Many copies in stock but still heavy demand; only a few titles published on this subject. Very popular in rural WA too.

"Filled with comprehensive case studies selected from over thirty-five of Red Feather's successfully completed housing and community-based building projects, Building a Straw Bale House documents the organization's collaboration with reservation communities and provides a step-by-step, bale-by-bale construction handbook - from initial site selection to finished product. Complete with information on safety, design, tools, and materials, it is an inspiring lesson for anybody interested in this technique of constructing a house and a hopeful redefinition of the fundamental ideas of architecture and the home."--BOOK JACKET.

The devil is in the details-the science and art of designing and building durable, efficient, straw bale buildings Straw bale buildings promise superior insulation and flexibility across a range of design aesthetics, while using a typically local and abundant low-embodied energy material that sequesters carbon-an important part of mitigating climate change. However, some early straw bale designs and construction methods resulted in buildings that failed to meet design goals for energy efficiency and durability. This led to improved building practices and a deeper understanding of the building science underlying this building system. Distilling two decades of site-built straw bale design and construction experience, Straw Bale Building Details is an illustrated guide that covers: Principles and process of straw bale design and building, options, and alternatives Building science of straw bale wall systems How design impacts cost, building efficiency, and durability Avoiding costly mistakes and increasing construction efficiency Dozens of time-tested detailed drawings for straw bale wall assemblies, including foundations, windows and doors, and roofs. Whether you're an architect, engineer, contractor, or owner-builder interested in making informed choices, Straw Bale Building Details is the indispensable guide to current practice in straw bale design and construction.

Straw bale building is a radically different approach to the process of building. Like all innovative ideas, it has been pioneered by the passionate, and used experimentally by those with the vision to see its potential. It is firmly based in that sustainable, 'green building' culture that has brought to the construction industry many new and useful ideas about energy efficiency and responsibility towards the environment. As a building material, straw excels in the areas of cost-effectiveness and energy efficiency. This practical guide has been written by the most experienced straw bale builder in the UK. It gives details of all the main construction methods, and includes: * bale specifications * plans * walls and foundations * doors and windows * plastering * building regulations and planning permission * frequently asked questions * construction drawings. This fully revised and updated edition includes new construction drawings, standard details for best practice design, examples of off-the-peg drawings for small buildings such as summer-houses and studios, and designs for affordable houses. These designs meet Building Regulations Code 6 for sustainable homes, and have a carbon rating of less than zero.

Bergeron and Lacinski's new book Serious Straw Bale is the first to look carefully at the specific design considerations critical to success with a straw bale building in more extreme climates-where seasonal changes in temperature, precipitation, and humidity create special stresses that builders must understand and address. The authors draw upon years of experience with natural materials and experimental techniques, and present a compelling rationale for building with straw-one of nature's most resilient, available, and affordable byproducts.

Building with straw bales is being embraced by amateurs and professionals for its versatility, comfort, environmental friendliness and high insulation. New methods should expand its growing worldwide popularity. In Practical Straw Bale Building, Murray Hollis uses simple, easy to understand language to describe the established techniques of straw bale construction and ways in which they can be improved. He also presents a new straw bale construction system that has substantial benefits over current methods. This system incorporates a new tensioning system that replaces the use of fence strainers for tensioning the hold-down/compression wires and eliminates uneven tensioning on opposite sides of the wall. It also allows for fabricating wall modules on-site as horizontal modules that are then swung into the vertical wall position after fabrication. Aspects of structures other than walls are addressed only to the extent that they are relevant to the use of straw bales, e.g. issues such as types of floors, roof structures and methods of heating or cooling. The innovative methods in this book will help to progress straw bale building technology and move it into the mainstream of the building industry.

Two professional builders go through the process of building a bale structure, tackling all the practical issues--from how to find and choose bales to special concerns for northern climates. Architectural drawings & photos.