Expert Advice on Straw Bale Construction

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Here is a straw bale home in Kanata, Ontario.
Here is a straw bale home in Kanata, Ontario.
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Here is a straw bale home in Steamboat Springs, Colo.
Here is a straw bale home in Steamboat Springs, Colo.
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Straw bale houses are cozy, attractive, affordable, energy efficient and can be designed in different architectural styles. Here is a straw bale home in Routt County, Colo.
Straw bale houses are cozy, attractive, affordable, energy efficient and can be designed in different architectural styles. Here is a straw bale home in Routt County, Colo.
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The traditional “truth” window reveals a straw bale, providing evidence of the home’s building material.
The traditional “truth” window reveals a straw bale, providing evidence of the home’s building material.
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In this straw bale home, a half-wall has been creatively placed to provide divisions of space without spoiling the room’s spaciousness.
In this straw bale home, a half-wall has been creatively placed to provide divisions of space without spoiling the room’s spaciousness.
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Thick, rounded straw bale walls provide ample space for wide window sills on which to grow plants or sit and enjoy the view. Log timbers in the ceiling act as floor joists for the second story of this home.
Thick, rounded straw bale walls provide ample space for wide window sills on which to grow plants or sit and enjoy the view. Log timbers in the ceiling act as floor joists for the second story of this home.
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Lines of this Ontario straw bale home echo the churches and schools of the area’s early settlers.
Lines of this Ontario straw bale home echo the churches and schools of the area’s early settlers.
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The walls of this unique passive solar home, located outside of Huntsville, Ontario, are made with straw bales, demonstrating one of the many ways bales can be incorporated into home design.
The walls of this unique passive solar home, located outside of Huntsville, Ontario, are made with straw bales, demonstrating one of the many ways bales can be incorporated into home design.
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“More Straw Bale Building” is a complete guide to building a straw bale home.
“More Straw Bale Building” is a complete guide to building a straw bale home.

Houses made from straw bales are attractive, affordable, energy efficient, environmentally friendly and can be designed to match the owners’ personal needs, aesthetics and budget. These homes are made by stacking rectangular bales of straw and covering them with a plaster shell. Straw bale walls are at least twice as energy efficient as those from conventional stick-frame construction and will save you money on heating and cooling bills. Such savings are among many reasons why straw bale construction is no longer a fringe idea, but one that has spread throughout North America and the rest of the world. Other attractions include its adaptability, hands-on building satisfaction and the cozy atmosphere created inside these homes.

With this recent surge in popularity, the collective knowledge built from the successes and mistakes in this grass-roots movement has helped the technique evolve — we now know much more about what works and what doesn’t. So before you decide if straw bales are right for your dream home, heres’ expert insight into common questions about fire resistance, moisture, pests, building costs, mortgages, insurance and resale value.

Fire Resistance

  • Published on Feb 1, 2006
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