[GSBN] Wall Detail
minhall at xnet.co.nz
minhall at xnet.co.nz
Sun May 20 23:50:35 UTC 2018
Hi Everyone - I've been really appreciating this discussion so thanks
Enga for starting it. The examples people are sharing are great - I've
been thinking about what systems might work best here in Aotearoa New
Zealand.
While I think the idea of using building wrap and conventional exterior
cladding systems is really worth considering for a host of reasons
already discussed - what about fire? Wouldn't the cavity and an
unplastered straw surface make for a great place for fire to develop?
Cheers
Min
On 21-05-2018 06:28, Anni Tilt wrote:
> Hello All
>
> I wanted to weigh in on this discussion. We have used many different
> bale wall systems, trying to find the appropriate one for any given
> project.
>
> On this large commercial building in Oregon, using standard wood
> framing with bale and earth plaster on the interior allowed us to get
> a building permit with little fuss while having offices that can enjoy
> the benefits of a bale wall (insulation, thermal mass and all of the
> other wonderful hygrothermic properties of earth plaster, carbon
> sequestration, the integration of volunteer love, and the employment
> of a local earth plastering crew) in an office setting. We also
> didn’t have the challenge and expense of volunteers up on
> scaffolding on the exterior of the building for many months. It has
> gotten the entire community (including the permitting agencies! and
> the skeptical contractors! even the bank!) excited about straw bale,
> and the possibility of using it on a larger scale.
>
> Was the system perfect? Hardly. Was it a worthwhile? I think so.
>
> Anni “both/and” Tilt
>
> Arkin Tilt Architects Ecological Planning & Design
>
> 1101 8th Street, #180
> Berkeley, CA 94710
> 510.528.9830
> 510.528.0206 fax
> www.arkintilt.com [4]
>
> Detail of plaster in community room - the artistry of Erica Ann Bush
>
>> On 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 [1]
>> 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 [2]
>> Lic. #9508518-5501
>>
>> Principal / Qualifying Builder
>> Community Rebuilds Moab -- http://www.communityrebuilds.org/
>>
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>>
>> --
>> Chris Magwood
>> Director, Endeavour Centre
>>
>> www.endeavourcentre.org [3]
>> <Screen Shot 2018-05-14 at 11.29.45
>> AM.png>_______________________________________________
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>
> * * * * *
> Arkin Tilt Architects
> Ecological Planning & Design
> 1101 8th St. #180, Berkeley, CA 94710
> 510/528-9830 ext. 2# [5]
> www.arkintilt.com [6]
>
> David Arkin, AIA, Architect
> LEED Accredited Professional
> CA #C22459/NV #5030
>
> Director, California Straw Building Association
> www.strawbuilding.org [7]
> CASBA is a project of the Tides Center
>
> "There is no way to peace. Peace is the way."
> — A. J. Muste
>
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>
> Links:
> ------
> [1] http://www.yinnovations.org/
> [2] tel:(970)%20683-1517
> [3] http://www.endeavourcentre.org/
> [4] http://www.arkintilt.com
> [5] tel:(510)%20528-9830
> [6] http://www.arkintilt.com/
> [7] http://www.strawbuilding.org/
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