The real disadvantages and risks during the construction of straw houses

Building a home using straw bales may seem at first glance a crazy idea. And, by the way, for someone this is a serious limitation — the risk of being branded "black sheep" in the teeth many. But still it is not the only and main drawback and risk in the construction of straw houses.

The straw and extruded straw blocks there are three real "enemy" is increased vlajnost, fire and rodents. Let's call them faults, "obvious".

The disadvantages are obvious1. The risk of rotting in high humidityStraw with a moisture content of more than 20% begins to mold, rot, and break down the stems, so it is important to keep the straw dry the blocks before construction began, dry to lay them down and quickly patch up the plaster.

Thirty five million two hundred twenty two thousand six hundred ninety seven

 During construction. Straw wall is partly, therefore, covered with cellophane wrap from dozhdatsya it is possible to conclude that straw walls could not be left open. The choice of coating is also obtained limited to: cement-sand plaster clay-sand plaster gypsum plaster gypsum sheets, wood panels

The danger of mold exists for exposed and poorly made walls.

In areas with constant humid climate will need a quality vapor barrier on the interior surfaces of exterior walls. From heavy rains the house will protect the wide overhangs of the roof.

2. FireStucco extruded straw blocks have a high fire resistance, it has a very high degree of fire resistance. Properly protected straw wall of fire is superior to hardwood. But scattered across the site, the straw can easily cause a fire. Take particular care with the straw in the lofts, attics or near fireplaces.

In confirmation of the story of a woman whose house burned down during the construction phase.

"The house was built for permanent residence (fall 2005). Land bought with the finished basement floor. The frame is fastened to the Foundation by anchors 14х220. The blocks were tied with two simple twine, was not pressed on the conscience, because during laying was raspolozhilas very much... the Outer wall was closed by the DSP, and the interior stitched up by the Board with an interval. Burned down the house of straw, the Fire in the house made of straw during the construction phase, a Fire in a thatched house in the construction phase.

Sixty six million five hundred seventy six thousand one hundred ninety four



In the photo you can see to what stage he built a house, until it burned down (on the second floor managed to do the rough floor and interior walls). At this stage, the builders began to put on the 1st floor of stekloizola on the Foundation, warming up with a blowtorch (April 2006). Their words, on the second floor Windows were open. After some time, start to smoke under the upholstery and floors. Began to blow up, to fill in, but could not, the fire quickly spread and burned the whole house. There are many versions, but I think there's a craving hot air, and most importantly — violation of fire safety…»

Prevention:

  • no Smoking on site
  • quickly clean up scattered straw
  • to always have on hand a fire extinguisher
  • do not use open sources of fire, until the walls are plastered
  • use tightly pressovanie straw blocks
  • after stacking blocks to plaster them on the outside, and then inside the house before finishing.
3. Rodents"So it W mouse eat" is a very common statement about straw houses. Why is it so rasprostraneno? Because bats really can live in the straw in search of food and warmth. However, not at any straw, not quite in the straw:) Directly in the straw blocks the mice to settle uncomfortable — they are prickly, but in the spaces between the unit and, for example, gypsum plate.

By the way, rodents are not the only little pests that can help you to take away your home for the straws:) There are birds and insects, also can choose straw as their place to live.

Prevention: use for insulation, rye or rice straw (its the mouse and not eat it does not settle), to isolate all the possible ways to access the straw.

The few flaws mentioned, but really existing4. The design limitsWhen using the supporting frame of the restriction in design is small, but there are, and they concern primarily the number, location, width, and height of openings.

5. Thick wallThe width of the straw block makes the walls quite thick. One of the difficulties with walls of such thickness becomes the need to expand the base and increase the area of the roof. In homes with thinner walls creating the exact same useful interior space requires fewer resources.

Ninety nine million one hundred ninety thousand five hundred twenty three



The walls are made of straw. The thick straw walls provide good protection against frost, but increase the Foundation and the roof...

6. Few model projectsIn contrast to houses built by other technologies, there is a clear lack of typical schemes construction of straw bales. This means that the development of the project of construction of straw houses will probably have to order individually, and understand architects-designers-builders will have to search.

In some countries, still do not exist and building codes (in Belarus is regulated by building codes, in Russia and Ukraine also have like).

7. Time and moneyYou need to immediately have on hand a certain amount to settle "must-have tasks." Give a dialogue forum, which well illustrates this point.

— ...one thing: if I put a frame and I'm running out of money — I can live in it bare, but the straw house requires both external and internal finishes, and immediately.
— The cost of the floor finish to living in a house so small that does not deserve a separate discussion. If there was money on the frame, roof and Windows, then there are crumbs on the plastering.
Something tells me that it is not less than$ 5 per square will be released, and squares in the house a lot!
— Necessarily! Not less than 5! If you handle to apply and to walk and to poke a finger — this one is uneven, there podmate…

8. Time and money — 2Suitable straw we get closer to August, but if money is tight you can not get everything done before winter. And in winter, the outer wall plastering is impossible. Therefore, there is the prospect of wintering straw under the roof of an unfinished house or outbuildings on the site, and behind him — and risk number 1.

9. "Finger pointing»Due to the fact that the technology of building from straw bales is not very common, have a lot more and to closely monitor the progress of work in comparison with stroitelsvo of "traditional" materials to the builders didn't smoke, didn't work with the burner, and fertilizers near the straw was not (e.g., ammonium nitrate when in contact with sawdust or straw may catch fire), the kids with matches next to not appeared…

P. S. the Disadvantages of straw houses with a monocoque Carcassone you have heard that straw house you can build framed and frameless. Frankly speaking, I can hardly imagine process with this frame-less house, but people call flaws a straw construction with a monocoque frame, so we will note them just "for show". So this is an additional expense of time, money, manpower, materials on the establishment of bearing system when the blocks could hold the weight of the roof, as well as the need to create a Foundation carrying the weight of the units and concentrated loads from vertical posts. published  

P. S. And remember, only by changing their consumption — together we change the world! ©

Source: toloka.info/ecohause/realnye-nedostatki.html