Products

Thinking about building a new home? Whether it is because of an instinct within us or as a necessity to house our family, a new venture in life (like building a home!) can be exciting.

With so many decisions to make, it can also be very overwhelming. Wouldn’t it be nice to work with your local architect or engineer to help create your floorplan. Or you can also choose to use our recommended Colorado engineers to create your blueprints for around $2,500.

But now you have a new “Green” choice that has a superior R-45 insulation value. Strawbale homes are energy efficient, cozy and built with a renewable resource. We provide a Cross Straw Bale Section straw bale Wall Section Technical Detail for blueprints that has already been worked out, making it easier for the draft person to design straw bale home, whether it is a weekend retreat cabin or a million dollar trophy home.

The steel web truss construction is a good choice for large barns, huge outbuildings and commercial buildings that need a wide span. The framing system for the walls would be the same as a residential build.

Now you can have your beautiful exposed Post and Beam look combined with an organic straw bale wall!

• This straw bale wall system is ideal for Timber Frame or Log Post & Beam Contractors.
• Rather than using SIP Panels, log siding, or spray foam insulation in a stick built wall, you can give your clients a Green Building option.
• Once your timber or log post and beam frame is up, our SBC wall system can be installed the same way.
• Post & Beam framing system is anchored right to the framing system.
• Masking and caulking is a very important detail where the Plaster meets the timber done right makes for a straight clean edge.

– Quality, Hand Chosen Materials –

The exterior framed wall materials and trusses can be selected at your local lumber yard.  For easy assembly by any local framing Subcontractor and to reduce your construction costs for the need of a special framing crew to Erect a straw bale building. Noted in the drawings are the materials used in the straw bale wall system listed and based on your chosen design.

We do not provide all components or materials required to construct your home.

1. Sill Plate

Anchored to stem wall and the wall framing, bales and lath accessories are built off this. The material will come from your local lumber yard

2. Window and Door light framing

The light framing is flush to straw on the inside of the building.  Which is anchored to the toe plate and top plate.  The light framing is used to fasten the lath or sheetrock.  Depending on your choice of a round opening or square opening. Fasteners specified in the Blueprints are included. Window Bucks are prepped with moisture barriers, metal casing trim to bring the plaster to the window while leaving 1/4″ for expansion or you can choose to bring the plaster to a nice wood trim.

3. Top plate

The top plate is plumb with the toe plate and is used to attach the lath/stucco netting and casing bead. Also can be used to attach crown molding trim if needed.

– Sustainable Straw Bales –

4. Straw Bales

Bales can be locally sourced or we like to use quality bales from a supplier from Alamosa, Colorado and can be delivered throughout the country. Once the bales are delivered and put on pallets and kept dry and the roof is on. The bales get trimmed to a nice square and bought into the building and attached to the wall system.

5. Expanded Metal Trim and Lath Accessories for the Stucco System

All components as specified in the plans included, for code-conforming lath assemblies. If you choose to use our services we will bring them to the project.

6. Stucco/Plaster Base Coat System

1) St Astier Natural Hydraulic Lime (NHL) 3.5 is recommended for scratch and brown coats – or – 2) Stucco is Fiber Reinforced and is pre-blended Lime, portland, and proprietary additives designed for Scratch and Brown Base coats for stucco assemblies complying with ASTM C 926. The 80 lbs bags of Stucco  and/or 55 lbs bags of St Astier NHL can be delivered to the project (Water Provided by clients.)

7. Exterior Stucco/ Limestone Plaster Finish Coat

A Premium stucco or Ecomotor (Lime) finish color coat it is tried and true with a proven longevity and a well documented history. Stucco/Plaster allows for a variety of textures, and provides beauty, durability, and fire-resistance. Plaster/Stucco is considered to be a drainable cladding, and is vapor permeable and extremely breathable, with a rating of as high as 30 to 60 perms. Many choices of colors and textures to choose from. A sample panelwill be kept on site during the building process. (Jobsite mixing with potable water provided by buyer).

8. Interior Finish Coat

Hundreds of colors and textures to choose from, so this product may take a more detailed discussion and decision. A sample panel will be kept on site during the building process.  Local building codes may now require the interior walls to be vapor/air impermeable. Natural Lime, Limestone plasters (we love to use) may need a wax or type of sealer and same with an Earthen or Clay plaster. Stucco the base coats would get a sanded sealer and then a limestone or gypsum plaster can be applied. The plaster can be delivered or we usually bring it if our services are requested. Let us email you a more detailed list. Please CLICK HERE to fill out our contact form with your information and we will respond promptly.