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Anonymous
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# Posted: 23 Jan 2011 01:10am
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Hi, I'm another person trying to make the best use of the "no-permit" structure (10sq.m). I'm planning to build a straw bale home over the next couple of years but first, I want to make a shed/bunkie. This shed will serve several purposes; 1: temporary shelter while building main house, 2: give me a chance to experiment with various techniques (straw walls and earthen plasters/floors, other basic building skills), 3: studio or guest room in the future. In order to experiment, I want to make one wall straw bale (won't do more than one wall or else there won't be any living space left!), and the reamining three will be framed walls. So if the structure is 9x12, then I would use one of the 9 ft walls for the bales. Now to my questions: what is the best way to attach the two wall systems (framed to baled)? The 9 foot span will have posts at the two corners but will be load-bearing with a window- any suggestions on how best to accomplish this? If I stack the bales on edge (as opposed to flat), how should I tie them/connect them to the corner posts? Any advice or suggestions are appreciated. Thanks.
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Moontreeranch
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# Posted: 31 Jan 2011 10:22pm
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I read through number of straw bale books before we started our stick built cabin. Straw bale homes fall into two basic groups: load bearing and infill. Many jurisdictions do not allow load bearing straw bale structures at all. What you are suggesting is a mixture of both.
Both types of straw bales use lath or chicken wire to tie the bales into the window and door bucks, you could simply wrap the lath to your corner posts. the wood is covered with tar paper to keep excess moisture from the plasters affecting the integrity of the wood.
For load bearing walls a Box beam is normally run along the tops of the bales. then the roof element are set on that.
is your code limit "inside" dimensions or "outside" some areas differ.
I have about 1/2 dozen strawbale books...I paid about 200 for all of these new I'm willing to sell them at 50% list.
drop me a note if you interested. we are going use a hybrid "earthship/ rastra block construction for our larger building.
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mazeball
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# Posted: 12 Feb 2011 11:07pm
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Thanks for the reply, Moontreeranch.
I, too, have several books on strawbale and other alternative building methods (earth, cordwood), so I won't be needing any more just yet. There are also some local companies that specialize in strawbale and I'll probably hire them to help on the main building.
Your suggestions for tying the bales to the frame seem to be straightforward enough. I guess I'll just play around with it and see what works best (that's one of the reasons to try it out on a small cabin).
Unfortunatley, the code dimensions are for the outside- that's why I will only be doing the one wall on the cabin but the main house will be all strawbale (post and beam).
Thanks again. Have fun with your earthship!
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fthurber
Member
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# Posted: 19 Feb 2011 09:29am
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Sounds like great insulation but how about the mice issue? In my area it would turn into a Super-Delux Mouse Hotel
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mazeball
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# Posted: 20 Feb 2011 12:37am
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From the material that I've read and the folks I've spoke with, if the bales are plastered/sealed properly, pests of any sort should not pose a problem. That question, along with questions about water/mold and fire resistance, is one of the most common concerns about building with bales but after doing a minimal amount of research one is able to see that these problems can be handled without much difficulty.
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