The BEST way to build a new home? Building a House with STRAW BALES : Start to Finish - Episode 1

Is building a new house with straw bales the best way to build a new home? Straw Bale Construction has been around for over a hundred years, and so few people are aware of its incredible potential. We hope to change that. Join us every Monday at 8 p.m. EST for our new series, "Building a House with Straw Bales: Start to Finish".
Heirloom Builders is a straw bale home builder in North Carolina.
What’s the difference between a Straw Bale Home and a Conventional Stick-Built Home?
What’s up, everybody! Welcome to our series on BUILDING A HOUSE with Straw Bales- Start to Finish. THIS is Heirloom Builders. And I’m Logan Parker. I’ve been building energy efficient homes and custom cabinetry for the last 16 years. And I absolutely LOVE geeking out on all the details that make a home not only look good, but also function really well.
Have you ever heard the story of the 3 Little Pigs??? The LAZY little pig built HIS house out of straw……….and that didn’t work out so well for him. The big bad wolf Huffed and Puffed and blew his house down. But the hard-working little pig took the time to build himself a BRICK house. And no matter how much that big bad wolf tried, he couldn’t blow down THAT little pig’s brick house. So why would anyone want to build their home with straw bales? a STRAW BALE HOME is built with 18” wide compressed straw bales, with 1” of plaster on both the inside and outside surfaces. It’s actually built more like the little pig’s BRICK house. And yet with the dense straw bale core, it’s SUPER insulated and Cozy WARM inside.
Have you ever thought about building your own home? Built well enough to hold the heat in the winter and be comfortable in the hot summer months?
Most homes are built with 2x4 walls and fiberglass batt insulation. The main problem with this strategy is that you can only fit so much insulation in a skinny little wall. And if it’s not installed properly, it’s hardly effective at all. 30% of home energy loss comes from air leakage, and when you quickly stuff fiberglass batts into a 2x4 wall, like most contractors do, there’s tons of gaps and places for cold air to leak inside your home.
Building better homes that off-gas fewer VOC’s, consume less energy over their lifetime, and take less energy to build in the first place is a GREAT start.
There are a LOT of ways to build a better home. But None of them offer as much promise as straw bale building. I’ve been intrigued by building with straw bales ever since I learned that they could make a super-insulated wall system, look really beautiful, AND using natural materials could be a way to build a house for dirt cheap.
We’ve built all kinds of high performance conventional homes with insulation details that perform really well. I love geeking out on how to build things better. We built an air-tight home to the rigorous Passivhuas requirement of less than 0.5 ACH. We even built the first panelized HEMPCRETE home in North America.
And yet Nothing excites me more, than building with straw bales. In fact, I built my own house with straw bales. I can attest to the strength, the thermal mass, and the amazing insulation value that keeps me cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Straw bales are basically rectangular BRICKS OF INSULATION that you can stack to make a wall and literally just smear them with mud to create a superior wall system. Think about it, these are about the closest thing to legos that you can use to build your home, except even better. Like LEGO’s, straw bales are lightweight and easy to move. Yet they are BIG, so stacking a whole house can easily be done in a single weekend with help from a few friends.
Stack the bales like bricks in a running bond where they overlap on each successive course. We use a chainsaw to notch out space in the bale for the framing - so it’s all flush on the outside. Then all we gotta do is apply an earthen clay or lime plaster for BOTH the interior and exterior surfaces. We smear it directly on the bales to seal them up and protect from rain, pests and fire.
One of the most promising things about straw bale construction is that straw bales are readily available all over the planet.
I feel like every week I see a new type of “ingenious” 3D printed technology or lego style house building kit that's hoping to replace conventional building with ease and labor savings. But here’s the thing:
We don’t have to reinvent the wheel here folks. Straw bales are a waste product that can be repurposed into something really practical. They are imperfect, yes. Do they require manual labor? Definitely! But in the age of sky-high lumber prices and robots replacing our jobs, we NEED manual labor opportunities AND simple ways for everyday folks living on Basic Income to build a decent home with their own two hands.
#house
#strawbaleconstruction
#stepbystep
SOURCE: www.epa.gov/sites/production/...

[@richardhoner7842]

I built a straw bale house 15 years ago. It still functions as it should and has required almost no maintenance. My building method was similar to this video presentation. I covered the bales inside and outside with chicken wire and laced the two sides together through the bales with wire. I coated the outside with a cement/clay/sand mixture and then a final coat of a lime plaster mixed with white play sand. The inside got a plaster/clay/sand mix.

[@j-ch8787]

On the first coat inside and outside yu could have add straw too in the mix. As for floor thick "cement"... It contributes to stabilisation of the coats or flour. Avoids cracks... Same as outside modern cement coat with a film of polyester armed recovered by cement. In germany they also do it on old wood floor in bad condition to stabilise it before renovation : they hang the film on 4 sides in the walls up on 15 /20 cm. Then yu won t have any cracks... Straw mixed in the coat and integrated in the structure of yur coat will play same use.

[@tiffanyclark-grove1989]

Super cool

[@richardhoner7842]

@@j-ch8787 You don't straw in the final outer coating because it wicks moisture.

[@j-ch8787]

@@richardhoner7842 Yes... I agree. But if yur "hat"(roof) is wide enough and yur not living in a very damp / wet area... (as in my case : I am living in Normandy where it rains usually everyday and sometimes very hardly... Plus it s close to sea so outside is always wet. That s why we have good grass and cows...milk cheese butter it s the french region of those products)... Well... It s not so important. It can dry and avoid moisture process normally. But yu can put lavander straw too instead of corn straw (in Provence south france I saw some who did that it s ok and smell nice) . It s just to give structure in the coat no more. Question of proportions... And good finition on the last coat yu must "press" yur tool correctly at the end sothat there s no litlle cracks or lacks in yur coat application process.

[@j-ch8787]

@@tiffanyclark-grove1989 If yur in search of a tech of building... Think very seriously to straw bales inside wood thin structure. It s the most efficient isolation system far above any... Any other one even modern materials. No comparison possible. BUT! Don t forget to built inside enough inertial walls. Sothat yu ll be able to accumulate frigories. - with iranian towers on yur roof or canadian long pipes under ground - during summer to refresh yur home and calories during winter in order to accumulate the benefit of - for example. - a massive stove. Straw is really cheap... Performative... Easy to do... Just make a visit during the building of such a house. But it needs lot of free hands even little one such as kiddos ! They love mud and clay yu know... And building a house where they will live is an experience that will drive them on extraordinary confident view of themselves.

[@jessicadefilippo4887]

My late husband and I built with strawbales in 1998. It was the best home I ever lived in.

[@HeirloomBuilders]

Did you sell it? What was that process like? I always tell people that it’s hard to finance a straw bale home because there are no sales data / comps to appraise the value (people love them so much that they rarely ever sell them)

[@banjodubghall84]

I live in a straw bale home. Cob inside and out. It is like air conditioning in summer and stays up to 80 in 0 degree winter. 3 stories high. When woodstove goes 24 7 it stays 75 to 80 no problem. Such an efficient home. Very very efficient.

[@HeirloomBuilders]

Thanks for your story.

[@Notturnoir]

Tell us more about summer! What region are u in?

[@banjodubghall84]

@Notturnoir north east Washington state 80 miles from Canada up in the corner of Washington 60 miles from Idaho pan handle. Summer anymore is like what's it gonna be this year. No longer is the weather consistent but maybe it never was. But I feel like the building is so thick from straw bales and then the hard clay cob outside and inside just holds cool air inside in summer and holds warm air in in winter. But usually the summers here are easily up to 90s an higher more recently. I am in basically the mid mountain range maybe just above foothill level so there is cooler air with the forest surrounding home. It's such an airtight structure that any slight Crack on doorway or windows and the crisp winter air just darts in . But it also creates a heck of a neat air system up on the second an their story when the bottom level has a door open and then upstairs has a door open the heat if I stand in the doorway just blows out like a fan is pushing it out its good for freshening the house in winter after using a wood stove 24 7. That and the wood stove draws like crazy if a window is cracked just pulls in the cold air but draws it into the stove makes a good running wood stove

[@Notturnoir]

@@banjodubghall84thank you! This is my dream!

[@banjodubghall84]

@@Notturnoir where are you

[@mark-fd8ol]

Great video my wife and live in Canada. And we built a straw bale home. Our home is a pole building 50x100x18 And keeps us warm in our cold winters for the last 18 years. Our walls are 36 inches deep.

[@clearasmud1945]

I would love to see your house and the plans you used. What do you estimate the R value to be? What are your roofing materials?

[@christopherrice6553]

i hate you. but great job their. i want r 40

[@perkar49]

After living in one for 10 years, earth roof included, I will never live in a stick build again..our Sauna is also Straw Bale.

[@nikboa]

anyway to share how you built your sauna with straw bales?

[@raymondatwood5266]

Ignorance is bliss

[@cutie-44]

Great question

[@Notturnoir]

What region do you live?

[@anthonyjohn7042]

Please tell me how you built an earth roof

[@earthinspiredart7773]

Hempcrete blocks are also substituting strawbale. Such wonderful new methods of building.

[@carloko08]

here in Spain farmers of ancient times build their barns and homes with straw bales too, they use clay plaster to coat the outside and inside walls and in the ground they use fired brick or stone paver, the spaniard colones brought those construction methods to America when they discovered it and when they developed it, throughout America you can see old houses with these methods, and some have been going on for centuries, here in Spain there are still towns built of stone and straw bales that have been functional and inhabited for centuries so these ancient construction methods are a good option for those who want to use them to build their own houses or as a real job opportunity because they solve the problem of the COST of construction materials that are excessively high these days, a good builder as our friend of this video who know these methods and first class materials can make a very large mansion at half or less the cost of a house of the same size with current materials, so have no doubts, these construction methods are excellent, the centuries-old houses built with these methods attest to this, greetings 😉

[@hamadqatar5838]

We used almost the same material for our old traditional buildings before 60 years in the Arabian Gulf .. Thick walls made by local stones and mud paste mixed with straw the roofs semi flat wooden studs and straw mats covered by straw and mud slightly sloped to shed rain water

[@therotaryrocket]

Interesting that's great to hear about construction in that area of the world! My dad is from Iran and their family house was a 2 story adobe clay building with a courtyard and garden in the middle! I wonder if they used stones and straw? I need to ask more questions about how they built it..

[@danariddle6746]

I love the idea of the straw house. As a single mom, looking for options to save money, I find this very interesting.

[@Swnsasy]

I live in Florida, starting now and getting the material.. It's AMAZING how I'm getting for free the left over.. I'm building on my own!! You need help ect, let me know! Any questions just ANYTHING, ask!!

[@danariddle6746]

Thank you. I have done a little research, but not nearly enough. Some of the info makes me a little cautious and it may not be any cheaper after all. I would love to follow your build and see how it goes. Blessings on your home.

[@johnmark7968]

Wait until the big bad wold comes

[@zaderq1]

@@danariddle6746continue doing research, stare bales are expensive compared to just 6-7 years ago. They’re the waste product that you might think they are, hard to believe you’ll find them for free either.

[@tiffanyclark-grove1989]

I use straw bales to insulate my chicken coup. I once had a guy come into the landscape company I work for and ask to buy all our straw bales. He was building a straw bale house. Pretty great idea.

[@onecompass7290]

I built a straw bale in 2000. It's a total myth that it's cheaper. Please stop saying this. It is extremely labor intensive. Unless you have a lot of $$ and a big crew it will take years...mine took 6 years to complete 3 layers of plaster inside and out. It serves no one to oversimplify this way.. What's the cost of the post and beam frame? NOT cheap. The cost of bales has skyrocketed. And it's not as simple as stacking the bales. It's very important to stuff all the gaps or the risk of bale rot from moisture ab/ad/duction is high. An average bale home is more expensive for lots of reasons. They are beautiful, and eco friendly if you do it well. Doing it well is complex and takes a lot of dedication to learn and implement the correct procedures. The average person could never do this without expert help and a huge crew.

[@HeirloomBuilders]

You’re exactly right: a modern Strawbale home, built to code, with an engineered post and beam frame, modern lighting and plumbing, heating and air conditioning, hired out by professionals is gonna cost a lot more than an average new home. But the point (that I haven’t made yet in this video series) is that the basic nature of straw bale construction is dirt cheap if you’re willing to scavenge materials and put in all the labor sweat equity yourself. It is insanely labor intensive to build all the functions of a modern home into every home we build. We could save money by sharing communal infrastructure and each of us living in smaller homes. Or more people cohousing in larger buildings to spread out the cost.

[@Kazner0h]

@@HeirloomBuilders Well said! Of course it's going to be expensive to build a modern contemporary home, especially if it's only for like... one family. If we make homes with community in mind, the workload gets shared amongst all the people who would live there and whoever they have who would have been willing to help. This is a project that *could* be much cheaper than conventional methods. They're right about one thing though: Y'all make it look so easy, but us average folk don't even know how to begin to lay foundation, so we have quite a bit of studying to do.

[@HeirloomBuilders]

@@Kazner0h I hope To demystify the building process through our KZbin channel and help the average DIYer build a better home.

[@Kazner0h]

@@HeirloomBuilders Thank you!

[@williammartin9133]

In the uk straw is going to biomass to produce renewable energy, the farmers need an amount of it for their stock. Its no longer a waste product, it's expensive! On a positive note I have heard of some one, rebaling round bales through an old square baler, which is labour intensive but apparently can pack a bale more tightly! Any one I no, says it's extremely labour intensive, and all the other costs are there to meet modern building codes.

[@hayleydwyer6768]

This is a great video, thanks for sharing!!! I can’t wait to see more of these! I plan for our next home to be strawbale and cob! ☺️

[@erichpizer1]

i hope the USA market adopts more methods like this for building. its crazy how things are built currently .

[@Luna-jk9de]

This was my first introduction to strawbale housing and WOW... simply put, WOW... and what an awesome video and presentation. Thank you for this!

[@kaylavillalobos1779]

I’m so glad I found your channel! Dreaming up our straw bale house currently 🤗

[@ragman1954]

Great video! I think I want to build a pavilion roof, then come inside that with the straw bale, free-standing. Then there is room for a wrap-around porch. Also, the walls can be any shape that I choose. Building the roof first allows for a dry workspace.

[@zirenke]

OO thank you for encouraging me ! Few weeks ago I decided that next year when the earth loosens I am starting to build my own straw bale house ! so exited :DD

[@HeirloomBuilders]

Good for you! Go for it!!!

[@rickchumsae7974]

Our Santa Fe, NM home was adobe-style, 2,000sf, built with 2x6 exterior walls on concrete slab and a little extra batt fiberglass insulation, ie, not too much extra expense. The design was passive solar so we spent a little more on windows. The floors were all saltillo tile. Result? Pretty darn good! We installed in-floor forced hot water heating using LPG storage tank fuel and our heating bill for (over and above hot water and gas cooktop) never exceeded $25 a month and we had a baby so the heat was always on in the winter but it rarely actually turned on. So, strawbale is an attractive (looks and performance) way to go but do combine if possible with passive solar design for very small utility costs and better ecological results every day for decades. Thank you for your videos.

[@HeirloomBuilders]

Awesome! Thanks for the story of your house

[@KathrynLarsen]

Excellent video. Straw bale buildings are having a moment in Europe as the "next new thing" but few architects are aware that we've been doing it in the US for a hundred years. Lots of people are concerned about moisture and fire but with the plaster coatings and a nice roof overhang it's a wonderful solution.

[@HeirloomBuilders]

I agree! I’ve heard lots of concern about rodents, fire, and mold. But if built well, these problems are a non-issue. And actually are much more concerning in conventional homes! I talk about it more in FRAMING a STRAW BALE HOME kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmaZZpKcnb91h9k

[@99allthetime]

​@@HeirloomBuilders Don't forget the cure all for Rodents and Insects (Borax in the walls and Steel Wool along the cracks)

[@johnrinehart2012]

​@@HeirloomBuilderswhat makes you say its less concerning? Do you explain it in that video?

[@johnrinehart2012]

​@@HeirloomBuilderswhat about the pesticides used on the hay? Do you think the plaster would insulate that? I know you could probably find a source that didnt use any pesticides, but Im wondering if you considered this.

[@silencedogood9747]

In case of a fire I don't think it makes much difference. Most modern furniture is made of petroleum products and will become fast fuel for a fire anyway. I think a lot of people are probably not aware of that.

[@autumnjames4122]

Amazing! Just so excited to attempt my new ADU build. You’ve done a great job on the video- super informative! Thanks so much!

[@monicacruz4407]

As you say, there are plenty of companies designing panels made in factories for efficient house building, but the skills involved in building will be lost if all new homes are built like this. There must be jobs for builders, and economically viable options for self builders. Thank you for sharing.

[@HeirloomBuilders]

We are losing workers in the comstruction industry faster than ever before, even though it was an essential business and exempt from the COVID lockdowns. The irony is that the more machines have become involved in construction, the higher the cost has risen.

[@albertawheat6832]

@@HeirloomBuilders Slowly putting young men out of work, all of this automation is crippling us.

[@HeirloomBuilders]

@@albertawheat6832 yes it is. “The meek will inherit the earth.”

[@albertawheat6832]

@@HeirloomBuilders Good to see people like yourself doing things old school. Cheers.

[@j-ch8787]

Straw bales construction system is the best technic to build a house. Thermically there s no comparison with any other material. The only point yu must think about is that it has a default : lack of inertie. So yu must plan thick walls inside and a good air ventilation system. That s why personnaly I built a tirolian massive heater right in the middle of the house with 4 walls covered by nice decorative faïence (clay tiles) . Plus canadian pipes (4 x 20m long under soil in foundations (1,8m) ... 2 on north side and 2 on south one). In region with particularly long hot summers better add / combine with 2 iranian refreshing air towers on east and west sides of the building. Simole very old technic which provided since mesopotamian period refreshing and wet air during the night complementing the canadian pipes. With a mechanical double system of filtration it provides good confort of heating T` and air recycling. Must be calculated before construction and integrate to the project as soon as yu draw the shape and dimensions of the house. Crucial phasis... With study of costs. Never change material or size of rooms or anything after thermic study. Or yu ll get troubles after and... Deception.

[@HeirloomBuilders]

Here’s how we deal with preventing mold: FRAMING a STRAW BALE HOME kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmaZZpKcnb91h9k. Let me know what you think!

[@rykelo8]

This video gets me so pumped up to build a straw bale home! But then I realize my municipality will just laugh at me when I try for a building permit.

[@ohkboomer9088]

Just try You may be able to get it

[@5990babygraceblue]

I like how accessible it is to inexperienced home builders!

[@PatriciaJoy]

I think this is what I'm going to be doing for my house on my family land. We wanted a cabin but this is so cheap and the out comes look beautiful

[@freedomunderwesternskies1200]

We LOVE your channel!!!! We have less than 7 months to complete the tear down of the old 1840’s home place along with its companion barn, get them packed up and shipped out to Montana to begin the up-cycled♻️, off grid cabin build! We can’t thank you enough for all of the awesome ideas and fantastic content here on your Instagram page- we can’t wait to incorporate some of these ideas into our upcoming build! There is nothing more magical than building a new to us home to live in that was once lived in and loved by someone else so long ago! If those walls could talk! Thanks again for being such an amazing inspiration- April and Jeff

[@silasmentzer9639]

sounds like a cool project!

[@colinstace1758]

There is no perfect system for building a house, every system has drawbacks. For me, it's all in the design, keeping it simple is the number one key regarding labour and price.

[@717UT]

You nailed it bud. Nothing is perfect, just preferred under certain circumstances.

[@saidinjest]

If you want a perfect house, just move to some place that has perfect weather 100% of the time. haha.

[@colinstace1758]

@@saidinjest what has the weather got to do with being a perfect house ? I'm confused

[@mkshffr4936]

@@colinstace1758 The more perfect the weather the less protection the house needs to provide.

[@colinstace1758]

@@mkshffr4936 I disagree, if you build in the dessert you need different protection than if you build in Florida, both could be considered "perfect" weather 🙂👍🇦🇺

[@veronicalopez693]

So cool! I want a house made out of straw bale so it can be earth friendly and safe!

[@TheHonestCarpenter]

Amazing video, buddy! Very professional, very thorough. Undoubtedly the best on this topic to be found on the web. Looking forward to more! 🙂

[@HeirloomBuilders]

Thanks! I get much inspiration from your work, my friend.

[@kithkin01]

Hes not your buddy, guy!

[@kevbot918]

I can't agree more with this statement! I've spent countless hours researching and this video is leaps and bounds better than anything else available online.

[@3goop]

It's probably been said already. But straw bales aren't a waste product. The decaying straw add nutrients to the soil. Still fairly cheap, but As the price of fertilizer goes up so will the price of bales. Other than that great video been dreaming of a straw bale house for a while.

[@shannonelliott9230]

Awesome that you are sharing this. It is so needful today. I just hope it will work in my situation when the time comes, as I hope to further the testimony in a personal way.

[@theanswer5431]

Thank you SO much for this video!! I am a 20 year old college student who is very passionate about the environment (and the idea of being self-sustainable). Although I am a long ways away from being financially stable enough to buy land and build my own house, this video has inspired me/given me something to aim for. I had yet to decide between wanting to build a stone house, a dirt-filled bag house, or a straw house; this video has definitely pushed me closer to the straw house dream. Best of luck to you, your family, and your company. Keep inspiring people to be sustainable and environmentally aware. I will definitely try to copy the design you used for your house. I love the structural design/unique roof.

[@HeirloomBuilders]

I’m so glad this video has inspired you. I got sold on Strawbale houses in my early twenties and finally made the commitment at 30. I would do it all Over again.

[@adrianvictor45yt45]

@@HeirloomBuilders how much would a 24 ft × 40ft house cost here in California approximately I'm interested.

[@HeirloomBuilders]

@@adrianvictor45yt45 probably about $300K in California if you hire someone to build 100% of it. Much less if you build it yourself.

[@kclauren6052]

You can buy land pretty easily if you can be flexible on location!

[@andrews6254]

So stoked! looking forward to more of this!

[@LatinSlav]

in eastern europe most old houses in the country side were build with straws, mudbricks ,rammed earth, underground earhhomes , people usualy torn them down and use new materials; But after watching this kinds of videos i came to the realisation that if you want a toxic free, cheap and fast home , straw bales are the best way to go

[@pearlaudelo1366]

We are building a home and want this GENIUS idea mixed with the idea of an earthship off grid. Got the land !! Thank you I can't wait to watch the whole series ❤ and learn a few tricks!!

[@HeirloomBuilders]

Thanks! Here’s the next one:FRAMING a STRAW BALE HOME kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmaZZpKcnb91h9k

[@pearlaudelo1366]

@@HeirloomBuilders thank you. Do you sell blueprints by any chance?!

[@HeirloomBuilders]

@@pearlaudelo1366 we do! Please visit our website for floor plans: www.heirloombuilders.com/designs-for-sale

[@tswrench]

Great primer on the subject! SUBSCRIBED! One of the most impressive structures I've ever been in was a straw bale house with a professional recording studio comprising the first floor and a huge cathedral-like second story and loft, overlooking a gorgeous, bucolic valley with a large vineyard and ponds fed by a running stream. It was one of several dwellings situated on a $20,000,000+ estate, but I would've taken it over the main house.

[@HeirloomBuilders]

Wow! That sounds amazing. Thanks for subscribing!

[@johnjenkins2047]

Here’s a way to stop the thermal issue with the stick built home. 6inch walks made with 2x4s. Use a 2x6 sill and header and then stagger the 2x4s. Yes it is more expensive but it works well

[@sharonbullard3452]

My husband and I have been looking at different alternatives to having a home right now We’re in a manufactured home and we are planning on selling it eventually but we’d like the idea of the hay home. Even though I have a manufactured home we get draft in the windows which is not very good, so I really appreciate your video. It’s giving me something to think about and I want to try it.

[@guitareagle]

Great series Logan! I talked to you last year about building my own straw bale house and still planning on it. Would love to come help you all in order to learn about the process. I 'm only about an hour away. Thanks for all your info.

[@HeirloomBuilders]

Awesome. We’d love to have your help. Reach out me at [e-mail] so we can coordinate in the coming weeks.

[@mamarrachopunpun]

Hi there. Great stuff. We're all looking forward to seeing the second episode!

[@HeirloomBuilders]

Here’s the second episode: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppzVoKGXgsyifqc You may have to go to our channel to find the Strawbale House video series to watch them all. Also see our Instagram page for more up to date pics and vids @heirloombuildersinc

[@friscioni12]

The difference is straw bales have not been approved by government corporations! Therefore it’s not code and won’t pass inspection. We are prisoners to corporate bureaucracy and their greed!

[@leonarddauksza7011]

Straw bale construction is approved since 2015 IRC which is the basis for virtually every building code in USA.

[@Pnwelkhunter]

It is an approved building method in oregon

[@idakaczanowska7349]

This video is amazing. All details I needed in one place. I am looking forward to build my first small house with this method. Thank you very much sir

[@bhujangamusic]

Getting on the straw bale house train right now. Let's do this!

[@beholdcaesar]

LOL at inviting all my friends at a bale stacking party. I don't think anyone would show up. I bet rats, squirrels and other creatures also love the straw bales. All it takes is one 1/2" crack for the first mouse to get thru. It's truly an amazing system for providing lodging for thousands of mice during winter.

[@willm5814]

I’m an old mechanical engineer and software company owner - I love technology, but if I built another house (here in 🇨🇦) straw bale would be my choice!

[@j-ch8787]

Especially in very cold long winters country it s definitively the best technic. I built 3 in french alpes and it was really nice and easy... Cheap... And non specialists can make it alone IF (!) they are numerous (at a few steps of building) and precautious. There are books enough to show key points yu must respect and be carefull. Only trouble is lack of inertie of straw bales but yu can compensiate it by thick clay walls inside reliable with massive owen as they make it in Tirol. With stones...and decorative colored tiles. See above...former Comment.

[@willm5814]

@@j-ch8787 thanks for that insight!

[@j-ch8787]

@@willm5814 I have a diagram I found 25 years ago during my educational program of site building conductor in Elsass close boarder line with germany... Which convinced me (and should convince everyone!) of the efficiency of straw bales construction. This diagram is showing the coefficient of resistance of all the insolated materials we can find on the market. Modern one and... "traditional" such as straw. There is a cyrve exponential one from bottom to the highest point which... (lonely far above all!) the straw!!! I don t reember precisely the numbers but the straw is above 6,... And the others are on a same flat bottom between 0,8 or 0,9 for the less performative to 1,4 ...1,6 if my memorie is right for the best performers. So... As we are used to say it in france "There's no pics !" ... Just put straw as a construction technic... Full point. It s efficient for warm or cold countries. BUT ! Remember yu gotta have to make a huge job in the inner partition to compensate the lack of inertie. If yu don t do it yu gotta be disappointed without understanding "why it doesn t work"... That s why I gave the advices, : 1) ask a thermic ing to make a wide study before / during the phasis of "architecture design" (dimensions, aspect etc) ... 2) put a heavy mass stove right in the middle of the construction.... (calculate the needs compared to mass volume of the house and circulation of the air) 3) plan to cover the stove with ceramic colored and decorative tiles on walls and benches (in bathroom, a true pleasure same as a sauna !) from floor to ceiling... And walls as yur means allow yu to afford it (it s relatively costly...). And with a continuity from 1st floor to 2d... The ideal is a squared distribution as in Tirolian traditional "Hütte"... (reconverted today for tourists as a whole hotel in fact on 4 stages of 300m2 at least divided in 4 wide rooms of 60 to 80m2 (!) with staircase and mass stove in the middle). These "ceramic tiles covered walls" are perfect for heating.. But also for cooling during summer " they bith accumulate calories AND frigories. 4) then... Yu have to plan thick walls of stones or clay massives separative or distributive walls in order to accumulate wheteher heat or cool air. 5) my opinion and advice is to plan canadian pipes for 2 extremes seasons (summer and winter) during foundations works... With sand stones pipes 20m long. Then yu can add iranian towers (2) on roof in very hot region if necessary. And when the house is facing wind comung from sea as in my case in Normandy where I am just at the crossing of west and north winds... And for canadian pipes linked them with mechanical double flux system if necessary)( in special cases but not always necessary... Yu can make air circuilation by very simple natural handy system) Ps : in Tirol provinz austria they made a whole documentation 15 years ago and encourage this system with straw bales contruction. They studied a building of 11 floors in Innsbrück and sublit it to simulated earthquakes... Fires... Water fallings... Etc etc. NO PB at all... So they wrote a technical norm to encourage those kind of constructions in the province. A true success. In france... They didn t do such researches and it s a pity... Only off grid associations are giving advices or educational programs for profs. Our "environment ministry" is sleepy a little bit... Even when so called "green environmentalists". Usual bullshits...

[@willm5814]

@@j-ch8787 wow! Great information! Thanks for that detailed summary 🙏

[@JessicaJones33333]

Very nice! I look forward to more. I'm currently building my own strawbale house!

[@richardhoner7842]

What state? I am curious about adaptations for climate.

[@j-ch8787]

@@richardhoner7842 Yu can make it everywhere yu can find a farmer who is able to provide straw at the dimensions yu are in need. I did one in south east france (Alpilles... Between Avignon and nice region covered of wude water retentions areas called "Camargues" near Marseille)... The only pb is to ask an thermical ingenior to calculate circulation of air... And dimension of the whole project. And precaunisation concerning inertie... The only pb with straw construction. In this project facing mediterranean sea I sat 2 iranian air refreshing towers on the roof. With a 4 pipes canadian system. Thick walls of disttribution inside linked with a big massive owen in the center of the house. Was not traditional "provencal style" of construction but it was very good for summer insolation cose it will become very.. Very hot next decades in this region. But it s cheap and there is no maintenance. Just have to control everyday by handy simple manoeuvres the admission and circulation of air through the house. Put some water and change coal coat from time to time in jars of the iranian filters. Openings of canadian pipes. Put some wood in the owen in winter... (Not much!) and check the good functioning of double flux electrical system on this large house. (energy provides by solar pannels)

[@aleksandradzierzawska791]

Love this video! Hopefully it will be more and more popular way of building in Europe. It makes so much sense!

[@aphillips229]

Oddly enough I saw this on a Bob the Builder cartoon years ago when my kids were still little. I thought it was amazing then but seeing it in real life is even better.

[@reggiesmith5909]

This is great and I'm going to have to watch a video again to see if there is a thickness of the mud that you put on top of the straw bale. I will be retiring in three years and this is definitely something I would do to build my own house

[@HeirloomBuilders]

That’s great, Reggie! The plaster is about 3/4”-1” thick on each side

[@reggiesmith5909]

@@HeirloomBuilders and I'm also thinking that you can seal the dirt with something that is waterproof and Fireproof

[@thomassanchez6692]

This video riled me up!

[@DJ-uk5mm]

Thanks for sharing this detail about strawberry building is very comprehensive and you made a great job with your property and also an inspiration :-)

[@rhondareed3002]

I have a few questions. Does the humidity of the geographical area you live in effect mold growth on the straw? What about flammability? How long does a properly build straw built house last? Do most townships in the United States reject building plans for straw built homes? Does it meet building standards?

[@HeirloomBuilders]

Humidity definitely affects mold growth. You’ll want to make sure that you have plenty of drying potential (wind and sun exposure) if you live in a humid area. Straw bale homes don’t burn. They are 6 times less flammable than a conventional stick built home. Strawbale homes can last for hundreds of years given that they have a good roof and foundation that keeps them off the ground. Most towns and counties in the US will accept a Strawbale home if you have a structural engineer design the framing.

[@masterdaveedwards]

Thanks for breaking down the inefficiency of stick framed homes. I live in one in Canada. An sixty something year old home 2+4 framing, gotta burn a lot of wood to keep this old girl warm in the winter. Talk about inefficient. It is what it is, but I would love to build a straw bale house.

[@OwnerBuildersUnite]

Great video and love the roof! Lots of Strawbale homes out here in Crestone, CO... very dry!

[@HeirloomBuilders]

Thanks mate!

[@yolandacamargoaponte2658]

I prefer the super Abode technique !!! There is not risk of getting rot ...mud is mud and it will compacted to became a stone 😊😊

[@mayedancing]

Yes yes yes thank you for thisss! 😊🙏🏾

[@leewomack3498]

Back in 1994 I could have built a 3,000 sq ft straw bale home for $30,000!! That was just for the minimum, nothing fancy.......but had to have major surgery and that put an end to all my plans... 😢

[@jeffreygonzalez9797]

I think this is genius!

[@rhinou2]

We are fools if we don’t start conducting ourselves in symbiotic relationship with this earth and natural building is a game changer on so many levels. Great video thank you

[@HeirloomBuilders]

Thanks, Shawn! I agree completely

[@mashoutman]

Great video, packed full of information. I have to admit I knew next to nothing about this building technique prior to watching this video. I've always thought these structures would be prone to rodent infestation or mold, but as you described the process it seems less likely. I would be willing to join in on the straw bale stacking party just to learn a thing or two. 👍

[@HeirloomBuilders]

Nice! We'd love your help!

[@compassandradio6261]

I second this comment ☝️

[@Godsforever1]

I would go for house of strawbales for sure

[@liamingraham7660]

this is awesome. I defs want to build a straw bail house now.

[@roadflower336]

I am building a straw and cob house on a hillside in idaho. Been looking for something as basic and clear as this.... alternatives are being hidden it seems. Thank you! Keep it up! I'm going to stock your page for a while now....

[@HeirloomBuilders]

Best of luck on your build! I love Idaho.

[@kennethanway7979]

What's a cob house?

[@Rasminda_Alariat]

Thank you for this. This is the solution to our problem!

[@Garidoes1]

Thank you so much for making this video!

[@HeirloomBuilders]

Glad you like it!

[@crazycajunsunshine]

Thank you for the well thought out and put together video

[@seth.wright]

Thank you for sharing me and my family really appreciate it!

[@comfortablynumb9342]

Check out tire bales. Each one is about 60 tires compressed together. There's a version of an Earthship made of them. The 3 main walls were stacked in a day. That's another option that should be used more. I like the straw bale house idea too. A combo of tires and straw could be good too. I could see doing an Earthship style house with straw bale walls for the front wall around the windows.

[@juspete5527]

Nah tires put off stuff you dont wanna breath.

[@wickedmountainfilms585]

This is the most interesting building technique I've seen. Mind blown

[@HeirloomBuilders]

😁 it’s a very practical approach for the current times also

[@wickedmountainfilms585]

@@HeirloomBuilders lumber is sky high, absolutely wicked technique. I've seen compressed earth blocks, but never straw bale. Cool, thanks for sharing a video about it. Very interesting

[@HeirloomBuilders]

@@wickedmountainfilms585 you’re welcome. This should be a really fun and super informative series, start to finish. Thanks for watching!

[@nicodemusford2729]

Thank you so much for sharing this video! Can you speak more directly to the labor involved? As I complete my own 150 square foot strawbale studio, I became keenly aware of the intense labor that is involved at every step of the way. Thanks again!

[@HeirloomBuilders]

You are right, labor is much more intense than a conventional stick framed home. If you do it yourself, you can save money, but hiring out a full build with straw bales can get expensive.

[@Mike-ym6rl]

This is a labour intensive build! If the labour is free....sure it's cheap to build!

[@HeirloomBuilders]

That’s exactly right. It’s a DIY method for inexpensive high performance building

[@ryuzakilawlight]

I was wondering what to make my house out of and this is genius!!!

[@mikerilling2745]

I was building straw bale homes throughout central Texas in the late 80s and I can assure you it is not dirt cheap so quit telling people that it is

[@rhonnachurch6929]

I am totally intrigued im gonna come back and checking into this.

[@HeirloomBuilders]

Hi Rhonna! Just got the video posted about framing with some pretty fun tips. FRAMING a STRAW BALE HOME kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmaZZpKcnb91h9k Let me know what you think!

[@richardgreene9077]

I love strawbale homes, saw them in New Mexico in 1995.

[@jeffthepoet7]

Thank you for your video. I've looked at Rammed earth, Cob built, and now Straw bale built homes. What are the pros and cons of each like cost, durability, and practicality? Excited to build my own home.

[@jesselynn909]

Oh my God! I LOVE this! I am so stoked to have found you and this channel. Wow! I'm starting the build on my straw bale home this summer and I'm so grateful to have found this guidance. I'm truly inspired. Thank you so much

[@HeirloomBuilders]

Thanks, Jessica! It makes my day to hear that I’ve inspired you 🙂. This video I just released may also be helpful for you. Please stay in touch! FRAMING a STRAW BALE HOME kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmaZZpKcnb91h9k

[@jordierising4923]

Great video! I need four homes like this yours. Is there a video breaking down the costs for each step? I seen a storage container conversion cost breakdown video that was super helpful.

[@RileyDogBlack]

Debating rammed earth, compressed earth bricks, and straw bales as our building material in hot and humid Texas - 1 hour east of Dallas. That' means learning on the fly and more time in our off grid RV and self financing since ag banks aren't on board. Plus stray bales have been hyped so much for DIY and gardening hacks they cost almost as much as horse hay. The best I've found for a 40 pound bale is $8. There goes the dirt cheap.... I look forward to tracking with this series.

[@HeirloomBuilders]

Damn! You’re not kidding. I can get wheat straw for $3/bale here in NC.

[@lassiterbenjamin]

Thanks for the video :-) Can you talk about humidity or moisture issues with respect to strawbale construction in North Carolina? What about strawbale construction with timber framing? Is that possible and do you have any experience with that?

[@HeirloomBuilders]

Hey Ben! Humidity can be a problem if there’s not enough exposure to wind and sun for drying. But I know a straw bale builder that has several bale cottages in the middle of the woods that don’t seem to have any problems. Timber framing is a great way to build with bales. I haven’t done it, but I would probably build the bales separate the frame to keep it as exposed and beautiful as possible

[@DDL2728]

Whoop whoop!! Can't wait to watch the new video!! 💕

[@HeirloomBuilders]

Hope you like it!

[@DDL2728]

@@HeirloomBuilders oh deeah (as my grandson says), that was a lot of interesting information!! Great job!!

[@HeirloomBuilders]

@@DDL2728 🤣🙏

[@raycorsicana4705]

Just don't ever play with matches inside

[@mkshffr4936]

Interesting that this should appear in my feed. I have been interested in straw bale building ever since I heard of it decades ago. I hadn't heard anything in many years so I figured that either technical (things like rot) or regulatory issues had killed the idea. One question I have is longevity. Is this the kind of construction that can last for centuries like Cobb or does the straw deteriorate over time? I hope to move to NE TN in a few years to establish a retirement homestead so I may indeed be interested in having something built at that time.

[@HeirloomBuilders]

As long as the walls are protected from moisture, the Strawbale can last for hundreds of years

[@linavas2065]

OMG this video is amazing!! Thank you sooo much!!!

[@HeirloomBuilders]

Glad you enjoyed it! 😀

[@gabrielamunteanu8795]

You're awesome! Thank you!!!

[@RealEstateInsider247]

This is handy to know >> 4:46 "... fiberglass insulation, rigid foam insulation, and even rock-wool insulation are toxic to work with which means YOU NEED TO WEAR A RESPIRATOR to cut and install these materials *OR RUN THE RISK OF GETTING A LUNG DISEASE"*

[@HeirloomBuilders]

It’s for real. The fine print on these materials doesn’t serve as a strong enough warning about the real risks.

[@RealEstateInsider247]

@@HeirloomBuilders Decades ago, I used to install coaxial cable in older apartment buildings ... pulling the cable in the attics and dropping it to each unit. Many times I was crawling around in fiberglass insulation. I was young and pretty clueless. Terrible job. Thanks for the content.

[@nasimagdam2723]

this is even better than earthbag houses

[@jimlong527]

Excellent information, love the heat and cool idea. Thank you.

[@HeirloomBuilders]

@@jimlong527 glad you liked it!

[@cassityart7001]

Awesome. Like the people on your video we have been thinking about this type of building for 20 years. We live across the mountains from you and are considering purchasing raw land. Question: Do you offer different home designs? Our plan is to purchase land build a modest home, install a well and alternative energy. Then create infrastructure from there as we already grow and raise our own food now. This will be community friendly and support an on-site community center and amphitheater, food market and restaurant. The involvement to teach and learn practical skill is the key to independence and life style design for freedom to raise and grow family for a healthy future.

[@HeirloomBuilders]

Hi Cassity! That sounds amazing. Let’s make it happen. We have a few plans online at www.heirloombuilders.com/designs-for-sale The house from this build is available, but most of our homes have not been put up for sale yet. What are you looking for? Maybe we have something close to what you’re envisioning.

[@hamadqatar5838]

In Yemen I saw multi story house that was built only by mixture of tiny straws and mud. It was laid in layers about 4 inches in height and very thick in base then gradually getting thin. Then they wait tell the mud dries and add the next layer. Roofs and floors are wooden. This house located on hill side and considers an artistic non engineered piece built based on the talent of ordinary builders

[@ithinksustainable]

Thanks for sharing and looking after our planet!!!

[@flat-earther]

iThinkSustainable I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe.

[@GRFillinger]

Just found your channel through this video. I'm excited to see this video series. Quick question:. Have you ever researched Earth sheltered homes? I just picked up Mike Oehler's book about his experience. I'd be very interested to hear you're take, as it seems the goal of super insulating is the same, as are the natural materials, cost, etc.

[@HeirloomBuilders]

I can’t speak much about earth sheltered homes since I haven’t built one, but I can imagine if they are done right, they would really hold the heat and cool.

[@RemoteBuilder]

This is a great video, thanks for sharing!!!

[@goingaboutmyfathersbusines4359]

" Geeking out"..😆..I will have to remember that one..

[@leewomack3498]

The R value for a straw bale home is around 54..... Standard stick build is around 30!

[@rmar127]

Not to mention the carbon capture that occurs when using straw bale and a lime render

[@j-ch8787]

Carbon safe with straw is a gain for sure. But it avoids to use cement bricks which cost a lot to the planete. And... Recycling is another point for future. But the main point in my opinion is the comfort inside for years.. Simplicity of construction and... Costs.

[@wearenaturew.a.n6063]

Wow, keep up the good work 🙏❤️

[@HeirloomBuilders]

Thanks friend 🙂🙏

[@khandam7709]

wow I'm excited to watch the whole series. how much less expensive is straw home vs conventional timber home.

[@HeirloomBuilders]

Thanks for following along. I’m working on the framing video and hoping to get that released in the next week

[@HeirloomBuilders]

If you build it yourself, it can be half the cost of a conventional home.

[@benjaminmartin956]

Can straw bale homes be built using USDA first time buyer programs? My family is looking at land and we want to build something more energy efficient for the long run. I'm also interested in any programs, grants etc that could help my little frugal family develop this land into the self sufficient farm it once was. Great video! I absolutely love straw bale homes.

[@HeirloomBuilders]

Unfortunately banks are hesitant to loan on unconventional home construction projects since there are few comparable a to assess demand/value. But that doesn’t mean it’s not possible. Talk to your banker and find out what you need to do to make it worth their risk.

[@eduheloucomposer]

Thank you so much, super well described, I will be building my adobe house which is a easier way than straw building, here in Guarujá São Paulo Brasil, Just like my grand grand grand father builded their farms and still in perfect shape more than 200 hundreds years. It is very eco friendly, durable and low cost type of construction 💙🌎

[@serenityproducts5645]

where can I find series you mention to see step by step process of straw bale?