Some Pros and Cons of this type of framing and building method.
Pro:
The framing process can be super quick! You can have a carpenter or crew frame your strawbale building using 2x4s or 2x6s, just like a regular house. It’s something carpenters and framing crews do all the time!
Framing strawbale homes like traditional stick built homes (using 2x4s or 2x6s) is usually less expensive than some other costly ways we have encountered. For example, some more expensive and time consuming ways to frame a strawbale house include using materials such as steel beams or LVLs, or even floor joists, box columns or 4x4s/6x6s for posts. It can also be harder to find framing crews for these other methods, and can add time and labor expense making your project cost more in the long run.
Pro:
The outside walls are covered with a breathable, water resistant and vapor permeable wrap (rain screed) to protect the bales and building components as they’re being installed. This way there is no need to tent the house with plastic or tarps to keep the bales dry during the building phase. This saves you time and labor costs, and allows you to sleep better at night knowing that your project is covered.
Con:
There are some higher upfront costs involved with strawbale construction that not everyone thinks about. The R-40 insulation value of building with straw is a tremendous benefit, however, the bales need to be trimmed, stacked and attached to the framing. This can add several days in the construction of this type of strawbale home when compared with a similar sized stick framed structure that uses batts of R-19 fiberglass insulation stuffed into its 2x framed walls. We feel this is time well spent, of course!
Pro:
While building a ‘typical’ home with fiberglass insulation and drywalled walls is likely faster and less expensive than the extra labor and materials costs associated with a straw/stucco plaster system, these costs can be recouped quickly with the money you will save in heating and cooling expenses of a well built strawbale. To achieve these real savings, however, consideration should be taken in adding insulation in your ceiling and floors (for a thermal break), having well insulated drapes or blinds to help reduce unwanted heat loss or heat gain through your windows, etc. More importantly, this will save on our overall fossil fuel consumption.
Con:
Sometimes the idea of using this standard type of framing goes against the grain, because old school strawbale videos and books that were used for years “taught” people to use more of an open framng system, like box columns. For this reason, it can sometimes be a bit of a challenge to convince more traditional style clients to see the benefits of this type of framing. Over the years I have seen just about every way to frame a strawbale house. It sometimes feels like everyone is trying to reinvent the wheel, so to speak. I certainly spent a good deal of time in my career doing this as well, and because of that I have experienced first hand the pros of this type of system. This is probably more of a “challenge” than a “con” because it can be difficult to educate the public about the pros of this type of building strawbale homes
Pro:
This system also uses 1/3 of the stucco/plaster materials. For some houses, this means using 3 pallets of stucco rather than 9. This is a HUGE savings!
Pro:
The rich appearance of the finish plaster creates a sophisticated look with and an added dimension and depth that is quickly admired. I like to impress visitors by having them smack the solid 20” thick walls with their hands… they can actually hear and feel how dense and solid the wall is! It is definitely not the cheap, hollow sounding wall that drywall and paint gives you when you smack it. Our homes have character that traditional homes lack.
Our houses are remembered for WHAT they are… not just where they are.
FAQs
What are the advantages of using straw bales?
““Green building” is an ecological way of building by using an annually renewable product. This creates affordability when designed right. The insulation and sound suppression (ie: wind, traffic) provides a peaceful and quiet atmosphere. The aesthetics and massive solid sensation are noticed with the curved, deep and plastered window sills similar to Old World living. Bale buildings have a proven history that dates back to the early 1900’s. The National Research Council of Canada tested plastered straw bale walls and showed they withstood temperatures of up to 1,800* F for two hours before a crack appeared in the 1 ½” thick plaster. That equates to almost three times more fire resistance than an average house!
What about the Big Bad Wolf and the Three Little Pigs?
I know what our staff and our eager crew would say to that Big Bad Wolf… “Bring it!” These building kits are built to last. They will meet or exceed all local and state building codes and regulations. These buildings are sealed from the floor to the ceiling with a thick coat of plaster over the straw, which also keeps rodents and insects outside where they belong.
Are floor plans available?
What is nice about this system is that you can create your own ideas and/or use any type of floor plan to meet your personal needs, or get help from your local architect. The Colorado engineer we use can work with you on your floorplan ideas too.
What about electrical?
All wiring within or on bale walls shall meet all provisions of the local Electrical Code. The electrical raceways and installation of the electrical boxes in the wall system can be attached to the framing system, which can help make the boxes square and plumb to the base trim.
Is plumbing run inside straw bale walls?
No, as with conventional framing, running plumbing in exterior walls is not recommended. Water pipes set in exterior walls are at a much higher risk of freezing. Piping is run through interior walls or the floor to their required locations.
What kind of foundation is required?
The foundation can consist of a concrete slab, or continuous concrete stem wall with a crawl space, or a full basement with I-Joist and decking… depending on your site specifications just like a conventional home. The straw bale wall system will be secured and mounted to the wood floor decking and/or concrete.
The Wall Section Details are just one part of your blueprints which are one or two pages. This provides the straw bale drawings details for your draft person, so they don’t have to reinvent the wheel.
Can we build it? Frame and stack the straw ourselves?
Yes, you can the framing is just like conventional framing and with some guidance on how to apply the lath accessories and plaster it could be done.
Do you do remodels or repairs to existing older straw bale homes?
Yes, we have been helping clients who are selling or are buying older straw bale homes. Upgrading older and failing plaster systems with our durable stucco system does add value to the home. It is important to address the issues before it create more problems later.
What about local zoning codes for urban areas, or Home Owner? Associations that require certain covenants?
The buildings can meet the needs and expectations of the exterior look or color that maybe required. The exterior of the home can use any type of siding, hardy board, rock/stone, corrugated metal, barn wood, stucco etc… Talk to us about your specific needs and we can help you make it work!
What if we want different sized windows or doors than any of your examples?
We can make custom sizes bales or another type of insulation to fill an odd size void or cavity.
How do you keep the straw bales from getting wet?
It is all about prevention. Having the bales protected before they are placed into the walls and before they are plastered is paramount. By building a conventional house with a breathable house wrap. Once the roof is on then the bales can go in and get attached to framing system. This saves in labor costs so you don’t have to protect the bales from the bales from weather using tarps and tenting during the building process. Which also can be stressful worrying that the tarps may blow off a some point.
Where do you stay during the building process?
A small crew (2-3) can be local laborers or I can bring in sub contractor’s who may need to put up somewhere depending on the weather. I’m self contained and usual stay on site to tend to the slow curing plaster and keep an eye on the equipment and tools.
What is the lead-time how long does it take?
Shoot us a call or e-mail us for current lead times. Creating blueprints and getting reviwed by the your county may take 2-3 months before pouring concrete. Once we have a contract for our services you’ll be on our schedule. To stack the bales, install lath accessories and plaster usually takes three weeks. That’s depending on the size of the crew and the schedule of the electrician and other sub contractor’s
Do you supply the bales and plaster?
We will bring the lath accessories. The stucco and/or plaster we may bring or get locally or have it delivered to the jobsite. The straw we try and source locally. Otherwise we use a supplier out of Alamosa, Colorado who has quality bales and delivers thoughtout the country.
Breathable walls?
For the best results using the same material on both sides of the walls such as Natural Hydraulic Lime will let the walls breathe at the same rate. Straw bales provide an air space cavity that creates airflow through the walls allowing them to breathe. Walls may breathe through the top plate that is covered with Tyvek, a water resistant and breathable material, into the attic space and out the roof vents and soffit vents. Exterior Stucco is considered to be a drainable cladding, and is vapor permeable and breathable, with a rating as high as 30 to 60 perms.
Building codes in certain areas of the country require that the interior walls be sealed with an air/vapor material. A sealer or wax can be used over a clay earthen and lime plaster material to help seal the walls. A primer can be used over the stucco base coats for the finish coat whether you choose a limestone or gypsum product.
What if my lender isn't familiar with strawbale homes?
If your lender is unfamiliar with sustainably built homes that use straw bales for insulation, you may have to help to educate them about their similarities to “conventional” homes. Strawbale homes are generally built on concrete foundations; are conventionally framed; and have superior cellulose insulation; exterior products like siding, stucco and rock; and have high end plaster interiors. We don’t want anyone to have an image of a 3 Little Pigs style house with a thatch roof and a dirt floor! These solid homes can easily be designed to fit in with the style of your neighborhood, and are built to last. Feel free to send them to our website for any questions they may have.
Will this house be too air tight?
The way our straw bale buildings are built and stuccoed makes them tight by nature. The best way to get some ventilation is by a mechanical form. Using an exhaust bathroom fan is a cost effective method to provide ventilation as they are quiet and highly efficient way to diffuse air to the outside. Our homes are supplied with a necessary form of ventilation. All stove or range hoods, bathroom fans and clothes dryers should be vented to the outside of the building. To provide fresh air into the home, “smart holes” are installed in exterior walls. Smart holes are devices that can be dampered to allow a metered amount of exterior air iinto the home. Opening a door or window for a few minutes is sufficient as well.
Feel free to CONTACT US with any additional questions you may have and we would be glad to get in touch with you as soon as possible.
Financing Your Project
If you are looking to finance your project, you should talk to a lender about a construction loan (and land financing as well, if needed). Lenders can determine how much money you qualify for. Once you figure out your budget, you can better determine the size, features and options in a home that you can afford.
