Comments on: Houses Made of Straw

By: Jaime

Jaime — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 17:50:04 +0000

My first thought was FIRE!! Would this type of home have more fire damage than a traditionally buildt home? Granted, a wood structure burns quickly, but wouldn’t straw burn faster? Even using the straw as insulation, doesn’t flame retardent (sp?) standards apply? Anyone know?
I like the idea of these types of building materials, and LOVE the way the “hobbit” house looks, but I’d be terrified everytime there was a thunderstorm with lightning…

By: redbeki

redbeki — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 12:24:02 +0000

That didn’t work! Try googling Kious Straw Bale House. It is in Cleveland Heights, OH.

By: redbeki

redbeki — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 12:22:54 +0000

A beautiful strawbale home was built not far from where I live. Follow the link to check it out. Stunning!

By: L. Jobin

L. Jobin — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 16:53:30 +0000

I would love to build one. My question is I live in the southern most portion of Alabama. Would it stand up to the heavy rains we get? And the occasional Heavy winds. Has one been done along the Gulf Coast or Florida yet?

By: billc

billc — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:56:54 +0000

Termites have not been a problem to my knowledge. I’ve seen a straw & wood home where the termites were eating the wood and completely ignoring the straw right beside it. You can treat with a sprinkling of boric acid if you’re in a heavy termite zone. Straw in general (unlike hay) has very little nutritive value for bugs and other beasties.

BTW, we have information on 1466 straw bale structures as of today at sbregistry.greenbuilder.com

Many of them are open to visitors.

It may not be the absolute best solution for Louisiana, but straw does make quick shelter. The walls of a loadbearing home can go up in a day with mostly unskilled labor.

By: Miss Cellania

Miss Cellania — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:37:30 +0000

tt, the First Response houses come in kits that can be assembled in a couple of days. The four month timeframe is one guy and his friends building from scratch.

As for termites, hmm. Some houses have the bales covered with plaster or sheeting or other material. The plans available vary widely.

By: Ella

Ella — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:18:19 +0000

I think some good varnish would stop the bug issue on the frame…but it’s beautiful, i would want that for a summer cottage. no phones to computers, and someone special.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:14:59 +0000

Very cool but what about termites? I wonder if it would hold up to Florida weather with hurricanes and terential rain.

By: DB

DB — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:53:43 +0000

I love the cool look of the hobbit one, but wouldn’t you get a lot of bugs munching on your home?

By: tt

tt — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:55:46 +0000

Jen, while I applaud the building, and the
energy saving (and love the way it looks)~ there are no hills on the Louisiana gulf coast, and if you dig down over 1 foot you hit the water table. Not to mention that emergency situations call for quick solutions. While four months is quick in terms of house building, it isn’t when you’ve got to house literally thousands of people.