[GSBN] Wall Detail

Wed May 16 08:47:21 UTC 2018

Dan and Enga,

Well done Dan, good explanation.

We are also working on bale between stud wall system.

Air cavity and clad externally, and straw board internally.

R values , there are people getting better than bale R values  due to the combination of cavities and cladding.

We are also looking to reduce footing costs  ( we have very reactive soils) so a reduction in wall weight and a more flexible cladding (as apposed to render) will assist us in achieving a  reduction in concrete footings .

We also are looking for a system that reduces the labour input, yes a probable increase in material cost, but a measurable  reduction in labour , yet still affording an opportunity for owner builder input.

Some of our recent work with “mainstream builders” has been fractious, due to an mainstream expectation that render is out of a shop bought bucket and does not relate to a WET trade. Coupled with a  nice finish butting up to all other cladding types , requiring a return to site after sheet rock is installed, we are preferring a , do our work and get on with the next job , no back and forth.

Will chat more With Enga on her return to OZ.

Cheers lance

Lance Kairl

G Thomas & L Kairl Builders

PO Box 810

GOOLWA, SA 5214

Ph: 8555 4223

 <http://www.houseofbales.com.au/> www.houseofbales.com.au

From: Gsbn <gsbn-bounces at sustainablesources.com> On Behalf Of Dan Smith
Sent: Wednesday, 16 May 2018 12:02 PM
To: Global Straw Building Network <gsbn at sustainablesources.com>
Subject: [GSBN] Wall Detail

Enga, 

I’ll take a shot at answering this question as I’ve been pushing this idea of bales "on end”  between the studs for a while here in California, and the job David showed is a great example.  Yes, this is a hybrid, but as another option, there are advantages:

Seismic bracing: after years of devising various steel strap and mesh bracing systems it’s clear that ply shear walls are sensible and affordable for earthquake country, especially for 2 story buildings.  

Bales on end: our first house with this approach we notched bales laid flat into the stud bays, and now laying the bales up on end just fitting between 2x4’s at 2’ o.c. seems a natural.

Going more mainstream: after years of straw bale housing stuck in a niche, it appeals to me to work with stud wall framing, for efficiency and acceptance. 

Bales on the interior: this allows the interior plaster to be non-structural lime or clay, and still has the thermal mass and aesthetic benefits on the inside.

Exterior moisture management: in our climate ply and siding works, though fiberboard sheathing would be better, and  in colder, humid and non-seismic areas fiberboard sheathing needed to address condensation issues.  Clearly the “straw-cell” provides more insulation for more extreme conditions, but this “stud bale” simpler version still gives R30+ and thermal mass.

Exterior Siding Flexibility: for cost and preference it allows alternate sidings, and we’ve found the typical exterior plaster the most expensive part of bale walls.

Affordability: this comes from a builder client who wouldn’t do straw bale until we showed him this idea, and it only takes up 15” of wall depth, an easier sell in urban areas and allows less concrete foundation.

Maximizing carbon sequestration:  yes, this is a hybrid, but more houses with more straw makes more of a dent. Straw and small dimension lumber can be partners within the larger objective of pulling carbon out of the atmosphere.

cheers,

Dan

d s a architects

dan smith

architect

1107 virginia street | berkeley | california 94702

510.526.1935 |  <http://www.dsaarch.com/> www.dsaarch.com

On May 15, 2018, at 6:02 PM, Enga Lokey <enga at thelokeys.net <mailto:enga at thelokeys.net> > wrote:

Hello you amazing builders/designers,

At the risk of being chucked off the list for this question, I would like to play devil’s advocate here and ask what is being achieved by the use of strawbales in the methods discussed below and others that seem to be the direction that strawbale is moving (i.e. building wrap, 2x6 framing on 24in centers, external timber sheathing, etc). More specifically, it appears that the building methods are being adjusted toward a more standard construction to the point of wondering why the strawbale is even still used? There are other cellulose based products and other more natural or healthy insulation products on the market. 

We are all aware of the challenges of working with straw and thus there needs to be, in balance, a greater benefit in order to justify. Is that benefit still there when used in this way? Are we not using equal/more other materials in order to build with straw in these methods? Is it justified? 

And as the saying goes, "just because I am confused does not mean you are incorrect."

Cheers,

Enga

 <mailto:enga at thelokeys.net> enga at thelokeys.net

On 15 May 2018, at 9:21 pm, Rene Dalmeijer <rdalmeij at mac.com <mailto:rdalmeij at mac.com> > wrote:

Doug,

I did a pre-fab 5 story SB build akin to the system used by David in 2007. The difference being we used Fermacell with breathable housewrap on the outside clad with open horizontal larch cladding. This has been performing very well even though there have been some leeks due to caulking problems in the window frames, No mushy bales.

This has become my preferred Pre-fab SB method. Although I am now involved in a pre-fab build without any earth plaster on the bales at all, shudder! The bales will vertically stacked in prefab elements with underlayment inner and outer skins with wooden vertical slab siding.

Rene Dalmeijer Proces Advies
Thomas Hoodstraat 2
1086 WE Amsterdam

06 48955419

KvK 34243755
BTW NL057444146B01
NL18ASNB0932817343 
new email rdalmeij at mac.com <mailto:rdalmeij at mac.com> 

IBAN NL09INGB0004388720
BIC INGBNL2A

On May14, 2018, at 18:42, David Arkin, AIA <david at arkintilt.com <mailto:david at arkintilt.com> > wrote:

Hello Doug:

We completed a recent project using a ‘Hybrid Wall System’, employing typical 2x6 studs at 24” on center with plywood sheathing (note - plywood, not OSB - but in a non-seismic zone wood fiberboard or similar may suffice), and then installed the bales as insulation on-end between the studs, using clay plaster on the interior and a typical weather-barrier and cladding finish on the exterior.  Attached is an illustration of the system, and here are links to the workshop and the finished building, a 34,000 mixed use office and warehouse in Eugene, Oregon. 

http://www.arkintilt.com/ata-helps-host-casba-hybrid-straw-bale-workshop-our-mahonia-building-eugene-oregon 

http://www.arkintilt.com/salvaged-materials-mahonia

Also attached is a picture of the wall under construction.  We used 3-string rye bales and held them tight to the plywood with 4” wide strips of 1/2” plywood, and 12” Timber-Hex screws into the studs (we'll use 14” screws next time - easier to find the studs, and a better connection).  

I also have the WUFI analysis our building efficiency consultant ran for various locations - they can run a weather file specific to Wilmington if you wish. LMK.

This is not quite a ‘StrawCell’ as it doesn’t feature cellulose, but it could be appropriate to Delaware.  

Looks like a great project, 

David / ATA & CASBA

<2017-0224 YW2 bale corner detail2.jpg>
<IMG_9936.JPG>

On May 14, 2018, at 8:47 AM, Chris Magwood <chris at endeavourcentre.org <mailto:chris at endeavourcentre.org> > wrote:

Hi Doug,

Here's a detail from our last straw-cell project. Hope it's helpful to you. You can contact me off list if you want to discuss it.

Cheers,

Chris

On 2018-05-14 11:03 AM, douglas nichols wrote:

Hello All

I'm consulting with a non-profit (http://www.yinnovations.org/) to  build an affordable straw home for a low income family.  Their current engineering was provided by someone unfamiliar with straw bale building and is coming up pretty short of being a low carbon, sustainable, or natural design.  So we are moving to a straw cell design to help ease any engineering and building official concerns about the straw bale part.  My question is-- does anyone have a good straw cell wall detail drawing they can point me to or donate to the effort?

Y Innovations, Inc.
www.yinnovations.org <http://www.yinnovations.org/> 
2903 North Jefferson Street 2903 North Jefferson Street is a 4500 square foot vacant lot in the city of Wilmington, where Y Innovations will be completing a 630 square foot naturally-built straw bale home in 2018.
Thanks

Doug Nichols

Creating Energy Efficient Homes Since 1995

Nichols Contracting LLC
821 S. 400 E.
Moab, Utah 84532
Cell #970.683.1517
Lic. #9508518-5501

Principal / Qualifying Builder 
Community Rebuilds Moab -- http://www.communityrebuilds.org/

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David Arkin, AIA, Architect
LEED Accredited Professional
CA #C22459/NV #5030

Director, California Straw Building Association
www.strawbuilding.org <http://www.strawbuilding.org> 
CASBA is a project of the Tides Center

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