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straw bale right on the dirt | (Read 2123 times) |
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paul wheaton
Administrator
Posts: 1343
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May 09, 2005, 07:52:18 AM |
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I wonder if it might be an okay idea to build a large roof area over a patch of land that has ground sloping away in all directions - and then stack straw bales well within the roof line, right on the dirt. In the end, you would have a wrap-around-porch-sort-of-thing going on. Maybe ten feet on all sides. That would keep 95% of the moisture off of the bales.
What would be the down side to this idea?
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bugzbetty
Posts: 3
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May 09, 2006, 03:52:44 PM |
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We built a straw bale doghouse directly on the ground with a roof covering. The only disadavantage was settling of the bales over time.
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permaculture.dave
Posts: 113
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June 13, 2007, 10:37:38 PM |
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I saw a great idea for dealing with straw bale construction for outbuildings in flood prone areas last time I was in California. It was a strawbale noise reduction wall near a main highway. Since flooding was a problem They just starting using the strawbales after laying a foundation made of gabions (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabion). This way flood water could just flow right under the wall leaving the strawbales high and dry. I saw this technique used at the Solar Living Center in Hopland.
At any rate, I would probably lift strawbales off the ground somehow as a matter of principle. Even on dry ground I suspect that moisture will wick up from time to time and your bales won't last quite as long...
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MJ Solaro
Administrator
Posts: 131
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March 11, 2008, 12:02:10 PM |
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BBC recently did a feature on a guy who built a strawbale house in the UK for 4,000 pounds. He did a simple stone foundation with a wood base laid across it.
Nice photo gallery here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7279502.stm
Here's how his money was spent in building the house:
£600 supplies for volunteers
£500 sarking
£400 floorboards
£400 pond liner
£300 straw
£200 plumbing
£150 reclaimed joists
£150 plywood
£150 equipment hire
£150 glass
£100 quicklime
£100 wiring
£100 tarpaulin
£100 paint/varnish
£100 batteries
£100 fixings
£100 miscellaneous
£100 fuel for power tools
£70 water pump
£50 water heater
£50 stove chimney
£30 cooker
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rachael hamblin
Posts: 129
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March 23, 2008, 01:56:40 PM |
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I believe you would also have greater problems with pests in your walls if you put the bales straight on the dirt. Critters tunneling in and borrowing your insulation/walls if it was load bearing to make nests would be a hard problem to address. It would probably be better to lay down some sort of footing.
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SueinWA
Posts: 313
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October 14, 2008, 12:18:06 PM |
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Termites love straw bales sitting right on the ground. On the other hand, after the building collapses and you turn the bales over, your chickens can have their favorite smorgasbord.
Sue
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