Strawbale building is a radically different approach to construction. Pioneered in the USA over a hundred years ago and established in the UK in the 1990s, the technique is now entering the mainstream - used by firms who see its value in terms of cost-effectiveness, ease of installation and energy efficiency. Straw has great loadbearing qualities and provides super-insulation at an affordable price. This book is for self-builders as well as for people working in the construction industry. Strawbale building is accessible to many people who are normally excluded from the construction process, and provides immense opportunity for creative fun, enabling you to design and build the sort of shape and space you'd really like. Building with Straw Bales explains, in straightforward and common-sense terms, the principles of strawbale building in the UK climate. It covers design principles, the different types of foundations; how to raise walls, stabilise them and protect them from the weather; and how strawbale buildings can easily meet Building Regulations requirements. This fully revised and expanded edition includes new sections on natural plasters, a detailed analysis of how straw performs with humidity, and an extensive resources section. Spiral House: this inspiring loadbearing two-storey spiral-shaped house was the first of its kind in Europe, and is based on sacred geometry. It was built by its owner Norita Clesham with Barbara Jones, Bee Rowan and over a hundred volunteers, most of them women, with carpentry help from Willie and Gerard McDonagh. Begun in 2000, it was completed in three years. Photo: Bee Rowan Assington Mill: Story Hut: this simple but effective story-telling strawbale hut at Assington Mill in Suffolk has car tyre foundations, a rammed chalk floor and a thatched roof. Photo: Rae Parkinson
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"All you want to know about in situ strawbale building construciton, explained in one easy-to-understand book" - Tim Yates, Technical Director, BRE Ltd, and Peter Walker, Director, BRE Centre for Innovative Construction Materials, University of Bath "Explains the principles of the system in straightforward, common-sense terms. All the essentials are covered, including design, foundations, raising and stabilising walls and how straw bale buildings can exceed Building Regulations requirements. There are also new sections on natural plasters, the effect of humidity on straw bales and an extensive resources section." Build It "The essential guide to straw-bale building." Grand Designs "A perfect balance between hard facts, sociological context, and beautiful images... Get yourself a copy of Jones' book, and buy one for a friend" -- Mark Anslow The Ecologist
From the Back Cover
Strawbale building is a radically different approach to construction. Pioneered in the USA over a hundred years ago and established in the UK in the 1990s, the technique is now entering the mainstream - used by firms who see its value in terms of cost-effectiveness, ease of installation and energy efficiency. Straw has great loadbearing qualities and provides super-insulation at an affordable price.
This book is for self-builders as well as for people working in the construction industry. Strawbale building is accessible to many people who are normally excluded from the construction process, and provides immense opportunity for creative fun, enabling you to design and build the sort of shape and space you'd really like.
Building with Straw Bales explains, in straightforward and common-sense terms, the principles of strawbale building in the UK climate. It covers design principles, the different types of foundations; how to raise walls, stabilise them and protect them from the weather; and how strawbale buildings can easily meet Building Regulations requirements. This fully revised and expanded edition includes new sections on natural plasters, a detailed analysis of how straw performs with humidity, and an extensive resources section. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
This book is for self-builders as well as for people working in the construction industry. Strawbale building is accessible to many people who are normally excluded from the construction process, and provides immense opportunity for creative fun, enabling you to design and build the sort of shape and space you'd really like.
Building with Straw Bales explains, in straightforward and common-sense terms, the principles of strawbale building in the UK climate. It covers design principles, the different types of foundations; how to raise walls, stabilise them and protect them from the weather; and how strawbale buildings can easily meet Building Regulations requirements. This fully revised and expanded edition includes new sections on natural plasters, a detailed analysis of how straw performs with humidity, and an extensive resources section. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
58 of 58 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I used this book throughout my final year of university, and I still do as a design aid. It provides the perfect introduction to building with bales pointed really well towards self-builders. Crucially, it differs from other guides as being specific to the UK and Ireland and the authors expertise in building here means this is covered very well.
If you are looking for a book detailing the history and growth of SB building then this isn't it; check out the Steens excelent books perhaps. There are also books on the subject that go into more detail (Lacinski and Bergerons "Serious Straw Bale" for instance), however this book is concise and holds just the right amount of detail to get you started, especially if you are in the UK or Ireland.
Highly recomended!
Go and build it with bales!
If you are looking for a book detailing the history and growth of SB building then this isn't it; check out the Steens excelent books perhaps. There are also books on the subject that go into more detail (Lacinski and Bergerons "Serious Straw Bale" for instance), however this book is concise and holds just the right amount of detail to get you started, especially if you are in the UK or Ireland.
Highly recomended!
Go and build it with bales!
31 of 31 people found the following review helpful
By snakelock
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is concise, spot on and a must for every straw house builder. All the fundamentals are covered and while other books may be ten times the size they rarely will give you really more information. What I would like to see is a bit more about statics e.g. how much can a wall, a frame, a truss or a piece of timber hold.
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By A Reader
Format:Paperback
Clear descriptive elements for all phases of building. A very good guide for DIY stawbale building. The book concerns construction in northern climes. Whilst it is pertinent to foundation & wall structures, a chapter exploring roof design & construction would have the icing on the cake.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant book for anyone consider a self-build.
This book differs from many of the others on the market as it is based in the UK, as opposed to the USA, so covers a lot of our materials, planning and problems that a straw-bale... Read more
Published 28 days ago by Mrs. Lauren S. Homan
2.0 out of 5 stars
A little disappointing
Having read the reviews I was very disappointed with the book. Being a design professional I was expecting, and hoping for, sound design advice for using this methodology,... Read more
Published 1 month ago by CADMAN
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good book
If I were to build a straw bale house I would probably want this book. I looked through it after I have bought it for a friend, but it is not really a book I would have bought for... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Lisamay
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very speedy service
A brilliant practical guide on building with straw bales, full of useful hints and very interesting and good pictures. Thank you
Published 3 months ago by R G
5.0 out of 5 stars
A passionate author
This book was a pleasure to read.
Barbara Jones has a passion and true interest in sustainable and practical living that i found both inspiring and achievable. Read more
Barbara Jones has a passion and true interest in sustainable and practical living that i found both inspiring and achievable. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Alan M
5.0 out of 5 stars
Spot on
Concise, detailed instructions, good illustrations, well written. Flipping through the book when it arrived, some of the techniques described seemed a little beyond me, but I'm... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Mr T J Clark
5.0 out of 5 stars
Building with Straw Bales: A Practical Guide for the UK and Ireland
A complete and concise explanation of straw house building, a brilliant buy and an interesting read! I would recommend it to anyone interested in echo design.
Published 12 months ago by Mrs. Bridgette Giblin
4.0 out of 5 stars
Building with Straw Bales
Building with Straw Bales is a really good book as it covers most of the subjects prospective builders of straw bale house want to know. Read more
Published on 3 Feb 2011 by Chris Dean
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must
Well written concise guide to building with straw bales in the UK. Anyone with a basic DIY knowledge would be able to build using straw bales with the information in this book.
Published on 11 Nov 2010 by healthman
5.0 out of 5 stars
Practical advice and methods for straw bale building in the UK
There is always a sort of missionary ideological zeal, as one might expect... however the practicality beams through. I am an engineer, and it all made sense. Read more
Published on 15 Oct 2010 by Dr. Karl Venter
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