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.

A straw bale truth window on a yellow wall with a sunburst-like design around it, partially showing a green plant in the foreground.

Looking for Straw bale homes for Sale? View Here.

Timbo Scursso 5/9/25 Timbo Scursso 5/9/25

Building a Strawbale Home on a Steep Slope

Considerations and options for building a strawbale home on a steep slope using basement or pole foundation types.

Timbo Scursso 5/2/25 Timbo Scursso 5/2/25

Hanging Cabinets On Straw Bale Walls

One easy way to hang cabinets on straw bale walls is to notch into the straw bale wall… Learn all the details here.

Timbo Scursso 4/25/25 Timbo Scursso 4/25/25

Thinking of Building Your Own Strawbale House? Read This First.

Before jumping into one of the most rewarding (and demanding) projects of your life, let’s ask the most important question…

Timbo Scursso 4/18/25 Timbo Scursso 4/18/25

Hay Houses Are NOT Straw Bale Houses

The difference between the two is HUGE for home construction. Hay houses would provide a food source for all sorts of pests. Learn more about why it matters...

Timbo Scursso 4/15/25 Timbo Scursso 4/15/25

5 Essential Straw Bale Construction Tools

Some tools make a job WAY more efficient, effective, and enjoyable than others. Learn 5 essential straw bale construction tools crucial for success in building better with bales.

Timbo Scursso 4/11/25 Timbo Scursso 4/11/25

Better Than Rebar: Straw Bale House Building

Why have we moved away from using rebar in straw bale house building? Learn that and what we’re using instead in this short read.

Timbo Scursso 4/4/25 Timbo Scursso 4/4/25

Fireplaces in Strawbale Houses

Can you have a fireplace in a strawbale house? Yes! Learn how to safely install and design fireplaces in strawbale walls using modern best practices.

Timbo Scursso 3/28/25 Timbo Scursso 3/28/25

Connecting a Straw Bale Home Addition to an Existing House

Connecting a straw bale home addition to existing structures has specialized details that depend upon the wall system type you choose to use. Learn more.

Timbo Scursso 3/21/25 Timbo Scursso 3/21/25

Fire Testing Strawbale Wall Systems - Results

Resources for ongoing fire testing of strawbale walls - Early tests in the mid-2000s demonstrated that plastered bale walls could withstand fire exposure for up to 2 hrs without structural compromise in a furnace test.

Timbo Scursso 3/14/25 Timbo Scursso 3/14/25

How to Calculate Bale Density

Learn how to calculate bale density for straw bale construction to ensure structural integrity and code compliance. Follow our simple formula and expert tips.

Timbo Scursso 3/7/25 Timbo Scursso 3/7/25

How to Build with Straw Bale Walls Over a Basement

Can straw bale walls and a house can be built over a basement? The answer is always yes.

Andrew Morrison 2/28/25 Andrew Morrison 2/28/25

Say "No" to Straw Bale Roof Insulation

Straw bale roof insulation? The amount of time, effort, cost, and embodied energy seems to me to heavily outweigh the benefits. Here’s my thoughts.