Prefabricated Straw Bale Wall Panels

[@BuildersforClimateAction]

Here is our book on Pre-fab strawbale construction! newsociety.ca/books/e/essential-prefab-straw-bale-construction?aff=35

[@sfgreensource347]

Cool beans!

[@michelerenae9998]

I've always heard these type of walls should breathe, doesn't adding siding inhibit that?

[@BuildersforClimateAction]

Yes, these walls are vapour permeable. If you are putting siding on the walls you need to build out a rainscreen. This allows for any vapour migration to still pass though.

[@BuildersforClimateAction]

Essential Building Science by Jacob Deva Racusion would be a good book to dive into if you want to understand more. newsociety.ca/books/e/essential-building-science?aff=35

[@marcuspercy5509]

what about compressing the bales?

[@BuildersforClimateAction]

We just fit them in very tightly and that has worked for us. If I was setting up a production facility then I would look at developing some compression systems :)

[@czg2012]

what is the final weight of each bale panel?

[@rxonmymind8362]

There's 2 per row with approximately 10 in each row with extra 5 quarter they use to tighten it up. Each bales of straw weight approximately 75 lbs which brings us to 825 lbs. Then you have 1" plaster and the box itself. Easily 1200+lbs for each section. This is using BROAD back of the napkin calculations.