Straw Bale Houses: Could You Build One?
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.
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.
So what are the benefits of living in a straw bale home?
1. Insulation: Because of its thick walls, a straw bale house will be slower to heat up in summer or cool off in the winter. This means energy savings, often considerable ones, every year…. a very nice bonus that the homeowners will probably gloat about to their friends!
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. 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.
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!