Timber Framers Guild Forums General Straw Bales & Other Enclosure Systems Only the best suite in town...

I have to share...
My awesome new apartment - straw bale post & beam, with a lovely TF deck
I'm going to learn as much about it as I can while I'm living here. I'm curious to find out it's true r value once winter hits. Not that I'm really looking forward to winter again....

peace
Kristina

Hey Kristina, Your new place looks pretty good. Have you lived in a straw plce before now? How are things in Kaslo? My wife Chris and I live in Burnaby. I am just putting together my first small timber frame shop. We want to build our own timber frame house. We have thought about using a straw bale enclosure.
All the best, Eric Wolfe

As we come into the hot summer, how about a report on how the straw building feels in the summer. I am looking forward to the winter report as well. What it the heat source, wood, oil, gas?

Tim

Hi, Eric -
This is my first time living in one. Been in many, though.
Nice to hear that you're building
I suggest checking around the area for other straw bale homes - it's pretty damp on the coast, not sure how they hold up. I think there's a few on the Island, though, so you'll probably be good.

Keep us posted on your home!
Cheers
*K

Hi, Tim -
It's been pretty hot here already this spring/summer, hit 30 degrees (Celsius). This place got pretty stuffy, it traps in the heat until you get the air moving. I have a good fan now, which makes it quite pleasant.

It's main heat is electric (hydro), and there's a back up wood cook stove. Like most of the homes here. We tend to get long power outages in this part of the world during the winter, due to avalanches, so wood heat is necessary.

Peace
*K

What is that floor made up of? Looks like hardwood plywood. What kind of finish? How do you like it for care and wear issues?

And are the circles something of a design, or concealing fasteners?

The floor is painted plywood...the circles are a new addition - the owner just had spray foam insulation put in, and those are plugs. She lives downstairs and was getting tired of hearing everything about the former tenants lives. Everything....

As far as care and wear...well, I've only been here a week so far, haven't been able to do much damage yet The walls are painted with traditional adobe paint (I'm not sure exactly what that is yet, will delve further) which flakes off with tape, and hanging pictures with nails is a no-go. But it cleans up nice!

I'm looking at the TF deck, and whatever was used to stain it sure wasn't the right thing, as it's all flaking of. I may just take it upon myself to pretty it up. A project in lieu of some rent, perhaps?

cool crib TG love the detail and texture of those walls... so....cartoonish it's awesome

bootiful. nice spot TG. the floor seems like good sense. the walls are a trip. the deck framing has me thinking. thanks for posting !

i wonder how a deck post scribed to a boulder would go? would that, diagonal bracing and gravity be enough to locate it do you think?

The walls have a little bit of the "Planet of the Apes" feel, eh? Nice though. Is that a commercial walk in door with a door closer? You don't usually see that in residential if it is. Is that door more than just single pane glass, thinking about R value?