Product Description

Straw bale building is a radically different approach to the process of building. Like all innovative ideas, it has been pioneered by the passionate, and used experimentally by those with the vision to see its potential. Its background is grassroots self-build; it is firmly based in that sustainable, 'green building' culture that has brought to the construction industry many new and useful ideas about energy efficiency and responsibility towards the environment. As a building material, straw excels in the areas of cost-effectiveness and energy efficiency. And because the building method is so straightforward, people without previous building experience can participate in the design and construction, making significant savings on labour costs. The author, Barbara Jones, is the most experienced straw bale builder in the UK, who has adapted North American techniques for use in our wetter climate, particularly by using coppiced wood and traditional lime and clay plasters. It gives details of all the main construction methods, and includes bale specifications walls and foundations doors and windows plastering construction drawings building regulations and planning permission. The book also gives answers to some frequently asked questions about straw bale building.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #76995 in Books
• Published on: 2002-04-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 125 pages

Review
Got my imagination whirring ... I had a greater sense of wide-open possibility in the wake of this book than I've experienced from any straw bale publication in years... Offers value for novice and veteran alike - Mark Piepkorn, formerly Editor, The Last Straw magazine.

About the Author
Barbara Jones is one of the foremost straw-bale builders in the UK, and has been involved in building over 200 houses. Her company Amazon Nails runs workshops in straw bale training and natural building techniques.

Customer Reviews

Great Introduction to SB Building
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!

Can't do without
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.

Excellent and concise
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.