Building with Straw Bales: A Practical Guide for the UK and Ireland

by Barbara Jones

Straw bale building is a radically different approach to construction and this book explains, in straightforward and commonsense terms, the principles of straw bale building in the UK climate. Pioneered in the United States over a hundred years ago and established in the UK in the 1990s, the technique is now entering the mainstream. It is used by firms who see its value in terms of cost-effectiveness, ease of installation, and energy efficiency. Straw has great load-bearing qualities and provides superior insulation at an affordable price. Straw bale building is accessible to many people who are normally excluded from the construction process, and provides immense opportunity for creative fun, enabling them to design and build the sort of shape and space they would really like. The book covers design principles; different types of foundations; how to raise walls, stabilize them, and protect them from the weather; and how straw bale buildings can easily meet building regulation requirements. This book is for self-builders as well as for people working the construction industry and has been fully revised and expanded to include new sections on natural plasters, a detailed analysis of how straw performs with humidity, and an extensive resources section.

Genres: Nonfiction, Architecture

184 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[James Minter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love ‘How to …’ books – there is so much to learn and so little time to do it in. Well written ‘How to...’ books significantly shorten the time needed to get to grips with a new subject. This is the case with ‘Building With Straw Bales’ by Barbara Jones. For me, entering into the world of self-building using straw was a daunting proposition; this book has removed much of the angst. Ms Jones has over 20 years’ experience and has acquired much hard-won knowledge and hands-on experience, which she gladly shares.

The book is structured in a logical sequence reflecting the building process and covers everything from building techniques, understanding straw, to carpentry, roofs, wall raising, services and fixings; plus many more equally important topics. Even the pre-building stages – planning permission, and the necessary building regulation adherences and safety compliances are covered.
Additionally, the book has many useful and inspiring photographs, graphic images for detailed explanations and a whole series of appendices with links to other valuable resources.

Overall, a must-read book for anyone embarking on this exciting journey of building their low impact, environmentally friendly home.

[Donatella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Manuale veramente efficace che offre indicazioni pratiche in modo chiaro e sintetico, almeno per chi ha già una certa preparazione nel settore dell'edilizia.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read that combines a history and assessment of straw bale construction in the UK and Ireland with technical drawings and practical advice. Barbara is obviously a keen advocate of the technique and there seems to be no reason to disagree with her assertion that building with straw bales can be beautifully natural and healthy.