Just What ARE Straw Bale Houses?
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.
Most frequently, straw bale houses are built with a post-and-beam framework made of lumber. The bales are used as infill. This method is described as non-load-bearing since the weight (load) of the roof does not bear down on the straw. Building codes that address straw bale building are likely to require this technique.
In contrast, a "load-bearing" straw bale house has the roof resting right on the straw bales. This requires care in construction so that the weight is properly balanced. This method is more ecological, as it uses less wood.
It is also easier for beginners to do. The bale walls can go up surprisingly quickly, which is very gratifying. Of course, there is still plenty more to do, with wiring and plastering and everything else that goes into making any house.
Building with bales of straw is most common in the southwestern United States. There are specific building codes that describe what is acceptable, and some banks make loans for straw bale houses.
The image shown here is for an excellent DVD on how to build straw bale houses. See the link for it in the next module, just below here.
Most frequently, straw bale houses are built with a post-and-beam framework made of lumber. The bales are used as infill. This method is described as non-load-bearing since the weight (load) of the roof does not bear down on the straw. Building codes that address straw bale building are likely to require this technique.
In contrast, a "load-bearing" straw bale house has the roof resting right on the straw bales. This requires care in construction so that the weight is properly balanced. This method is more ecological, as it uses less wood.
It is also easier for beginners to do. The bale walls can go up surprisingly quickly, which is very gratifying. Of course, there is still plenty more to do, with wiring and plastering and everything else that goes into making any house.
Building with bales of straw is most common in the southwestern United States. There are specific building codes that describe what is acceptable, and some banks make loans for straw bale houses.
The image shown here is for an excellent DVD on how to build straw bale houses. See the link for it in the next module, just below here.
The Best Information I've Found on How to Build Straw Bale Houses
A DVD by Straw Bale Expert Andrew Morrison
My husband and I have produced how-to videos and DVDs ourselves since the 1980s, including a couple on natural building methods, so I am pretty opinionated on what a good program is like. I recommend this one without hesitation!
- Straw Bale Houses DVD
- A step-by-step, detailed system for building a straw bale house, suitable for people at all levels of building experience... including NO experience!
Benefits of Straw Bale Houses
Here are a few... there have to be more!
So what are some benefits of living in a straw bale home?
1. Insulation: The thick walls mean that straw bale houses naturally stay warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. This saves a lot of money on heating bills, and if air conditioning is even needed in a very hot climate, its use will be considerably reduced. Of course, the energy savings will continue for the entire life of the house and thus will add up to a lot of money over time.
2. Renewable resources: Since straw is easy to grow, it does not need to be brought in from far away and it is probably being grown nearby anyway. It does not diminish our forests. People who care about building sustainably -- more and more people all the time -- find this very attractive.
3. The experience of living: Straw bale houses tend to be beautiful, with their thick walls and handmade aspects. The walls make the inside of the house very quiet, with outside noise coming in much less than in a conventional house. The plasters used to cover the bales are lovely, often natural tones.
1. Insulation: The thick walls mean that straw bale houses naturally stay warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. This saves a lot of money on heating bills, and if air conditioning is even needed in a very hot climate, its use will be considerably reduced. Of course, the energy savings will continue for the entire life of the house and thus will add up to a lot of money over time.
2. Renewable resources: Since straw is easy to grow, it does not need to be brought in from far away and it is probably being grown nearby anyway. It does not diminish our forests. People who care about building sustainably -- more and more people all the time -- find this very attractive.
3. The experience of living: Straw bale houses tend to be beautiful, with their thick walls and handmade aspects. The walls make the inside of the house very quiet, with outside noise coming in much less than in a conventional house. The plasters used to cover the bales are lovely, often natural tones.
A Final Word
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!
Straw Bale House Books on Amazon
Serious Straw Bale: A Home Construction Guide for All Climates (Real Goods Solar Living Book)
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Amazon Price: $19.80 (as of 12/30/2009) 
List Price: $30.00
Used Price: $15.00
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Small Strawbale: Natural Homes, Projects & Designs
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Amazon Price: $19.80 (as of 12/30/2009)
List Price: $30.00
Used Price: $18.81
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The Straw Bale House (A Real Goods Independent Living Book)
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Amazon Price: $19.80 (as of 12/30/2009)
List Price: $30.00
Used Price: $6.18
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Strawbale Home Plans
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Amazon Price: $16.49 (as of 12/30/2009)
List Price: $24.99
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The Beauty of Straw Bale Homes
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Amazon Price: $21.33 (as of 12/30/2009)
List Price: $24.95
Used Price: $5.63
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by hartworks
I've hung out in a lot of straw bale houses. Here my husband Kelly and I are in the earth bag house we built. (more)
