Does anyone have a strawbale house?

Raftercat5 · #1 08/14/06, 04:07 PM

I know strawbale homes are popular in the mid-west, but who here has one? My hubby and I are planning on building one in the future, after having done much research on them. We'll probably use the post and beam method rather than just stacked bales (Nebraska style) due to codes etc. If you reply saying you have a strawbale house, please list the state you live in.
- Kathy

momlaffsalot · #2 08/14/06, 04:28 PM

We just had a big discussion about this as we are going to build one soon in Kansas. I think if you look in the archives from a few weeks ago you'll find a lot of information. Good luck and keep us posted with your progress!

Corgitails · #3 08/14/06, 05:55 PM

There was an article about strawbale building in some major publication recently- one of my dad's business magazines- very interesting showing that the cost savings were minimal (energy savings vs building costs) compared to stick built because the level of precision needed for strawbale to last well was very high.

Cyngbaeld · #4 08/14/06, 08:51 PM

It may cost as much as conventional to build. But no conventional home feels like a strawbale house. When I built mine in Colorado, I could step thru the door and the house 'felt good', is the only way I can describe it. Even tho I never got to finish it because of the county building inspector, I want another.

primal1 · #5 08/14/06, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyngbaeld

It may cost as much as conventional to build. But no conventional home feels like a strawbale house. When I built mine in Colorado, I could step thru the door and the house 'felt good', is the only way I can describe it. Even tho I never got to finish it because of the county building inspector, I want another.

Wow, sorry thats sad! Can you give us some details why, building codes you couldn't work around or what?
I've been talking to a local barn builder who also teaches, he's keen to help me and can see many ways to save money and so far he likes my basic plans.

Jillis · #6 08/14/06, 10:18 PM

I have friends who built their own straw bale home---it is like walking into a storybook cottage. They used post and beam construction. The walls are like big white pillows with recessed windows---lots of room for plants. They also are woodcarvers, so all the doors and cabinets have beautiful carvings andf trim on them...sometime after they built the house they added a second story that is NOT straw bale, but very lovely, with lots of windows...they also built a root cellar that is a hill of dirt with the root cellar in it with a doorway going in...just lovely!

This is in Northen VT.

Cat · #7 08/14/06, 11:36 PM

The Domincan's farm in Great Bend Kansas has a straw bale building where they do ceramics and spin the wool from their Alpacas. If'n I didn't need to work I think I'd go stay there a spell...

All I know about the building is that it has heat in the floor via water lines...and it's incredibly sound-proof (can't hear the howling wind outside) and as Cyngbaeld stated it's really much more comfortable in there. http://www.ksdom.org/Heartland%20Farm.html

On this webpage the straw bale building is in the second row of photos, the far right photo, to the left of the silo.