durability of strawbale in Northeast

Hello Everyone, I live in No Vermont, (lots of rain, lots of snow, cold). We are considering strawbale insulation in a timber frame and I wanted to hear from people who have built with strawbale. Has it held up? Was moisture inevitable? I don't drink koolaid and so feel a bit of an ideological slant when people wax poetic about a particular eco-building method. We want to do what is healthy for our bodies, and healthy for the planet, as well as work with materials that feel accessible and "real" to us but definitely want negative and positive and neutral info. Thank you for taking time (if you do).

Hi Avery, welcome to Permies!  I have a relation with a straw bale house in Wyoming.  I'm pretty sure strawbale is good for cold, wind and snow.  The one issue I know they have is that the bales go above the roof (Spanish mission style?) so there are bales exposed to the sky.  They have plaster on them but a single crack up there leads to water in the bales.

So I think that, based on their experience, if you have a roof over it with good overhangs you should be in good shape.  Rain splashes up at least 18" onto walls so you may want to have the foundation or stonework come up at least a foot and a half above grade before you start with the bales.

Mike Haasl wrote:Hi Avery, welcome to Permies!  I have a relation with a straw bale house in Wyoming.  I'm pretty sure strawbale is good for cold, wind and snow.  The one issue I know they have is that the bales go above the roof (Spanish mission style?) so there are bales exposed to the sky.  They have plaster on them but a single crack up there leads to water in the bales.

So I think that, based on their experience, if you have a roof over it with good overhangs you should be in good shape.  Rain splashes up at least 18" onto walls so you may want to have the foundation or stonework come up at least a foot and a half above grade before you start with the bales.

Mike, thank you for your reply. Can I ask how old the house is? I have read about the good overhang and splash protection and so are planning for these features. I can only imagine the amount of work/diligence it takes to keep their bales dry. That's commitment to a "style" that I don't have. :)

I would estimate 20 years old.  

I think their "style" would be fine if they put some clay tiles or other roofing on the bales so they aren't so unprotected.

I know of a couple north east pa with a strawbale 20 sum years they just replaster every few years.The farm is called Quiet Creek Herb Farm check it out.the hand scuplted house author evanto has lived in cob structures for 30 plus years.Good Hat and Good shoes is all you need.no matter what house you build their will be maintainence unless you go with a stone house like Hellen Scott nearing authors of the GoodLife.best of luck.