Оглавление
Peter Mack. More Straw Bale Building
This is a Book of Options and Thinking Tools
Helpful Resources
A Note to Experienced Builders and Straw Bale Enthusiasts
Bales Aren’t Just for Houses
Taking the First Step and Engaging Your Brain
Straw as a Building Material. Not a Building Newcomer
Straw in Block Form
Straw Bales: The Waste that Rocked the World
Efficiency Benefits
R-What?
No Gaps, No Leaks
Reduce Your Heating and Cooling Bills
Lower Construction Costs
Design Benefits
Beautiful, Adaptable Walls
Bales Suit Human Dimensions
Quiet and Comfortable
Environmental Benefits
What is Embodied Energy?
Environmental Benefits that Don’t Cost More ..
... and Just Might Be Better for You
Bales Aren’t Magic
If Bales Are So Good, Why Doesn’t Everybody Use Them?
Who Wouldn’t Want a Bale Home?
There’s No Money in Them There Straw Houses
Be a Pioneer
References
Books on Straw Bale Building
Videos
Websites and Discussion Groups
A Vast Palette of Materials
Cob
Adobe and Earth Brick
Rammed Earth
Rammed Earth Tires/Earthships
Earthbags
Cordwood Masonry/Stackwall
Light Clay-straw
Hempcrete
Papercrete and Fidobe
Baled Waste Materials
Traditional Building Materials
References
Speaking of Straw
Straw Is Not Hay!
“I’ll Grind Your Seeds to Make My Bread .…”
Tiny Trees in Fast-growing Forests
Get to Know Some Straw
About Bales. The Harvesting Process
How to Find Bales
Go Where the Farmers Are
Old Bales, New Bales, No Bales
Round Bales Don’t Work
Two-string versus Three-string Bales
The Three Bale Basics
Tightness
Dryness
Size
Other Factors to Consider. Before You Buy
What Price, Fair Bale?
Storing Your Mound of Straw
Purchase More than You Need
Handling Bales
How Straw Bale Walls Work
It’s a Sandwich, But Don’t Eat It
Fire
Why Don’t They Burn?
Don’t Ignore the Real Fire Hazard
Spontaneous Combustion
Moisture
Direct Wetting and Leakage
Vapor Migration through Walls
Why Not Just Wave the Moisture Good-bye?
Why Aren’t More Old Houses Molding and Rotting?
Direct Air Leaks
So What About Bale Walls?
Barriers. Why Build without a Vapor Barrier?
To Barrier
Build to Your Level of Comfort
Building Practices that Minimize Rainwater Penetration
Insects and Pests
What Are Pests Looking for?
Mortgages, Insurance, and Resale
It’s Not Impossible to Get $$
Research Lending Options
Insurance
Resale Values
Longevity
Eternally Answering Questions
References
All About Money. There is No Such Thing as Cheap
The Less Expensive House
How Can Bales Save Money?
The Buck Stops at the Top of Your Wall — Underneath It, Too!
How to Really Save Money
What You Spend Now versus What You’ll Spend Later
Over Budget Is the Norm
The Real Savings Are Long-term
The Final Word
References
Work Smart. Putting Thinking ahead of Building
Wrong Turns, Bad Decisions, and Mistaken Assumptions
The Three Big Questions. Why Build at All?
What Do I Really Want?
Mapping Your Movements
Keep Your Eyes Wide Open
This Is Not a Chore!
Don’t Forget Your Family
It’s Not a Matter of Life and Death!
Where to Build — City, Suburbs, Town, or Country?
City Sites
Suburban Sites
Town Sites
Country Sites
About Property. Find Property That Agrees with You
Look for the Microclimate
You Can Grow Your Site
Wherever You Build, Think about More Than Your House
Property Hunting Schemes
Don’t Design Too Early
References. Books
Some New Pieces for the Design Game. Passive Solar Design
Building Orientation and Shape
Window Placement and Shading
Occupant Needs and Movements
Building Size
Bungalow or Multi-story?
Rounds, Curves, and Creativity
Learning to Juggle
References
Load-bearing or Nebraska-style Walls
Bales as Structural Elements
Can Bales Really Support a Building?
Creating a “Stressed Skin Panel”
Precompression of Load-bearing Walls
Getting Rid of “Squish”
Leveling the Wall
Attaching Roof to Foundation
Precompression Techniques
Obstacles to Load-bearing Designs
Designing for Load-bearing Walls
You Don’t Have to Be Conventional!
Post and Beam Infill Systems
Post and Beam Variations. Timber frame
Mechanically connected post and beam
Modified Post and Beam
Standard Stick Framing
Truss Systems
Concrete
Metal Frames
The Bale/Frame Connection
Hybrid Systems
How to Choose: Load bearing, Post and Beam, or Hybrid?
Building Code Compliance
Cost
Environmental Impact
Building Size and Complexity
Knowledge and Experience
Esthetics
No Wrong Choices
Bales in Other Parts of Your Building
References
Books
Foundation Options. Get to Know Your Frost
Site Soil Conditions
Foundation Styles
Perimeter Wall Foundations
Concrete Stem Walls
Other Perimeter Wall Options
Pier Foundations
Shallow, Frost Protected Slab-on-Grade Foundations
Foundation Combinations
Foundation Considerations. Bale Specifics
Additions
Temporary Foundations
Choose Carefully
Roofing Options
Roof Designs
Wooden Roof Framing
Steel Roof Framing
Exterior Appearance and Interior Space
Porches
Overhangs and Bale Walls
Bale Specifics
Roof Sheathing
Metal Roofing
Cedar Shakes
Asphalt Shingles
Ceramic Tile
Slate Roofs
Thatch Roofs
Living Roofs
Roll Roofing
Professional Roof Design
Leave Your Roof Open to the Future
Interior Partition Options
Stud Walls
Straw Bales
Strawboard Panels
Cob
Woven Twigs
Bricks, Stone, and Concrete Block
Other Mortared Materials
Screen Dividers
Mix and Match
References
Heating and Cooling Options
“A Candle Oughta Keep That Place Warm ...”
Passive Solar Design
Heating Air versus Heating Mass
Different Ways to Store Radiant Heat. Radiant Floors
Radiators
Walls
Sources of Heat
Solar heat
Ground Source Heat Pumps
Fossil Fuel Appliances
Biodiesel
Wood-burning Devices
Masonry Heaters
Woodstoves
Outdoor Furnaces
Fireplaces
Don’t Squander Your Heat!
Heat Recovery Ventilators
Cooling
Water and Sewage Options. Water Sources
Municipal Service
Drilled Well
Dug Well
Lake, River, or Stream Collection
Rain Water Reservoirs
Water Pumping Options
Electric Pumps
Wind Pumps
Hand or Foot Pumps
Gas Pumps
Ram Pumps
Gravity Feed Systems
Sewage Options
Municipal Sewage Treatment
Septic Systems
Composting Toilets
Outhouses and Leaching Pits
Other Waste Alternatives
Electricity Options
Grid Power
Independent Power
No Electricity
References
Design versus Plans
Design Strategies
It’s Like Lego!
Disposable Drawings
Add Detail Gradually
Dimensions
The Building Code and Dimensions
Design for Efficiency
Don’t Strain to Be Original
From Design to Plans
Do-It-Yourself Plans
Purchasing Plans
Architects
Structural Engineers
Professional Draftsperson
Designer/Builder
Revising Your Plans
The Thrill of a “Paper House”
References
Bale Details. Foundation/Bale Junction
Bale Curbs
Width
Height
Insulation
Rebar Foundation Pins
Door and Window Bucks
Choice of Finish
Size of Opening
Plaster Finish
Moisture Control
Positioning in the Wall
Bale Heights
Roof Plates for Load-bearing Desigs
Precompression Details
Post and Beam Details
Roof Plates for Post and Beam Designs
Plaster Finishing Considerations
Ceiling and Floor Insulation
Asking Questions of Your Plans
Making Changes Can Make Problems
The Detail That Got Away
Have a Party
Resources
About Codes
What Is the Building Code?
Same Code, Different Interpretations
Get to Know Your Code
Dealing with Officials. Approaching Inspectors
Being Open and Friendly
The Straw Bale Precedent
The Architect and Engineer’s Stamp
Good Plans Are the Key to a Building Official’s Heart
Other Submission Documents
The Hassle Factor
Rejections and Appeals
Approval Can Take Time
A Note on Straw Bale and Codification
References. Appendix - The new California Code
DIY
Professional Advice and DIYers
Task Hiring
Estimates and Contracts
General Contractors. Owner as General Contractor
Hiring a General Contractor
Working with Professionals
Building Professionals and Snowflakes
Loose Ends, Deadlines, and Construction Madness
References
How Much for One of Them Straw Houses?
Hitting a Moving Target
It Always Costs More Than You Think
Preconstruction Costs
Other Hidden Costs
Materials
Labor Estimates
Labor Costs versus Tool and Equipment Costs
To Finish or Not to Finish
Know What You Can and Cannot Live Without
Budgeting Your Own Time
An Inexact Science
Studying Other Budgets
Budgets. The Soltan house
The Magwood Residence
The Hunter/Sokolowski Residence
Bargain-priced Materials
Scavenging
Salvage Yards
Garage Sales and Flea Markets
Classified Ads
Used Building Supplies Stores
Building Supply Yards
Lumber Mills
Specialty Shops
Farm Supply Stores
Look Around Before You Buy
There’s Always a Better Price
New versus Recycled Materials
Cost versus Quality
Tools
Shopping for Bales
Bale Building Supplies
Stucco Meshes
Staples
Precompression Materials
Bale Needles
Baling Twine
Line Trimmer
Clippers and Hay Knives
Plastering Supplies
Bale Beaters
Bale Tarps
Buying Responsibly
Sustainable Options
Allergies and Toxins
Local Economies
Your Project Is Underway
References
Foundations
Bale Foundation Details
Load-bearing Tie-down Points
Sealing Foundations
Brackets and Anchors
Curb rails or Toe-ups
Flashing
Vapor Barriers and Caulking
Plastering Considerations
Mesh Connection
Plaster Stops
Post and Beam Considerations. Reality Checks
Cross-bracing
Door and Window Bucks. Prebuilding Bucks
Labeling
Pre-installing
Top Plates. Load-bearing Top Plates
Post and Beam Top Plates
Tarps. Load-bearing tarping
Post and Beam Tarping
Don’t Rush the Job
Peanut Butter Problems
References
The Golden Principles of Bale Stacking
Stack the Bales in Running Bond
Start Each Course From the Corners and the Buck Frames
Don’t Overpack or Overstuff the Walls
Have a Cover-up Plan for the End of the Day or in Case of Rain
Be Aware of Fire Hazards
Take Your Time
Chris and Pete’s Highly Unpatented Bale Stacking Methodology: Condensed Version
And Now, in More Detail: Inspect Carpentry
Prepare Corner Guides
Mark and Place Door and Window Bucks
Inspect and Mark Electrical Boxes
Uncover and Distribute Bales
Retie Partial Bales
Ceremonial First Bale
Complete the First Course
Continue Stacking
Brace or Pin as Required
Complete Walls to Full Height
Place Top Plates and Compress (Load-bearing designs only)
Stuff All the Holes and Voids
Trim, Carve, and Straighten Walls
Flashing, Meshing, and Plaster Preparation
Stitching or Quilting
Cover up and Celebrate
Plaster. A Time-honored Finish
A Workout for the Mind and Body
What Is Plaster?
Four Basic Plasters. Not Straight Cement Plasters
Cement/Lime Plasters (Stucco)
Durability
Cost
Mixing and application
Code Compliance
Embodied Energy
Quality of Finish
Other Factors
About Lime Plasters
Durability
Cost and Availability
Mixing and Application
Code Compliance
Embodied Energy
Quality of Finish
Other Factors
Clay- or Earth-based Plasters
Durability
Cost and Availability
Mixing and Application
Code Compliance
Embodied Energy
Quality of Finish
Other Factors
Gypsum Plasters
Durability
Cost and Availability
Mixing and Application
Code Compliance
Embodied Energy
Quality of Finish
Other Factors
Combination Plasters
Check Your Local Area
Take Plastering Advice with a Grain of ... Grain?
The Plastering Process
First Coat/Scratch Coat
Brown Coat
Color Coat or Finish Coat
Wall Preparation
Preparing the Site
Plastering Equipment. Safety Equipment
Wheelbarrows
Shovels
Mortarboards
Trowels
Hawks
Sponges
Buckets
Cleanup Tools
Water Barrels
Water Storage Tank
Mix Formulas
Cement/Lime Plaster
Lime Plaster
Earth Plaster
Gypsum Plaster
What About Water?
Mixing
Hand Mixing
Machine Mixing
Measurement
Consistency
Preparing the Walls. Filling Holes in the Wall
Misting the Walls
Shading the Walls and Wind Protection
Misting
Plaster and Frost
Applying Plaster to the Walls. Hand Application of Plaster
Applying the Scratch Coat
Applying the Brown Coat
Caulking Joints and Cracks
Finish Coats
Excessive Cracking
Cleanup
Machine Application of Plaster
Fun with Plaster
Every Plastering Job Is Unique
Acrylic and Synthetic Stuccos: Never to Be Used on Bale Walls
Plaster Magic
Other Options for Surfacing Bale Walls
References
Lime Plasters
Gypsum Plasters
Clay Plasters
Lime Washes
Silicate Mineral Paints
Milk Paints
Alis
Waterproofing Cement
Latex or Oil-based Paints
Pigments and Tints
Texture
Fresco
Mosaic
Relief and Sculpture
Resources
We Should Have ..
We Shouldn’t Have ..
All About Work Parties. What Is a Work Party?
Good Work Party Tasks
Work Parties versus Workshops
Calling a Work Party
Timing
Have Everything Ready
Start Early
Instruction
Supervision
Tools
Food and Drink
Accommodation
Safety
Realistic Expectations
You Are the “Cruise Director”
Thank-Yous
Industrial and Commercial Buildings
Public Structures
Developing Nations
Yard and Garden Uses
Resources
Straw Bale as a Lifestyle
Conclusion
