U.S. Cities  

Go Back   City-Data Forum > General Forums > House
Register Blogs Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Welcome to City-Data.com forum! Make sure to register - it's free and very quick! You have to register before you can post and participate in our discussions with 700,000 other registered members. User profiles and some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your free account you will be able to customize many options, you will have the full access to over 15,000 posts/day about local topics and you will see fewer ads.

Get a detailed profile
Search Forums  (Advanced)
Business Search - 14 Million verified businesses
Search for:  near: 
Reply


 
Old 05-24-2007, 11:13 PM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Vancouver, Canada
550 posts, read 743,502 times
Reputation: 355
skoe is just really niceskoe is just really niceskoe is just really niceskoe is just really niceskoe is just really niceskoe is just really niceskoe is just really niceskoe is just really nice
Default Straw bail houses. The home of the future?

My dad took workshops years ago on how to build a straw bail house. He and his wife decided to build one on their property. It was suppose to be cottage size but turned into a big beautiful home. It is heated by solar panels, has a compost toilet, collects rain water for using in the house and the floor is heated with warm water running through the tile. It is the coolest house I have ever seen. He now teaches people how to build sheds and cottages for themselves.

Have any of you seen houses like this?
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message

 
Old 05-24-2007, 11:51 PM
Universal Supreme Dude
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
3,030 posts, read 3,928,223 times
Reputation: 1534
Cosmic has a brilliant futureCosmic has a brilliant futureCosmic has a brilliant futureCosmic has a brilliant futureCosmic has a brilliant futureCosmic has a brilliant futureCosmic has a brilliant futureCosmic has a brilliant futureCosmic has a brilliant futureCosmic has a brilliant futureCosmic has a brilliant futureCosmic has a brilliant futureCosmic has a brilliant futureCosmic has a brilliant futureCosmic has a brilliant futureCosmic has a brilliant futureCosmic has a brilliant futureCosmic has a brilliant futureCosmic has a brilliant futureCosmic has a brilliant futureCosmic has a brilliant futureCosmic has a brilliant future
Default It is a great idea but......

Many places you will never get it approved for a building permit. Back in the old dazes Mother Earth News had a number of articles on building such type alternative housing.

Problem being in the Real World of today, most places are gunho for building codes. Probably still possible but I sure would be checking the rules first. Might be possible in a few counties still in Ohio. Maybe if not a house, at least a shed or barn or non-occupied structure.

Few building department engineers are going to approve non-standard methods, too many lawyers around in 2007.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 05-24-2007, 11:55 PM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Vancouver, Canada
550 posts, read 743,502 times
Reputation: 355
skoe is just really niceskoe is just really niceskoe is just really niceskoe is just really niceskoe is just really niceskoe is just really niceskoe is just really niceskoe is just really nice
I know Saskatchewan and Alberta permits them. It's too bad the permit rule maker guy can't expand his head a little more. It's not like these houses will burst into flames if you hold a match to them. I guess society just doesn't like change and loves cuttin down the trees.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 05-25-2007, 10:55 PM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Lake Forest, CA
1,294 posts, read 1,398,296 times
Reputation: 1052
recycled has much to be proud ofrecycled has much to be proud ofrecycled has much to be proud ofrecycled has much to be proud ofrecycled has much to be proud ofrecycled has much to be proud ofrecycled has much to be proud ofrecycled has much to be proud ofrecycled has much to be proud ofrecycled has much to be proud ofrecycled has much to be proud ofrecycled has much to be proud ofrecycled has much to be proud ofrecycled has much to be proud ofrecycled has much to be proud ofrecycled has much to be proud ofrecycled has much to be proud of
AZ and NM have some straw bale homes that have been built mostly outside the incorporated cities on semi rural properties. I saw some in Chino Valley, AZ north of Prescott. The county building codes in those 2 states are fairly relaxed, and you will see a variety of "unconventional" home construction styles driving around on the rural roads. Real adobe, rammed earth, cob, domes, even tires filled with rammed earth in a community outside of Santa Fe.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 05-26-2007, 12:08 AM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Vancouver, Canada
550 posts, read 743,502 times
Reputation: 355
skoe is just really niceskoe is just really niceskoe is just really niceskoe is just really niceskoe is just really niceskoe is just really niceskoe is just really niceskoe is just really nice
Hm, Thats cool. One of the workshops was in Tucson. I went to that one, pretty interesting!
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 05-28-2007, 07:18 AM
Huh?
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: SW Kansas
1,001 posts, read 603,089 times
Reputation: 330
chele123 is a jewel in the roughchele123 is a jewel in the roughchele123 is a jewel in the roughchele123 is a jewel in the roughchele123 is a jewel in the roughchele123 is a jewel in the roughchele123 is a jewel in the rough
I've wanted to build a straw bale house for years! I have several books on it. Many city codes do permit them, and many more would if they were presented with the facts.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 05-29-2007, 04:18 PM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
1,521 posts, read 1,475,237 times
Reputation: 811
mbuszu is a splendid one to beholdmbuszu is a splendid one to beholdmbuszu is a splendid one to beholdmbuszu is a splendid one to beholdmbuszu is a splendid one to beholdmbuszu is a splendid one to beholdmbuszu is a splendid one to beholdmbuszu is a splendid one to beholdmbuszu is a splendid one to beholdmbuszu is a splendid one to beholdmbuszu is a splendid one to beholdmbuszu is a splendid one to beholdmbuszu is a splendid one to beholdmbuszu is a splendid one to behold
I saw this on TV a few months ago. The concept is bizarre but the end-result was fantastic. Good for your dad :-)

Around here I only see stick-build houses. I am interested in ICF (Insulated Concrete Form) and I've gotten funny looks/reactions from the local home builders without experience. Honestly, I think alternative build-technologies just aren't mainstream yet; but I certainly won't let that deter me.

I wouldn't worry about codes or zoning, etc... I bet with the established track-record of successful straw bail houses, with a local govt hearing or two you could get such a thing approved just about anywhere. As long as the house isn't an eyesore, danger to the neighboring houses, doesn't bring down home values, and is insurable, I doubt anyone would oppose.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 05-29-2007, 05:36 PM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
548 posts, read 701,805 times
Reputation: 272
MaimounaKande is a jewel in the roughMaimounaKande is a jewel in the roughMaimounaKande is a jewel in the roughMaimounaKande is a jewel in the roughMaimounaKande is a jewel in the roughMaimounaKande is a jewel in the rough
My brother is a straw bale home builder. He said a lot of people first think they'll burst into flames, but he describes it like holding a match to a phone book--it just doesn't burn well at all. A traditional timber house is much more fire-prone. Also they are great insulators so although they can cost more to build upfront, the heating and cooling costs are significantly lower and more than make up for it in the long run.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 05-29-2007, 05:53 PM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Vancouver, Canada
550 posts, read 743,502 times
Reputation: 355
skoe is just really niceskoe is just really niceskoe is just really niceskoe is just really niceskoe is just really niceskoe is just really niceskoe is just really niceskoe is just really nice
It is also cool because if you one day decide you want a window where there isn't one you can cut it out with a chain saw! There are so many benefits to the straw bales. It is a shame it isn't catching on faster.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 10-26-2007, 03:12 AM
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
1 posts, read 10,281 times
Reputation: 10
courtney&oscar is on a distinguished road
I live in a doublewide manufactured home in West Virginia. I wonder would it be possible to ENCASE my doublewind completely (including the roof) with straw bails, then put on an adobe or concrete exterior coating. You know, simply ENCASE my home in straw bails! Windows and all, but there would somehow need to be two doors the front and the back. Please give me your ideas. Thanks.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.



Reply


Quick Reply
Message:

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Similar Threads


Go Back   City-Data Forum > General Forums > House

All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:50 AM.

Copyright © 2005-2009, Advameg, Inc.

City-Data.com - Archive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 - Top