BajaNomad

Straw Bale Houses

bajarich - 10-24-2006 at 01:04 PM

A friend of mine in Tucson wrote a book on straw bale construction. I have recently seen other books on straw bale houses and am wondering how they would hold up in Baja. The bales are held in place by cables and heavy chicken wire and its all fastened down to a concrete foundation. The roof structure is also fastened with cables. The exterior and interior are then stuccoed over to keep out the elements.

We stayed in his demo unit once and it was very nice. The walls were 2 feet thick and it was much like an adobe house.

Does anyone know of any straw bale houses is Baja?

Bruce R Leech - 10-24-2006 at 01:13 PM

the rats and other critters just love to get inside those walls. also in humid claimants the straw starts to mold right away and rots away in a few years.

DENNIS - 10-24-2006 at 01:25 PM

There is an active church on the grounds at La Joya beach camp, Punta Banda, made of straw bales. Been there a while, maybe ten years, not sure.
Discovery channel once did a segment on straw bale construction. They built an office at a nursrey in San Juan Capistrano. Included in this type of construction is waht they call a Story Window. Actually a small door in a wall which can be opened to show the straw to non-believers.
It seems to be a method which, if done well, has a lot going for it. Insulation in hot climate, for example.

Timbercrete - 10-24-2006 at 01:39 PM

Where would you get the straw bales? I don't think I rememeber seeing any place that grows hay, let alone a quality bailer.

DENNIS - 10-24-2006 at 01:54 PM

No idea.

bajalou - 10-24-2006 at 02:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Timbercrete
Where would you get the straw bales? I don't think I rememeber seeing any place that grows hay, let alone a quality bailer.
.

Straw has nothing to do with hay. Straw for these bales comes from the wheat and other grain fields - has no nutrients for insects or rodents and if a building is constructed properly, should last many decades.

San Felipe has many straw bale homes, the earliest built about 12-13 years ago, but in some parts of the US, they report bulidings 100 yrs old.

Any where they have grain fields, they can produce straw bales.

DENNIS - 10-24-2006 at 02:10 PM

I dont know why it would necessarily have to be straw. I've seen bales of used clothing and raw cotton which may be suitable substitutes.

Bruce R Leech - 10-24-2006 at 02:12 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Timbercrete
Where would you get the straw bales? I don't think I rememeber seeing any place that grows hay, let alone a quality bailer.


you cant use hay. it needs to be Good clean tightly bailed straw such as wheat straw bailed right after harvest. there is not much in Baja Ca. but lots in Mexico.

BajaWarrior - 10-24-2006 at 02:29 PM

They built one behind Cielito Lindo, I saw it in the building stage. That was about 4 years ago. The roof was on, the windows were installed, haven't been down there since. I believe Dave and Juanita were building it.

bajalera - 10-24-2006 at 02:52 PM

Would it withstand the winds and rain of a chubasco?

Probably

Dave - 10-24-2006 at 03:04 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajalera
Would it withstand the winds and rain of a chubasco?


But not the Big Bad Wolf.

David K - 10-24-2006 at 03:09 PM

Dave & Juanita LIVE in it! U2U to 'Porky Pig' here on Nomad or contact them through the Cielito Lindo blog site... Link on my web site's 'Links to Specific Baja Locations'

Our straw bale house

Porky Pig - 10-24-2006 at 03:38 PM

We have built and lived in our bale house for 6 or 7 years. The combine went thru the wheat?? and we had them cut the stalks for us and bale it. Not sure about all of those details, but it was locally baled. Because the bales were loose, we built the house with cement pier and beam and used the bales like filler. This is a simplified explanation. We are very happy with the house and it is very comfortable.

geck01 - 10-24-2006 at 04:01 PM

Hi,
there is a home on Los Tules, about half way between Cabo and San Jose. I don't know if they did it wrong or what but apparently it is falling apart from the inside out. Maybe the humidity in Cabo fall? Got mice too. Mice don't need food where they nest,just a lovely soft spot. Food is always somewhere close, like your pantry. In Pescadero they are building rammed earth homes. Haven't checked one out yet.
Does anybody have any ideas about how to get rid or prevent the black mold that grows in Palapa style roofs?

bajalou - 10-24-2006 at 04:20 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajalera
Would it withstand the winds and rain of a chubasco?


The several that were in San Felipe in '97 survived Nora with no problems.

geck01 - 10-24-2006 at 04:53 PM

bajalou, How do you spray it on without getting your lungs in shreds? A power sprayer that you could stand back from?
Thanks

David K - 10-24-2006 at 05:30 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Porky Pig
We have built and lived in our bale house for 6 or 7 years. The combine went thru the wheat?? and we had them cut the stalks for us and bale it. Not sure about all of those details, but it was locally baled. Because the bales were loose, we built the house with cement pier and beam and used the bales like filler. This is a simplified explanation. We are very happy with the house and it is very comfortable.


David, do you still have the photos of the construction of your house?

bajalou - 10-24-2006 at 05:50 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by geck01
bajalou, How do you spray it on without getting your lungs in shreds? A power sprayer that you could stand back from?
Thanks


Believe it was Hose A who recomended spraying for mould.

Our bale house

Porky Pig - 10-24-2006 at 06:19 PM

Any one wanting to build a straw bale house has to do more research than reading about them here. As a primer as to what we researched prior to building our house, if you have loose bales, use a pier beam construction. Tight bales let you stack the bales then "cinch them down" to avoid setteling. The use of chicken wire to cover the bales is questionable. We use wire outside and no wire inside and cannot tell the difference. The outside should be cemented, usually in 4 coats. The inside in gypsum plaster to let any moisture leech out. Do not build a "Starship" house using old tires as the tires break down and you have a chemical smell.

DENNIS - 10-24-2006 at 06:40 PM

Google ---- Straw bale house

A ton of info

Bob H - 10-24-2006 at 06:43 PM

I've heard that there are straw bale homes all over Baja... go for it.
Bob H

[Edited on 10-25-2006 by Bob H]

wornout - 10-24-2006 at 06:51 PM

We built ours in 1998 in San Felipe and the big bad wolf has not blown it down yet. We don't have mice but do have a ferrell cat, maybe that is why. If it is done correctly, one will not have a problem with rodents or mold. Our straw came from Mexicali.

Photos of the post and beam construction can be seen at this site. If it is busy, just come back later, geocities doesn't give many views for their free stuff:

http://www.geocities.com/wornout_99/i.home.html

DENNIS - 10-24-2006 at 07:10 PM

Another interesting building method is called, "Earth Bag" or sand bag.

I cant give a link but --- greenhomebuilding.com

On the left, click on earth bag.

An artist in Punta Banda is building high on a hillside using this method. Lots of affordable possibilities.

dean miller - 10-24-2006 at 07:17 PM

Mauro, the Italian gentleman who lives north of BOLA near the turtle pens (arcelon (sp?) has been building and living in one for several years.

I have been in it several times and always comfortable in all climatic conditions.

By the way his wife also bakes and sells great bread.

DM

AmoPescar - 10-25-2006 at 01:32 AM

Here's a couple of pictures I took of a Straw Bale house being built in Eldorado Ranch in San Felipe. These were taken several years ago, so I'm sure this one is finished now. The hay bales they're using seem to be thinner than most I've seen used.





[Edited on 10-25-2006 by AmoPescar]

Bajajorge - 10-25-2006 at 08:54 AM

If you get to San Felipe go to El Dorado Ranch, there are probably a hundred or so straw bale homes and other type structures there. I've been going there for over 6 years, the straw bales seem to be holding up.

bajarich - 10-25-2006 at 10:22 AM

Thanks for all the info. I had no idea how many there were.

straw bale homes

alivenbaja - 10-25-2006 at 02:53 PM

We have two different family members that have beautiful SOLAR straw bale homes in San Felipe.

Unfortunately it is almost impossible to find a builder who wants to build one anymore.

IF your home is straw bale in SOLAR, in the Summer it is still too hot for me. Foam and electric ended up our final choice...no complaints here :>;)

Straw Homes

hottruxs - 10-16-2007 at 09:15 AM

Go to
www.strawbales.com, good info.
www.thelaststraw.org
www.strawbuilding.org

We plane on building our home of straw with in the few months.
First I need to fine some land.
:coolup::P:o
gene
Quote:
Originally posted by bajarich
A friend of mine in Tucson wrote a book on straw bale construction. I have recently seen other books on straw bale houses and am wondering how they would hold up in Baja. The bales are held in place by cables and heavy chicken wire and its all fastened down to a concrete foundation. The roof structure is also fastened with cables. The exterior and interior are then stuccoed over to keep out the elements.

We stayed in his demo unit once and it was very nice. The walls were 2 feet thick and it was much like an adobe house.

Does anyone know of any straw bale houses is Baja?

David K - 10-16-2007 at 09:21 AM

Note the date of the question: 2006... I wonder what bajarich decided?