I've been thinking about the issues which stop strawbale becoming a mainstream building technique. As far as the consumer goes it seems that the main perceived concerns are about vermin, maintenance, damp penetration and appearance.
Re internal appearance, the bumpy finish of a lime plaster on straw is perhaps a turnoff to both consumers and developers.
Does anyone know of any projects which have used a loadbearing timber frame with strawbale using some sort of breathable alternative to plasterboard (wood/reed based) or perhaps even unfired clay bricks (more thermal mass?)?
That way it might be possible to build higher than 2 storeys and greatly reduce the concerns of house owners and developers.
(I should say that my research so far is only a couple of websites and back issues of BFF).
Jonny W
posted on 11-08-06
Does anyone know of a strawbale construction which uses a timber frame with solid board instead of plaster direct onto the straw?
Or I am missing something fundamental here??
Tony
posted on 11-08-06
The bumpy finish is something that only the very rich can afford nowdays. It won't be that long before everyone wants unflat ceilings and walls.
I think that it is the non permanent nature of straw bales that is off putting. The same could be said of modern timberframe though. I cannot see the point of having a frame and straw bales.
mark brinkley
posted on 11-08-06
I think you need to look at the issue from the other end of the telescope. A modern house is a complex matrix of dozens of different elements. You want them all to work together seamlessly and with a minimum of disruption. The walls, however they are built, are critical but are also one of the less expensive parts of the house. So why risk going out on a limb and trying something really different? What do you actually gain by building your walls with straw?
That's the essential reason that more people don't use materials like straw for permanent structures in our climate. The very fact that land and houses are so damned expensive makes it much more daunting for people to experiment. And until there are several thousand 30-yr-old houses built using straw bale, they will only ever appeal to the very brave.
Mike George
posted on 12-08-06
Mark <What do you actually gain by building your walls with straw?
Answer - no other insulation. A 250mm thick strawbale wall [k 0.1W/mK] will exceed current building regulations having a u-value of better than 0.35 W/m2K
You also lock up Carbon for potentially a very long time, instead of burning lots of it to produce other types of otherwise necessary insulation
There is huge scope for using strawbale in portal frame construction. I believe the University of West of England have done something like this for their new architectural studio.
Biff
posted on 12-08-06
> A modern house is a complex matrix of dozens of different elements.
But a green build doesn't have to be like that. To build a house that will last for centuries, have low embodied energy, low energy demand during use, easy to build, esay to maintain and look beautiful, you need an oak frame, straw bales, larch rafters, reed thatch, earth, sand, lime, a little glass, some plumbing and electrics and the time energy and enthusisam of a good bunch of friends.
