Construction Details
Why I Will Not Use Jute Again
I like to stay open to new ideas and techniques. I think it is really important as no single person can possibly have all the right answers, all the time.
I like to stay open to new ideas and techniques. I think it is really important as no single person can possibly have all the right answers, all the time.
When most people think of niche in straw bale walls, they picture the flat bottom, arched top nook with a statue or flower pot in it. I love that look
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. Although the
I was recently asked about using different finishes for straw bale walls on the interior. I’m very often asked about using different exterior finishes, but not as often does the
Several of you have, over the years, written to me about using plastic encased straw bales in the construction of a home. The suggested benefits of this have ranged from
Building with bales over wood floors is an option that’s often overlooked in straw bale construction. Building a straw bale house on top of a concrete slab is certainly the
When installing your electrical wires in the bale walls, be sure to take the time to mark them out clearly, post installation, with spray paint. This allows you to photograph
The stronger your wall, the better. That seems obvious, yet I see house after house where the walls are loose and poorly stacked. Many people don’t reinforce their walls with
The sad and ugly aftermath of using the wrong plaster sand! In a recent workshop we discovered that the sand that was ordered for the plaster was not acceptable. I
It’s not unusual for people to get excited about plastering their straw bale structure. After all, this is when a simple structure starts to look like a home. When the
I just got an email from a man who wanted to know what I thought about moving a straw bale structure. He plans to use more modern techniques, but I
Why would I want to do that? You may be asking yourself that very question and rightfully so. The answer may be simple or complicated depending on the situation. It
If you have interior partition walls in the straw bale structure you’re building, you’ll need to attach them to the structure before you install your drywall on the interior walls.
I’m not a big fan of bales in the roof as you likely already know. They are so heavy and there are several areas of concern in regards to using
If you’ve ever made an electrical spike for your straw bale home, you know just how dangerous the process can be. At the seven day comprehensive workshop in Hurley, NY
Picture this. Your bank loan is on a strict timeline. Your plastering job seems overwhelmingly huge because you plan to do it yourself. You don’t have any money in the
I remember visiting a job site some time ago during the plastering stage. I noticed that the plastering crew had removed the protection around the windows and the floor where
Here’s an interesting question I received today about straw bale load bearing wall heights. Â I hope to hear more about this idea of multi-story load bearing structures in the future.
Lots of people want the look of adobe homes when they build with bales. The biggest risk to that is in the inset window details. If this detail is not
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.
The most common time I’m asked how to identify moisture issues is when someone buys an existing straw bale house. Moisture is not often a problem in straw bale homes
Sometimes even the best planning can result in a mistake. For example, I recently heard from someone who purchased a house and found that there is no dryer vent through
If you plan to build with bales, you absolutely must have a straw bale moisture meter with a probe. It is so valuable that I consider it a “must have,”
Straw Bale Walls as Soundproofing Many of you have written to me in recent months asking about straw bales as soundproofing options against noisy streets and neighborhoods. I have responded
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