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Building With Straw Bales
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Bec



Joined: 28 Nov 2004
Posts: 71
Location: Newquay, Cornwall
PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 05 2:07 pm    Post subject: Building With Straw Bales Reply with quote
    

This book is set out in an easy to read format and begins with the history of building with straw. It deals with important aspects of bale selection prior to designing your 'project' and how to draw your plan in bales rather than measurements! At the end of many of the chapters it has a quick guide, bullet point style so you can remember the basics.
Unfortunately it was not as detailed as I would have liked, especially concerning how to lay the foundations (one of the main reasons I purchased the book in the first place!) and the only photographs are confined to the front and back covers although it is packed with detailed line drawings which are essential.
Having said that it is an easy and enjoyable read and will certainly fuel your enthusiasm for building with straw (especially when you discover that the cost of the bales for a 3 bed house can be as little as £208!) and is an ideal first start for anyone who is really interested in building using this method.
Bec
Building With Straw Bales, a practical guide for the UK and Ireland by Barbara Jones
ISBN 1-903998-13-1 £9.95 by Green Books

tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 05 2:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

She's one of the Amazon Nails/Strawbale Futures ladies isn't she?

You can build on loads of different bases including concrete slab (so I've been told)

Bec



Joined: 28 Nov 2004
Posts: 71
Location: Newquay, Cornwall
PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 05 2:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

She explains all the different types of foundations but not practical guide as to how to lay any of them!!
Bec

Jonnyboy



Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.
PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 05 2:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Does it go into detail on plastering the bales?

tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 05 2:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Bec wrote:
She explains all the different types of foundations but not practical guide as to how to lay any of them!!
Bec


Got a site then?

Blue Peter



Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 2400
Location: Milton Keynes
PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 05 2:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

What sort of foundations were you thinking of using?

I expect if you go on a course (of which there are quite a few dotted around the country), you'll be given a chance to do foundations.

I also see that Amazon Nails (Barbara Jones organisation) has a DVD out, which might be useful:

https://www.strawbalefutures.org.uk/

The website also contains a short version of the book, for those interested,


Peter.

Bec



Joined: 28 Nov 2004
Posts: 71
Location: Newquay, Cornwall
PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 05 2:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

No I don't have a site (yet) but will probably not be in the UK due to the stupid prices in this country!
There is some detail on plastering the bales but again it really isn't as detailed as I had hoped! Really just a guide but the resources section of the book is good.
I want to use as natural a foundation as possible. I have been trying to get on a course, there was one just down the road from me here in Newquay but it got cancelled because of lack of funding ah well better luck next time!
Bec

tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 05 2:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Well good luck.

Blue Peter



Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 2400
Location: Milton Keynes
PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 05 2:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Bec wrote:
No I don't have a site (yet) but will probably not be in the UK due to the stupid prices in this country!
Bec


I expect that house and therefore land prices will fall fairly dramatically in the next few years, so if you keep your powder dry, you might be all right,


Peter.

Bec



Joined: 28 Nov 2004
Posts: 71
Location: Newquay, Cornwall
PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 05 2:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I feel the same Blue Peter! not sure I can wait that long though.
Bec

tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 05 2:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Blue Peter wrote:
I expect that house and therefore land prices will fall fairly dramatically in the next few years


I'd be amazed if you were right, there may be a small drop but nothing major, we're an extremely densely populated island.

Blue Peter



Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 2400
Location: Milton Keynes
PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 05 2:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

tahir wrote:
Blue Peter wrote:
I expect that house and therefore land prices will fall fairly dramatically in the next few years


I'd be amazed if you were right, there may be a small drop but nothing major, we're an extremely densely populated island.


True, Tahir, however that population hasn't risen much in the last 10 years, but I bet if you looked at prices of building plots they've gone sky-high. And with house prices in general, since the cost of building a house hasn't risen very much, effectively what's risen is the price of the land. And that price will fall when the price of houses falls.


Peter.

BTW, I believe that on Newsnight last night there was something about the huge number (million?) of unoccupied homes.

tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 05 2:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

It's not just our population, it's how they choose to live, more and more people live on their own for whatever reason; divorce, no desire to get attached, early jump on the property ladder etc.

There are a frightening number of properties that are currently under single person occupancy.

Northern_Lad



Joined: 13 Dec 2004
Posts: 14210
Location: Somewhere
PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 05 2:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

tahir wrote:
There are a frightening number of properties that are currently under single person occupancy.


You looking at me?

tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 05 2:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Northern_Lad wrote:
You looking at me?



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