Читать книгу More Straw Bale Building - Peter Mack - Страница 78

Moisture is the enemy of all builders, regardless of which materials they are using. Wood, brick, and even stone walls will deteriorate when exposed consistently to moisture. Bales, like any other building material, must be kept as dry as possible throughout the life of the building.Wet straw molds and eventually decomposes, creating an unpleasant odor, potentially harmful spores, and possible structural failures. Dryness is important.

Many excellent building practices have been established over the years to help solve key moisture problems, and it is important to apply these practices to bale buildings. There are two kinds of moisture concerns for bale walls:

• direct wetting or leakage of liquid water into the wall

• vapor penetration and air leakage into the wall

Straw builders must be aware of both these concerns in order to take adequate protective precautions.