Straw Bale Houses
submitted: 2008-04-13 11:56:25 |
by: RosanaHart
Total views: 49 |
Word Count: 471 |
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Straw bale houses offer many benefits to their residents. But maybe I'd better explain first what these houses are. These beautiful buildings are constructed of bales of straw, which are kept dry by being covered with a plaster on both sides of the bales. Often a wide overhang is used on the outside of the home too.
Typically a straw bale house is built so that the bales are filled in around the framework of the house, which is lumber constructed in a manner called post and beam. Because the bales do not support the load of the roof in this method, it is called non-load-bearing. In most places, building codes require this approach.
The other construction method gives you a load-bearing straw bale house. In this approach, the roof rests directly on the compacted straw bales. Since this method requires less lumber, it is more ecological, but you do have to be careful during construction that the weight of the roof is properly set on the bales.
This method is simpler for beginners. It is amazing how quickly those straw bale walls can go up! Still, after they are in place, there is plenty more work to do.
Straw bale building is probably most popular in the southwestern desert states of the US, but it is now being done in many other places too. Building codes exist that directly address the specifics of straw bale construction, and some banks will make loans for straw bale houses.
So what are the benefits of living in a straw bale home?
1. Insulation: With its thicker walls providing excellent insulation, a straw bale house stays more comfortable year round, cooler in summer and warmer in winter. This saves considerably on energy costs. Of course, this savings continues, year in and year out, and so it will make a real difference in the cost of living in the home.
2. Renewable resources: Straw is something which can be grown just about anywhere, so it is a relatively local resource and it does not deplete our reserves. So ecologically minded people are attracted to straw bale houses for this reason. More and more people are becoming aware of the importance of building sustainably.
3. Living in straw bale houses is a joy: The beauty of the hand-finished walls with their lovely plasters, the thick walls, and other features make the experience of living in such a home very nice indeed. An added benefit of the thick walls is that it is quieter inside the house because of the insulation.
In sum, building a straw bale house offers environmental and quality-of-life benefits. People who know little about building can learn to do a lot of the construction themselves. Sure, building any house is a lot of work, but if you go the straw bale route, look what you end up with... something very special indeed!
About the Author
If you think you might like to build a straw bale house, visit Rosana Hart's website on straw bale houses and her Squidoo page on load bearing straw bale houses.
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