Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
bale either side and the window or door is
fixed to them.
cost due to more complicated timber work.
And as the straw is very forgiving, total
accuracy in plumb is not necessary, but
wilder variations can be brought back into
shape easily! Self-builders love it because
it's fast, fun and fulfilling! Most of the
larger loadbearing buildings now being
built in the UK and Ireland are actually
pre-compressive loadbearing designs (see
page 32).
The loadbearing style is a simple,
straightforward building method, easy
for non-professionals to design following
readily comprehensible basic principles.
Designs from one-room to two-storey
homes can be created using a simple
step-by-step approach. Curves and circles
are easy to achieve, though at some extra
SECTION THROUGH LOADBEARING STRAW WALL
Rafters, usually 225mm x 38mm
to allow for enough insulation
Wallplate 150mm x 50mm (6” x 2”)
placed vertically with 18mm SmartPly
glued and nailed
Internal hazel pins 1
1
⁄2
” (38mm)
diameter x 3' 3” (1m) long
Overhang
18” (450mm)
Hazel stubs into first course of
bales 1
1
⁄4
” (32mm) diameter x
14” (350mm) long
Wallplate incorporating
floor joists
Insulation e.g. tightly
packed straw
Two or three coats of lime
plaster/render averaging
30mm thick
Internal hazel pins, two per
bale, fourth and every second
course thereafter
Bales
Hazel stub
Base plate
