Advantages and Disadvantages of Strawbale Houses
Erecting straw bale walls is amazingly easy and quick… This,
and environmental
concerns (straw bales saves around 20% of the wood necessary to
the construction of conventional houses) has fueled popular
enthusiasm for strawbale home construction.
Environmental Pros of Strawbale homes
Environmentally, using straw bales contributes less to pollution
and global warming; and since straw bale houses use less lumber,
they also require fewer trees to be cut.
Straw bale homes may incorporate advanced and energy-efficient
design principles, namely passive solar ones. See
Advanced Houses
Other advantages
Straw bale walls allow a super
insulated house:
R-values 2-3 times higher than most conventional walls...
A well constructed straw bale home is also very resistant to
damage from fire.
Cons of Strawbale homes
Though strawbale construction techniques are simple and
relatively easy to put in practice, final costs of walls are
very similar to those of conventional homes (roughly, the cost
of the walls accounts for 15% of the total cost of a house).
Strawbale home application is easy, but since walls are thicker
and they require a larger top plate and larger foundations,
there is often a slightly higher construction costs at this
level.
Besides, there is also the cost of sealing/plastering both sides
of the walls – a crucial element to prevent the straw riot –
which
exceeds that of standard construction.
Humidity, rodents
and insects
Straw should be kept dry, both on the construction time and
after it. Without proper procedures, straw will eventually rot.
Strawbale walls should remain breathable, with good
anti-moisture barriers.
Another kind of potential perils are rodents and insects. The
barrier on the straw should resist animal infestation and
moisture.
Disadvantages at the level of energy
efficiency techniques
Since straw does not store heat well and straw bale walls are
super insulated, houses constructed with straw bales are
difficult to heat with passive solar techniques.
Local legal barriers
Local authorities, insurance companies and banks are
increasingly open to strawbale home construction. But it still
exists some barriers concerning local building code approvals,
mortgages, insurances and bank loans.
You should contact your city or county building code officials,
and your state energy office for information on local codes and
energy codes.
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