StrawBale.com: Introduction to Straw Bale Building
This is the video to watch if you are unsure what straw bale building and straw bale construction are all about. I cover the 7 reasons why you should be building with straw bale and show you some beautiful footage of the homes I have built. Enjoy!
Straw Bale Home Construction Instructional Video
Straw bale house conctruction is shown in this movie trailer for the “Building With Awareness” DVD video. Straw bale walls, thermal mass walls, earth plaster techniques, and passive solar design are all explained in this how-to DVD on building with natural materials.
Video Rating: 4 / 5
Buiding A Straw Bale Home
Buiding A Straw Bale Home
When I first met this guy who wanted to build a straw bale house, I thought it was a joke!
But Nick (that’s his name) looked at me all the more serious, he did not welcome warmly my repressed laugh!
“I mean it you know” he continued “They are very safe, soundproof and provide superior insulation!”
We were sitting on the terrasse cafe just above the Orgiva’s communal market,
basking in the newly arrived sun after a long uninterrupted period of rain and snow.
“Something new for me to learn then” I reckoned, and so I was invited to visit his property located in Bayacas the next day.
Nick and his daughter in Bayacas
Straw Bale Construction – what’s old is new again
Straw Bale Construction – what’s old is new again
The use of straw as a form of insulation has been around for centuries. But it is now coming back into vogue as a sustainable, green and reliable means of insulating homes and other buildings.
Straw bales are readily available and provide cost-effective building materials, especially in areas where grains are grown. While additional precautions are required to build a straw-insulated house in regions prone to rain or humidity, there are many benefits to this type of construction. With an average insulation factor of R-35 or higher, straw-bale homes are ideal for locations where the heating, or cooling, of the home is an important consideration for comfortable living. In fact, the thicker the straw bale, the higher the R-factor. This type of insulation could decrease heating costs in homes by up to 75 percent. The 18-inch thickness of bales also provides significant noise reduction.
Straw bales are relatively easy to work with. Basic saws and other hand tools can be used to cut and/or shape walls and window openings. These bales can be sculpted to provide unique shapes within the home, such as window seats, or coved ceilings.