straw-bale construction

[velveeta]

Hello smarties!

DH and I will be moving to Chapel Hill, North Carolina late this spring. We were thinking of buying an already-built house, but then were inspired (by the recent Mothering article) to go for building a house out of alternative, non-toxic materials, even if we have to live in an apartment for a while.

Some questions I have:

-Where are some good research places to find out more info?
-Is this only for the very wealthy? (We want only a small house, built on acreage)
-Is it hard to find a builder?

I welcome any and all info that you might have!

Thanks!

Jean

[amymarie]

I used to work at a bookstore and loved looking at the many books on straw bale houses,even how to build your own. If I were you I would try searching on-line under straw bale houses.

[KristiMom]

Strawbale (I have heard) is a less expensive way of making a home. In the long run it is FAR better on utility expenses. But watch out, the building codes in your area might not allow them. They do not allow them in Boulder County (Colorado) and I believe it is out of ignorance of the whole process. We paln to build a strawbale home one day!

[chumani]

The Straw Bale House by Athena Swentzell Steen is the most comprehensive book on straw bale we have seen. My dh has built several straw bale structures, his own workshop here in UT, a guest house on a ranch in ID, and my parents home here in UT. He will be getting his contractors license soon. He wants to build strawbale full time. He was able to educate our local building inspectors making it much easier for my parents home and other straw bale structures in our county to be approved. My dh prefers load bearing, his workshop and the guest house he built were both load bearing, my parents home is post and beam. Straw bale is so beautiful as well as practical.

The cost of straw bale depends on your plans. Dh shop cost $2 per sq/ft whereas the guest house cost $25 per sq/ft.

For more info www.strawhomes.com is a good place to start. Do a search on yahoo or google for tons of info as well.


Best Wishes!
Sarah

[RasJane]

If you are looking into more than just straw bale, or even if you are just looking at straw bale, go to www. chelseagreen.com. They publish the Real Goods Solar living books. I am currently reading The Natural House by Daniel D. Chiras. He covers a lot of eco building styles and tells where to get more info.
We are looking at building our own earth-friendly house now. It looks like we need to get an older house to start and build some equity first. Oh well. Keep us posted with what you decide to do and how it goes!

[michelle1k]

More straw bale q's!

Hi folks,

I have some more q's, if anyone has the time and / or inclination to answer them:

1) How do you educate your building inspectors about the benefits / suitability of straw bale? Can your architect do this?

2) We don't want to be owner / builders - we want someone to build it for us and straw bale builders in our area seem nonexistent - what now?

3) Is it possible to get a mortage for a strawbale home? We'll have to buy the land and get a mortage for the construction - ack!

TIA!

Warmly,
Michelle in NY - mom to ds (4) and dd (6 mo's)

[Cindi]

On http://www.thelaststraw.org I found a list of resources by state. I'd contact these folks with your questions.

Here's North Carolina for Jean:

NORTH CAROLINA

• K.C. Kurtz
Red Dirt Natural Builders
104 Hwy 54 W R-128
Carrboro NC 27510
ph 336-376-3107
<[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>
Specializing in creative, inspiring and healthy spaces utilizing a full palette of natural materials and techniques, including straw-clay, cob, rammed earth, earthen plasters, post-and-beam, bamboo and thatch.

John S. McCollough
Wa-Lo-Si Enterprises (a.k.a. Structural Straw)
PO Box 1131
Cherokee NC 28719
ph 828-497-2392, cell 828-508-5632
<[e-mail]>
Custom construction incorporating alternative building techniques and materials. Can locate any specified materials (routine to exotic). Assist as general contractor, project coordinator, technical expert, project and plan review. Assist in securing permits, code compliance.


Here's New York for Michelle:

NEW YORK

David Vail
Upstate Woodworking, Inc
100 Park Circle
Rochester NY 14623
ph 585-292-5697, fax [phone]
<[e-mail]>
Experienced builder providing project management and design execution for the owner-builder. Equipment for stucco application available for on-site work. Available for consulting, SB workshops, classes.

•••• Michael J. Geraghty
MG Architects
617 N Salina St
Syracuse NY 13208
ph 315-423-3707, fax [phone]
<[e-mail]>
Full architectural and planning services with interest in sustainable renewal systems. SB projects include a single-family residence. Experienced bio-intensive gardener.

[michelle1k]

Thanks, Cindi! I did see these two resources in NY, but felt a bit odd contacting them with such very basic questions. But maybe I will just swallow my nervousness and go ahead and email them anyway.

Warmly,
Michelle in NY