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Learn all about straw bale building
The three little pigs did it – now you can learn to build a house from straw. In fact there are lots of other things you can build with straw, from gazebos and sheds to garden walls. Straw has been used as a building material for thousands of years. It comes from grass which grows very fast, can be relatively inexpensive, is easy to work with, and has great insulation properties. Of course there can be problems building with straw, but that’s why you need to read this book.
Table of Contents
Credits
CHAPTER 1 SCOPE, NATURE, AND APPLICATIONS
The basics
Why straw bale?
Sustainability
Ease of use
Durability
Cost
Non-toxic
Insulation
Fire and pest resistance
Aesthetics
Community involvement
Seismic resistance
Applications for straw bales
CHAPTER 2 PROBLEMS AND CONCERNS
Potential problems
Structural movement
Permits
Maintenance
Fire risk
Rising damp
Rain
Humidity and moisture
Pests
Odour and allergies
Gaps
CHAPTER 3 WORKING WITH BALES
Types of bales
Types of straw
Shape and dimensions
Size
Working with straw bales
Moisture content
Laying bales
Different systems of using straw for construction
Fixing bales in place
Loadbearing walls
Roof plates
Roof plate tiedowns
Pinning the bales
Settling and precompression
Infill bale wall
Retrofits
Mortared bale walls
CHAPTER 4 FOUNDATIONS AND FLOORS
Foundations
Stone foundations
Pier foundations
Other options
Floors
CHAPTER 5 WINDOWS, DOORS, ROOFS
Framing and roofing
Roofs
The pyramid roof
The gable roof
The shed roof
The flat roof
The living roof
Windows and doors
In loadbearing bale walls
Lintels
Bale infill walls
Fixings
Frames
CHAPTER 6 FINISHING
Finishing options
Coatings, sealers and sealants
Plastering straw walls
Netting
Finishes
What type of plaster?
Cement stucco
Lime plasters
Gypsum plasters
Earth plasters
Latex/vinyl paints
Final effects
Colours
Sealants
Plaster additives
Rub down
Other effects
Lime or ammonium casein paints
Calcimine distemper paints
Simple oil paints
Coloured washes
Other products
Maintenance
Further reading and study
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