This is a picture of the property we purchased in Sequatchie County, Tennessee. Not too far from where we currently call home. My husband, Buddy and I (Candy), have elected to build a STRAWBALE house to be OUR HOME! I have researched different types of homes and building materials since late 2004/early 2005, and finally decided straw was a great idea! This was before my husband and I got married. :) So, now that we've purchased our property, I've talked with him, and showed him all the research on strawbale building, and he's pretty excited about the idea. Boy am I happy! So, with his approval on my choice of building materials, I forged ahead with my ideas for the type of house I wanted. I'd chosen a type of BEACH HOUSE PLAN...which is really funny since our property is on top of a MOUNTAIN, and at least 8 to 10 HOURS from any beach! LOL But that is perfect for us both! Buddy was born in TN, but was raised in CA, very close to the Redondo Beach area! I was born here in TN....raised here...but moved to Hawaii at the age of 17, and lived just 30 minutes from Waikiki Beach. Well....if you have ever been to Oahu, Hawaii, you can only drive SO FAR before you hit ocean! :) I LOVED IT! However, I love my mountains too! So, add beach house on top of mountain.....close enough to perfect for us both!
BUILDING WITH STRAW
There are several reasons I chose to build with strawbales.
1) Environmentally FRIENDLY - Straw is usually used only for landscaping, animal bedding, and a few other farming uses. The rest is typically burned from the research I've come across.
2) Saves TREES - I know this, too, is environmentally friendly, but it's also cost effective. We will save hundreds of dollars on lumber because we will be building a LOAD BEARING strawbale home, which will eliminate A LOT OF LUMBER! Can we hear some cheers for OXYGEN??? :)
3) Less TOXICITY - No strange chemicals, like formaldehyde are sprayed into straw. No fireproofing chemicals. Strawbales are very HARD to burn. Ever tried to burn a phone book? It may smolder, but it will not burn without some type of accelerant or something. Same for strawbales. Enough said!
4) SAVINGS - Building with straw can really save you money in more than one way. Building costs are extremely lower, unless you just CHOOSE to build more expensively. A strawbale home is more ENERGY EFFICIENT. It will maintain a constant temperature better than any other home. The R factor of a straw home is astronomical! It ranges, depending on the thickness of the bales, and how compact the bales have been baled. I've read different ratings...but most of the research I've seen, the R rating is at least R-50! So, also, you are saving money by not using all the lumber, you have your insulation "built in", there is no need for the "TYVEK" home wrapping (matter of fact, you CANNOT use it, because it will hold too much moisture in your straw), and you finish your straw using lime stucco. So, you've also eliminated the need for OSB Board under the TYVEK, and styrofoam insulation/rigid underlayment for vinyl siding or brick, stone, or wood siding. This accounts for a considerable savings in the building of your home!
5) SAFETY - Strawbale homes enjoy a little more safety factors than other homes. Since strawbales will not truly burn of their own accord, a strawbale home takes over 3 times longer to burn than their stick built counterparts. A mobile home burns in just a few minutes! So this is a LARGE safety factor in choosing this building material. Also, once it is stuccoed, straw is now encased in stone type material, and that doesn't burn! So, even in case of fire, more than likely, the outer walls will still stand, and will allow for the home to be rebuilt. Also, strawbale homes have been shown to withstand EARTHQUAKES, when most other buildings end in a pile of unrecognizable rubble. This is a nice reassurance as a safety factor in a home. Strawbales are reported to withstand straight line winds and other types of storms better than any other type of conventional home. I have not found information of a strawbale house that has sustained a direct TORNADO hit and survive...but I am still researching. This would be a FANTASTIC thing, if the straw could withstand that type of weather! However, we can't be TOO picky now. :) We are considering an underground storm shelter, expecially since the HUGE outbreaks of tornadoes here in the south last week, 04/27/2011. Where several towns were totally destroyed, houses pulled up, foundations and all, and nothing left! Our prayers go out to each and every SOUL that have been affected by these terrible storms, and also to the families that have lost loved ones due to these tornadoes! GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU! Remember Phillipians 4:13!