How to Build a Straw Bale House
The story goes that the first Little Pig built his house out of straw, but the Big Bad Wolf huffed and puffed and blew his house down. While most constructors, contractors, and engineers would have the story of the Three Little Pigs in the back of their minds and create houses from wood or brick, many people now build houses out of straw bales. Here’s how you can plan and construct your own straw bale house.
Why Straw Bales?
Straw may not seem to be the most durable material to build a house with, but there are many advantages to using straw bales as building blocks for your home:
Cost. Straw bales are comparatively cheaper and more economical than bricks or wood. In some places where it’s difficult or expensive to transport conventional housing materials, straw bales may be a better alternative.
Speed to build. Compared to construction projects made with concrete, brick, and wood, straw bales are very easy to set up.
Environment. Straw bales do not cause much harm to the environment during gathering and manufacturing, which makes them ideal building materials for people concerned about the environment.
Construction
To construct a straw bale house, here are some important reminders:
Bales. Bales for construction may be made from straw stacks and haystacks, or may be bought from stores or shops that sell them. Bales are heavy, so you need some help from friends and some machinery to get them stacked for walls. To protect the bales, a coat of plaster is usually applied on the interior and exterior surfaces.
Foundation and frame. A strong foundation and frame system is needed to keep the bales in place, and to ensure that the structure stands strong against the elements. Most frames for straw bale houses are made of wood.
Bale walls and dividers. The key to building straw bale houses is to stack bales one over the other. The thickness of one bale is usually enough for insulation, and to build a foundation for the other straw bale to be stacked above it. Bales are usually arranged in a staggered vertical column like bricks would usually be arranged in, to maximize stability and strength.
The Big Bad Wolf may have been able to blow the house of the first Little Pig down, but thanks to advanced innovations in construction, your straw-bale house can last for years to come.