tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post6578283887409820808..comments2024-03-25T12:02:57.319-04:00Comments on Build Naturally...Blog: Three Strawbale No-No'sSigi Kokohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02416038446988725892noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-29903588694366874422019-08-13T13:45:31.633-04:002019-08-13T13:45:31.633-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Steve Franchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07364635463494695522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-83397340600287640662019-01-19T20:21:20.111-05:002019-01-19T20:21:20.111-05:00Thank you for the suggestion, I'd hadn't h...Thank you for the suggestion, I'd hadn't heard of them before. Unfortunately $4000-$5000 for the just the kit - quote from Temp Casts website -is far out of my budget, though I would definitely got one if it was. However I may look into getting monitor heater which worked well for a relative . Thank you again.Finding Magichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09089338222142360190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-67730993691829088442019-01-19T17:23:40.146-05:002019-01-19T17:23:40.146-05:00I love masonry heaters. My favorite is Temp Cast ...I love masonry heaters. My favorite is Temp Cast (made in Canada), because you purchase just the firebox kit and can face it with any mass that makes you happy (like cob or stone). They are more efficient than a rocket mass heater and can heat up to 1750 SF if the home is well insulated (like strawbales are) and if the heater is centrally located. I also like hot water radiant floors, and had one client that used an exterior wood boiler to heat the water for their floor. That works really well.Sigi Kokohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02416038446988725892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-86159666992567462392019-01-19T16:50:24.450-05:002019-01-19T16:50:24.450-05:00I really enjoy your posts I wondered do you have a...I really enjoy your posts I wondered do you have a preferable heating system for SBH; I'm in NH. I've seen mason heaters in large expensive SBH and adobe fireplaces out west in small homes. I haven't seen rocket mass heaters used in SBH. Do you have a preference? I'm thinking 1-2000 square foot simple SBH. I've read Serious Straw Bale as you suggested and definitely want to go natural/recycle for my building. Finding Magichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09089338222142360190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-15905001522803784682019-01-18T13:35:17.988-05:002019-01-18T13:35:17.988-05:00Here's a start: http://www.buildnaturally.com/...Here's a start: http://www.buildnaturally.com/PRojects/HIJY/PR-HIJY.htmSigi Kokohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02416038446988725892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-66961510413244435062019-01-18T13:34:40.616-05:002019-01-18T13:34:40.616-05:00I definitely have more info on it. As for a visit...I definitely have more info on it. As for a visit, I can ask them if they are open to it...but I try to respect the privacy of my clients so I don't just share their contact info without permission.Sigi Kokohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02416038446988725892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-69295286667110331672019-01-17T15:50:21.822-05:002019-01-17T15:50:21.822-05:00Hi Sigi, I'm in MetroWest Boston, so somewhat...Hi Sigi, I'm in MetroWest Boston, so somewhat in the same area as Keene. Do you have more info on the house in Keene? I'd love to visit, or ask them about how they went about getting your design built...Kaathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11991953409158275660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-81414508381332459382018-07-06T16:40:32.907-04:002018-07-06T16:40:32.907-04:00Thanks for the heads up on the broken link. It...Thanks for the heads up on the broken link. It's possible that book is out of print. I'll have to check on that.<br /><br />As for building in NH...I would stick to super insulating walls (like strawbales). I designed a home near Keene and they were super comfy all winter with very little energy use. The thing with earthships is that they were a design solution to a very particular problem, and when you transport that solution to a different place you can get unforseen negative results. There are eartships in cold climates, for example, that are uninhabitable due to mold (from condensation). And definitely definitely please do not bury tires around your home. They leach carcinogens into your soil. Best of luck with your home! :)Sigi Kokohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02416038446988725892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-60901512158409418092018-06-30T23:30:59.229-04:002018-06-30T23:30:59.229-04:00Thank you so much for explaining so sensibly about...Thank you so much for explaining so sensibly about the SB building. I just ordered "Serious Straw Bale Building" you suggested, FYI the other link doesn't seem to work, but will hunt it up when I finish the first one. <br /><br />I've been researching different building options even though I get a lot of "you can't do that here {I'm in Southern NH}!" I was excited about the earthship idea because of the rain harvesting and green house filtration and being off the grid, I hope I can do the same with a straw bales because I think I might manage SB over packing tires since I'll have to do most of it on my own and I;m in my 50s. I look forward to researching deeper. <br /><br />Thank you again.Finding Magichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09089338222142360190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-50642818429574540182017-12-31T11:09:27.440-05:002017-12-31T11:09:27.440-05:00Hi there,
I'm not an earthbag proponent, so I&...Hi there,<br />I'm not an earthbag proponent, so I'm reticent to weigh in on this detailing. Sorry...Sigi Kokohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02416038446988725892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-85467840561210729962017-12-30T17:20:24.826-05:002017-12-30T17:20:24.826-05:00Hello Sigi,
1. Thank you for existing and being a...Hello Sigi, <br />1. Thank you for existing and being a super helpful resource. <br />2. My partner and I are planning a rubble trench, earthbag stem wall (with gravel inside), strawbale home with clay plaster. My question about this post is: How do I make a barrier between the earthbags, toe up and strawbales? Should I put in a vapour barrier between the earthbags and the toe up OR do some clay-straw mixture? If clay-straw: what would that look like? <br /><br />Thank you!<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12501782815573078819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-16500128903225808632017-11-24T10:32:32.667-05:002017-11-24T10:32:32.667-05:00Yes, you told what I needed to know, I'm gonna...Yes, you told what I needed to know, I'm gonna be sure to make a base that gets the cob off the ground. Thanks again!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10610632098195479545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-11476475082727805572017-11-24T10:25:16.645-05:002017-11-24T10:25:16.645-05:00I'm still not sure I understand fully. But yo...I'm still not sure I understand fully. But you don't need to worry about the straw in cob, as long as you build a base that gets the cob off the ground. This ensures that the cob will dry out, and thus protect any straw in the clay mixture.Sigi Kokohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02416038446988725892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-76755190586380809972017-11-23T09:01:50.293-05:002017-11-23T09:01:50.293-05:00Sorry!I want to know about the moisture in the wal...Sorry!I want to know about the moisture in the walls made of cob, if a make a house with a stone base with 1 or 2 feet above the floor and make the cob walls i will have the same trouble in the case of strawbale? The moisture will comes from below and reach the straw in the cob mass or in this case this does`t happen?<br />Sorry my bad english. ;)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10610632098195479545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-18875298544082860802017-11-23T09:00:27.572-05:002017-11-23T09:00:27.572-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10610632098195479545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-73145013878113552612017-11-22T21:58:32.346-05:002017-11-22T21:58:32.346-05:00Hi Diego, I'm not sure I understand your quest...Hi Diego, I'm not sure I understand your question...but the short answer is that cob walls have slightly different rules than strawbale walls but you want to protect the base and the top of the walls from weather (especially rain)...alwaysSigi Kokohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02416038446988725892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-51874544710056682512017-11-22T19:54:51.240-05:002017-11-22T19:54:51.240-05:00Hi Sigi! My name is Diego, from Brasil. =)
I have ...Hi Sigi! My name is Diego, from Brasil. =)<br />I have a question to you, if I do a cob walls with a gravel base i will have the same trouble in the case of strawbale? <br />Vey nice to meet u.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10610632098195479545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-3521233753660227692017-11-22T16:40:05.690-05:002017-11-22T16:40:05.690-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10610632098195479545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-52572474952273809502016-09-05T08:33:03.666-04:002016-09-05T08:33:03.666-04:00Thank you so much for your answer and advice!Thank you so much for your answer and advice!Rékahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06847155980916735944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-60241415536540479982016-08-23T11:17:34.892-04:002016-08-23T11:17:34.892-04:00The "no metal" rule applies to metal ins...The "no metal" rule applies to metal inside the wall...specifically, between the strings of the straw. So technically, no, the chicken wire will not cause a condensation problem inside the wall. However, it is also not providing any function and it can get in the way of getting a good coat of plaster worked into the straw. So I would eliminate the chicken wire entirely. (I never ever use it. Ever.) Also, for clay on the exterior, you will either need to protect it with very deep overhangs or you will need to repair it annually. If you do not want to do that, then I would recommend 3 coats of lime plaster instead of clay plaster on the exterior.<br />Best of luck to youSigi Kokohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02416038446988725892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-40038176840648799082016-08-23T03:33:08.453-04:002016-08-23T03:33:08.453-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Rékahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06847155980916735944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-18227702529292889792016-08-23T03:32:46.685-04:002016-08-23T03:32:46.685-04:00Hi, I live in Hungary, where strawbale walls are o...Hi, I live in Hungary, where strawbale walls are often suggested to be covered with chicken-wire first, and then to be covered with clay plaster. Does it cause condensation? I had a feeling it contradicts with your thoughts on not putting metal into a strawbale wall.<br />My family plans to build an earth-sheltered home with brick walls + strawbale insulation and clay plaster on the outside, and I'm trying to gather information for that.Rékahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06847155980916735944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-49473387172634096862016-02-15T20:25:35.834-05:002016-02-15T20:25:35.834-05:00Part of your question I answered on your other com...Part of your question I answered on your other comment regarding cob. :)<br /><br />For hurricanes and strawbale, there have been independent tests done on strawbale wall systems, including a hurricane test. A plastered strawbale wall passes the hurricane test with minimal deflection. Definitely do not use rebar with a strawbale wall, but you can use bamboo stakes to pin or you can use external cabling to compress walls. As long as the metal is not inside the straw. Post-and-beam is always an option too...Sigi Kokohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02416038446988725892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-59964979965090020042016-02-14T21:48:08.781-05:002016-02-14T21:48:08.781-05:00Would Straw Bale be appropriate for building in Ha...Would Straw Bale be appropriate for building in Hawaii where there is extremely high rain fall & also very frequent (small) earthquakes? Besides the 3 modifications suggested above, are there any changes you'd suggest for a HOT & Humid climate with lots of rainfall?<br /><br />Also, how does Straw Bale perform in a Hurricane? Are you aware of any actual examples of Straw Bale surviving a Hurricane of significant strength (or a tornado, which are even more destructive)? <br /><br />Can you suggest any way to combine the benefits & aesthetics of Straw Bale insulation & construction techniques with the proven strength & hurricane resistance of Concrete Block construction, without creating the issue of an internal condensation surface (which would lead eventually to decomposition of your straw bales)? <br /><br />If we eliminate the rebar entirely, it seems it would be necessary to use post & beam techniques rather than having a load bearing straw bale wall? (Please correct me if that assumption is in error.) <br /><br />Thanks in advance for your time & suggestions! <br />Sincerely, Alyce JAlyce Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03361465946249810822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536318271780948141.post-67735678963275354682016-02-08T20:04:13.838-05:002016-02-08T20:04:13.838-05:00Thank you! Thank you! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13873112860558875255noreply@blogger.com