[GSBN] Wall Detail

Sat May 19 19:29:54 UTC 2018

Hey there Panelhead John,

Although I've reverted from strawbale homes to smaller containing forms,
re: pottery, I've been following this thread with great interest.  Still
mired in the nostalgia of low-tech, small, simple, Nebraska-style
buildings, I always find it helpful to see some photos of the process used
in any of these new-fangled methods.  Could you provide a link to some.
For me, at least, a few photos can be worth a bale of words.

Wishing all of you out there, on our fragile planet, smooth baling,

Matts "Panel-less" Myhrman

On Fri, May 18, 2018 at 9:56 AM, John Swearingen <
jswearingen at skillful-means.com> wrote:

> Enga, you've well expressed the contradictions inherent in blending
> strawbale, an efficient 'vernacular' system with conventional construction,
> a highly optimized 'industrial' system. Covering bales with cladding and
> fitting them to studs impedes the efficiency of wood framing and reduces
> the bale component to mere insulation, ignoring potential structural and
> architectural value. The principle advantage becomes that we've stuffed a
> fair amount of carbon into the walls and can call the building "green".
>
> Strawbale has an advantage over other vernacular methods in (1) its
> structural qualities as a ductile, load-bearing material that can take a
> variety of finishes that provide (2) thermal mass, combined with (3) high
> insulation. When structural requirements override what bales can provide,
> it often appears reasonable to  install a discrete structural system.
> Economic constraints and the labor pool can then drive the search for
> readily accessible and efficient structural systems, such as conventional
> stud construction, something everybody knows how to do. The same
> considerations can carry over to the finish material, and thermal mass is
> sacrificed in order to use efficient and inexpensive sheet goods.
>
> There are some good reasons to do this--using simple frame construction
> allows people to easily find conventional builders to build their dream.
> Sheet cladding is attractive in areas where render is uncommon and may be
> expensive. We learned early on that it was easier to adapt our bales to the
> framing than to frustrate framers by making them work around the bales.
>
> A major cost of bale construction comes in the installation and
> preparation of the bales, particularly around fenestration. This is often
> discounted because of volunteer labor, but to make bale construction more
> widely available we've concentrated efforts on improving that aspect of
> construction, using pre-assembled panels that deliver bales efficiently and
> still provide structural capability.  A standardized panel makes bales more
> acceptable to mainstream builders, and shop-built panels that contain
> windows and doors improve qualitiy and lower costs. Separating fenestration
> from bales into conventionally framed sections, and allows us to use
> assemblies that were designed for conventional construction without
> modification--and lets bales be bales.
>
> John "Panelhead" Swearingen
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, May 15, 2018 at 6:02 PM Enga Lokey <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
>>
>>
>>
>> enga at thelokeys.net
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 15 May 2018, at 9:21 pm, Rene Dalmeijer <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
>>
>> IBAN NL09INGB0004388720
>> BIC INGBNL2A
>>
>> On May14, 2018, at 18:42, David Arkin, AIA <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>
>> 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
>> 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 <(970)%20683-1517>
>> Lic. #9508518-5501
>>
>> Principal / Qualifying Builder
>> Community Rebuilds Moab -- http://www.communityrebuilds.org/
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Gsbn mailing list
>>
>> Gsbn at sustainablesources.com
>> http://sustainablesources.com/mailman/listinfo.cgi/gsbn
>>
>>
>> --
>> Chris Magwood
>> Director, Endeavour Centre
>>
>> www.endeavourcentre.org
>> <Screen Shot 2018-05-14 at 11.29.45 AM.png>_______________________
>> ________________________
>> Gsbn mailing list
>> Gsbn at sustainablesources.com
>> http://sustainablesources.com/mailman/listinfo.cgi/gsbn
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *  *  *  *  *
>> Arkin Tilt Architects
>> Ecological Planning & Design
>> 1101 8th St. #180, Berkeley, CA  94710
>> 510/528-9830 ext. 2# <(510)%20528-9830>
>> www.arkintilt.com
>>
>> David Arkin, AIA, Architect
>> LEED Accredited Professional
>> CA #C22459/NV #5030
>>
>> Director, California Straw Building Association
>> www.strawbuilding.org
>> CASBA is a project of the Tides Center
>>
>> "There is no way to peace. Peace is the way."
>> — A. J. Muste
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Gsbn mailing list
>> Gsbn at sustainablesources.com
>> http://sustainablesources.com/mailman/listinfo.cgi/gsbn
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Gsbn mailing list
>> Gsbn at sustainablesources.com
>> http://sustainablesources.com/mailman/listinfo.cgi/gsbn
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Gsbn mailing list
>> Gsbn at sustainablesources.com
>> http://sustainablesources.com/mailman/listinfo.cgi/gsbn
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Gsbn mailing list
> Gsbn at sustainablesources.com
> http://sustainablesources.com/mailman/listinfo.cgi/gsbn
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.sustainablesources.com/pipermail/gsbn/attachments/20180519/ed73b30b/attachment.htm>