[GSBN] Load-bearing straw bale idea

[Rikki Nitzkin]

Hi Derek and David et all, 

FYI.  I can say that it worked. At least in my case.

My house was built 15 years ago, with a gable roof supported by posts at the gable ends, and covered with planks and ceramic tiles. My house is a 1 1/2 story load-bearing design. And the post for the gable roof rests on the roof plate of the first story. The roof plate was not a box beam, but a made “ladder” style with double 5 x 15 planks ( 10x 30 once all nailed together).

I should add that the main beam is not very large, just 10 x 15 x 600 , since it only spans 5 meters (between posts)+ overhang.

It worked fine. No problems of any kind.

The spanish architect who made the design doesn’t speak english, so he didn’t know he was breaking any rules; and it was my first house, so I had no experience. That is the way technology advances. Pushing the limits… sometimes without knowing you have done so. I guess I got lucky. When I show my house to students, I always tell them that I did “this and that” wrong! But the truth is, my house is just fine- despite all the mistakes. 

From what I hear on the list, no one has tried the approach suggested by the architect, but all think it is a bad idea. I will pass on the opinions to the architect. If he decides to do it anyway, I will let you all know the results. 

Thanks!

Rikki

> El 24/6/2017, a las 17:00, Derek Stearns Roff <derek at unm.edu> escribió:
> 
> If we are going to replace the architect’s plan with a post, as Bruce, Lance, and David suggest, then the “appropriate post” needs to run to the foundation, in my opinion.  Like David, I doubt that a simple post running only from the ridge beam to the roof bearing assembly would be sufficient to distribute the loads.  Running the post all the way down to the ground/foundation is the simple and secure solution.  I’m thinking that this is what Lance and Bruce probably had in mind.  Of course, a full-length post must either go through the roof bearing assembly, or be completely outside or inside the plane of the wall.  The latter two choices can be an attractive design element, in addition to the structural role.  
> 
> Derek
> 
> Derek Roff
> derek at unm.edu <mailto:derek at unm.edu>
> 
> 
> 
> 
>> On Jun 23, 2017, at 10:55 PM, David Eisenberg <strawnet at gmail.com <mailto:strawnet at gmail.com>> wrote:
>> 
>> I concur with what has been suggested by others, but would add that switching to an appropriate post instead of the bales assumes that the roof bearing assembly is stiff and strong enough to bear that concentrated load. If the roof bearing assembly (box beam or whatever the structural element is on top of the bale walls) is not adequate for that concentrated load, a truss could be designed to distribute the load along the length of the assembly (whether the full length would be necessary or not). 
>> 
>> David Eisenberg
>> 
>> On Fri, Jun 23, 2017 at 8:06 AM, Rikki Nitzkin <rikkinitzkin at gmail.com <mailto:rikkinitzkin at gmail.com>> wrote:
>> Hi all, 
>> 
>> I forward a petition from a Spanish architect who wants to know if his idea has been tried, and if it worked.
>> 
>> He is planning to build a Load-bearing SB home. The roof will have two “waters” (what is that called in english?)- creating a triangular gap on both sides of the roof. 
>> 
>> He wants to try to put the main beam (Spanish architecture doesn’t use triangular rafters, but a main roof beam, with the other beams resting on it) directly on the bales. His idea is to put a wooden panel on top of each row that is above the roof-plate, until reaching the main beam- using very well compressed bales.
>> 
>> Has anyone tried this? 
>> 
>> Here is a drawing of the idea:
>> 
>> <hastial Alejandro.jpeg>
>> 
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