×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Straw Bale Construction

Straw Bale Construction

Straw Bale Construction

(OP)
I've come across an apartment building built with straw bale of straw block walls.  I was wondering if anybody had any information on the structural properties or other information on this building material.

Thanks,
Laura

RE: Straw Bale Construction

I was doing some research on this topic for a home remodel, but the project went away before I got too in depth.  A starting point I found is the following link.  I hope it helps you out.

http://www.greenhomebuilding.com%2Fowner_builder.htm

RE: Straw Bale Construction

I don't know about you, but I would avoid straw bale construction because of the inherent mold liability.

RE: Straw Bale Construction

Rodrnt infestation.

RE: Straw Bale Construction

Well built straw bales houses have neither mold nor rodent problems.  It is cellulose in a slightly different form than the blown in type typically used to insulate conventional houses.

Ken

RE: Straw Bale Construction

Where is this apartment buidling located and how old is it?

RE: Straw Bale Construction

As far as structural properties, I actually researched this for my grad-school thesis.   

As for the pests, mold, etc., if I remember correctly, they wash the straw in boric acid and then dry it; also, it's best in dry climates (New Mexcio, Arizona, etc) and with a breathable membrane, so that if it does saturate the water can escape during the hot, dry times.

RE: Straw Bale Construction

(OP)
Zo40
The apartment building is located in Windsor, Ontario, Canada (just south of Detroit). I'm not sure of the age.  

Thanks for your help.

Laura

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources