My husband and I are considering building a straw-bale home and I've been doing a lot of research on straw-bale homes and their construction, so I thought I might as well share my research with others interested in this sustainable and energy-efficient building material.

Why Straw-Bale Construction?

Straw is a sustainable resource - the US Department of Agriculture estimates that farmers in the United States alone harvest enough straw every year to build four million 2000 square foot homes - that is also extremely energy-efficient. The average straw-bale home is three times more energy efficient than a conventionally constructed home and can save up to 75% on heating and cooling bills. The thick walls of straw-bale construction also result in a very quiet home. Straw-bale construction is inexpensive and easy enough that many owners are able to build or help build their own homes.

Contrary to popular assumption, straw-bale homes are even more resistant to fire than traditional wood construction and are resistant to insect and pest infestations. The primary concern with straw-bale construction is mold. During construction, straw must be very carefully protected from getting wet in order to prevent problems with mold and rot. Once plastered over, however, the straw is protected and no more susceptible to mold than any other building material. There are straw-bale homes around the world that have stood for tens or hundreds of years.

There are two main types of strawbale construction: loadbearing and non-loadbearing.

In loadbearing strawbale construction, which is also known as Nebraska-style because it was originated in the 19th century by pioneers in the Nebraska Sandhills, the bales hold the weight. Although more traditional, this type of straw-bale construction is more unusual because it is harder to maintain structural integrity. In a poorly constructed loadbearing strawbale house, the straw might begin to compress over time, damaging the walls and roof.

Non-loadbearing construction is also known as post-and-beam, and is more similar to conventional building methods. A frame of wood or other materials is constructed and the bales are placed in the walls as filler.This is the easier and more common type of strawbale construction.

A thick layer of plaster is used to finish the walls of both types ofstrawbale house.

For more information on the basics of straw-bale construction, please visit these sites: