Strawbale in the Interior (Fairbanks, Kenai: fit in, how much, construction)

[MissingAll4Seasons]

My husband and I have bought land in the Interior (near Manley), and are trying to decide how we're going to build our cabin/cottage. There are plenty of trees on the property, but we aren't especially fond of the log-cabin look and it's a lot of work. We've been investigating SIPs and strawbale (on post & beam shell), and it looks like the pros & cons are about even... and it all comes down to $$$. We know roughly how much the SIPs are going to cost, but can't really find any local info on strawbale.

I know grain isn't the easiest crop to grow in AK, so I don't know the availability, demand, and price of strawbales up there. (Straw not feed hay) Anyone have any info?

[warptman]

You can ask the Sled Dog club in Fairbanks where they get straw from for the dogs.

Alaska Dog Mushers Association

[MissingAll4Seasons]

Thanks Warpt, I'll give them a shout.

[snkalaska]

I doubt if anyone in your area grows straw so it'll be shipped in. In Kenai, we have hay, no straw. The straw bales are bigger but more expensive, around $18 bale compared to about $6 for hay from what I remember. Have you checked into spray foam?

[MissingAll4Seasons]

Hay can be used, but the bales are normally smaller and there isn't as much insulation value (not hollow like straw). I figure we'd have to get something trucked in from the Valley, but it might be cheaper trucked from Canada or the Dakotas if there's more grown there. Of course, all that has to be cheaper than the SIPs. Spray foam isn't really an option given the location and lack of power, plus it's more expensive than SIPs for our application.

Weird that hay is cheaper than straw up there... hay is more expensive down here because it's a food product, whereas straw is a waste product from grain production. I've lived places that practically gave their straw away just to get it off their property. Just goes to show what a difference a climate can make!

[Marty Van Diest]

SIPs are good, that's a hard system to beat.

[MissingAll4Seasons]

Originally Posted by Marty Van Diest

SIPs are good, that's a hard system to beat.

The only problem we have with SIPs is that we'd prefer a more organic shape (like a Hobbit House), not just another "box" that's all lines and sharp angles. SIPs are ideal for tight construction and super-insulation, not to mention ease of construction. We might run into some problems getting the SIPs back to our property, so bales might be easier in that regard... they weigh about the same, but a bale will fit in my ATV trailer easier.

[Marty Van Diest]

Originally Posted by MissingAll4Seasons

The only problem we have with SIPs is that we'd prefer a more organic shape (like a Hobbit House), not just another "box" that's all lines and sharp angles. SIPs are ideal for tight construction and super-insulation, not to mention ease of construction. We might run into some problems getting the SIPs back to our property, so bales might be easier in that regard... they weigh about the same, but a bale will fit in my ATV trailer easier.

Most people haul their building stuff in during the winter. Actually, Feb/March is probably the best time. Get a good snowmachine and break a trail and then haul the stuff.

Do you have to go far?

[MissingAll4Seasons]

Originally Posted by Marty Van Diest

Most people haul their building stuff in during the winter. Actually, Feb/March is probably the best time. Get a good snowmachine and break a trail and then haul the stuff.

Do you have to go far?

We have to get it down the Elliott Highway first, the property is about 1.5 miles off the road by trail (using that term lightly!), and we still need to break the trail that will eventually become our driveway... maybe another 1/8 mile.

[Floyd_Davidson]

Originally Posted by MissingAll4Seasons

... but can't really find any local info on strawbale.

I know grain isn't the easiest crop to grow in AK, so I don't know the availability, demand, and price of strawbales up there. (Straw not feed hay) Anyone have any info?

There used to be several farms out the Richardson Highway that grew oats and barley, and produced something they bailed and trucked into Fairbanks. I don't know if it was hay or straw though.

The farms were strung out from Salcha (the area south of Eielson AFB) to down past Delta Junction.

You might call the Salcha Store and ask them, as they would probably be able to give you a good pointer. Do a web search on Delta Junction looking for a place that might be able to help.