people wonder whether mesh is necessary or not. I personally think it offers so many advantages..[read more]
Could Rice Straw be the Answer to Building with Bales in Humid Climates?
Are you willing to do the unbiased research to see how rice straw holds up under humid conditions?
Tightening Bale Ends in the Wall of a Straw Bale House
Sometimes folks terminate the bales too far in a window opening to create the shape they want. Here’s how to fix that!
Starter Shingle Course on Roofs on a Straw Bale House
For years the only way to start a roofing job was to buy some cheap 3 tab roofing shingles, cut off the tabs, and lay the strip as the starter course. This was time consuming and wasteful. Here’s an option…