I’m new to this message board, and I thought I would share a photo of my closest friend’s strawbale house, which I helped work on a bit. He’s a roofer and tile guy, but this was the first house he had built on his own. The house, which is in rural Colorado, is a bit unfinished in this photo, hence some of the junk out front…. Just posting here for the heck of it.
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Love that roof.
Yeah. The plan is that steel will develop a rusty patina that will more or less match the house. Because the environment is so dry, he doesn't worry about the roof rusting through for a long, long time. And check out his "back yard"....
Nice house
Nicer back yard
roughly how big is the house?
From the looks on the backyard pics, you're at north end of San Luis Valley? Did your pal have any specific problems with his balehouse? I have often thought of doing one , I think it's a good system but I have no experience with it. I'd appreciate any feedback. Thanks, MAC-CO
You know, I almost edited my post because i thought it may have sounded sarcastic. I really do like it though.
Was it used to begin with or aged somehow?
Is this your first strawbale?
Impressive views.
It was the first strawbale that I had some (minor) hands-on experience with, although I have followed strawbale projects in Minnesota and Maryland with interest. I write about architecture for a living, and I have a particular interest in sustainable products/projects. --SC
I have been to the area and did roofing in W CO. The product is called Cor-ten and is not uncommon there. It is heavy ten gauge ( Part of the reason for the name) corrugaterd sheet metal, for those interested. I didn't really care much for it, myself, but it performs.
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Jeez,. too bad about that back yard, when do you think the contractor will remove those mounds out back? Whats behind them? If they are removed can you get a good view?
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I'm not sure what the square footage is. It includes a large living room, a dining room with great views of the "back yard," a large downstairs bath, a half bath up stairs, two bedrooms, and an office. Oh, and a fantastic kitchen. The interior is plaster (as with most strawbale), and the ceilings are rough-sawn boards. Travertine is in the bathroom. Floors are concrete with radiant heat embedded. Custom cabinetry, etc. Exterior is a mud plaster with manure in it, believe it or not. You're right -- it is in the San Luis valley, not far from the Dunes.I'm a big fan of strawbale, as is my friend. It's HUGELY popular in the community he lives in. Of course, it's very dry there, which is a great atmosphere for straw. I'd feel less confident building strawbale in Maryland, where I live, because it's so wet here -- the walls might rot. Although, there is a beautiful straw house here in Pasadena, Md -- the Furbish-Bathon house. (Punch that into Google to get a picture.)If you're considering straw, drop me a line. I can put you in touch with some of the guys out there who build this stuff regularly.
Here's a couple more photos -- one of the house from a different angle, and one of the San Luis Valley for those, like me, who are stuck behind a desk today.
the house looks great. I am a builder on Vancouver Island and have had no experience with straw bail. My friend wants to build a bail house out on pender island and i am getting a lot of questions about the general building proccess. Is there any particularly good sites or resources available on straw bail building.
Rain is a big factor here, is a four foot over hang enough to keep the water out or is the straw just not a good idea here. also wondering about the fountation requirements ie how much can the strawbails over hang the concrete walls below? thanks Angus
Generally, strawbale in rainy areas is not a good idea, but that has been debated. Strawbale purists point to a building in Mississippi that has stood for about 100 years, despite the hot, humid weather down there. I think studies have also been done on straw buildings in Oregon. You might be able to Google those terms.If it were my money, I might pick a different material for Vancouver. I think this building style developed in the Plains, where its relatively dry. For example, I hear good things about Aircrete (http://www.aircrete.co.uk/), although I'm not sure about the cost of that material.I'm no expert on strawbale building -- really, no expert on building in general -- but I can point you to people who know about this stuff. Here is the Strawbale Registry, where various projects around the country are posted. Usually you can use this to contact the owner/builder of a house to ask questions: http://sbregistry.greenbuilder.com/Here's a helpful page on strawbale, which has a link to buy "The Straw Bale House," a definitive book on the style: http://www.greenhomebuilding.com/strawbale.htmHere's a Canadian strawbale group: http://www.strawbalebuilding.ca/The Last Straw is the journal of strawbale building: http://www.thelaststraw.org/You might also contact Paul Koppana of Skyhawk Construction. He's an expert on strawbale. I think you can Google his name to get a number for him. S the R.
What brand and color is the stucco? Nice.
I'm not sure, to be honest. I know that it's mud, and it was made in part from the dirt around the house.