The Straw Bale House

by Athena Swentzell Steen, David A. Bainbridge, Bill Steen, et al.

Book Overview

Imagine building a house with superior seismic stability, fire resistance, and thermal insulation, using an annually renewable resource, for half the cost of a comparable conventional home. Welcome to the straw bale house Whether you build an entire house or something more modest-a home office or studio, a retreat cabin or guest cottage-plastered straw bale construction is an exceptionally durable and inexpensive option. What's more, it's fun,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0930031717
• ISBN13: 9780930031718
• Release Date: August 2002
• Publisher: Chelsea Green Publishing Company
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 2.13 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 8.0" x 9.9"

Customer Reviews

An inspiring and informative book

This book would seem to be an indispensible starting point for anyone looking into the straw bale home concept. If the thought of a poorly-insulated, energy-guzzling, expensive, bland, mass-produced, contractor-built home doesn't quite appeal to you, this book is essential, for it shows that inexpensive doesn't have to mean low quality nor unattractive. In fact, bales and other "natural", low-cost building materials can yield attractively individual results in part because they are easy and fun to work with, enfranchising the future owner to be his or her own designer and builder. The inspiring photos included in the book help make the case for the aesthetic advantages. Of course, the most important function is to show how to build the straw bale home. In this respect, the book succeeds admirably, giving diagrams to illustrate the major techniques being used and showing how simple straw bale building is. Incidentally, this would make an attractive book for your coffee table even if you are just mildly interested in the subject. One warning though: even including the index and other back-of-the-book sections, there are only 297 pages, not 336!

Straw Houses that won't be blown down!

I must admit being fairly sceptical about straw bale construction until I read this book...The style is very assessible and the content is thorough, interesting and informative. Just about every angle is covered in depth without being overly technical. Includes useful covereage of many associated areas, such as rammed earth, adobe and passive solar issues.An inspirational read for whether you are a dreamer or seriously intent on buiding your own house!

I enjoyed this book immensely!

I first heard of straw bale construction about 6 years ago, and it captured my fancy immediately. However, my interest sparked many questions (i.e., how to finish interiors, roof styles, durability, moisture, etc.). This book reads very easily, with a good combination of history, how-to, and research, and answered virtually all my questions. I now have a clear picture of what is involved in building a straw bale home. A great resource and a great read!

I read this book and now I live in a SB house.

This book was directly responsible for our decision, two years ago, to build the straw house featured in the photo album. My wife, daughter (9mos.) and I are now living in the 3,600 sq ft home that cost @ $20/sq ft to build. That includes radient floor heat, high quality windows and a 1000 sq ft great room with a 15' high cathedral ceiling. Most of the labor was done by myself, friends and family. If you are considering building with straw, buy THE book and go to Arizona to take a workshop given by the authors. Both are well worth the money.