Straw huts

[Guest guest]

This message has come through from Rijeka in Croatia.

 

These are the questions I can think of right now. Surely, you know

much more. Please could you help us? If it's not convenient for you to

answer on all questions together (as I anticipate it is, because of your

many duties), we will be happy with your mercy in the drop-by-drop form of

explanations.

 

Thanks for your inquiry I will briefly answer them point by point.

 

>- what is the bigest size of such hut that one can build

 

You can build up to two floors high, thatis s ground floor and one more

storey. Laterally as big as you like. I would recommend this because it

takes a little time to get good at this craft.

 

>- is it possible to build basement under such hut

 

Yes, it is, but naturally I would not build it as big as the floor area of

the ground floor rooms. Access could be from inside or outside with adequate

building materials used.

 

>- how many floors up is possible to build

 

One above the ground.

 

>- how much weight it can endure each floor

 

There's no specific weight limit. When you get good at building you will

develop an understanding as to what would be advisable. I have built many

things; most recently a hard standing base for my caravan on a steep sloping

garden, with the bare minimum materials. Experience in building needs to be

there if you are not going to consult (or know) a structural engineer. And

you have to know what you are doing if you don't want to risk accidents.

There are more accidents in the building industry than any other. If you're

not sure don't risk it.

 

>- is it possible to build in electricity, water-supply system and heating

 

Yes, no problem. It just needs planning properly. For internal weight

holding ie water tanks etc. you need to use enough timbers or lintels.

Tip: If it looks safe ie it looks perpendicular then its safe. But you must

have a very good foundation for every load bearing concern, because if it

begins to go off square it will not be safe, and so you should take it down

and build that part again. Also the installation of wood burning

stoves/cookers for heating etc is quite feasible.

 

>- how long the construction takes

 

That depends on how many people you employ on the project. A team of eight

complete beginners finished a one room workshop in two days - to roof level.

But several of them had had previous building experience, (besides the

instructor).

 

>- how much is estimated cost

 

Well in England bales cost about 50 pence each (half of one pound sterling).

A bale measures approximately 1.5 metres X .50 X .40 so you can work it out.

Don't forget to take out the windows and doors and when your building!

Timber depends on what you can get. I get recycled timber and all manner of

paraphenalia from the throw away society in England, but in Croatia you may

not be so fortunate in this regard.

 

>- how long can last such hut

 

Such hut can last as long as 150 Years, as found in Nebraska USA.

The whole secret of this is the requirement that the roof must overhang the

walls by about two feet at least. .6 metres (minimum) I like this style of

house in anycase, AS IT PROTECTS THE WALLS OF ANY CONSTRUCTION.

The site needs to be naturally drained ie build on the top of a rise rather

than in the bottom of a dip in the land.

 

>- what is the level of earthquake resistance of such hut

 

I had a communication from Akhandadi prabhu about these houses. He thought

they were ideal for devotees to live in. They are probably much more

earthquake resistant than any rigid construction like timber,concrete, steel

etc. Of course the best place if there is an earthquake is outside the

house. If it falls down, then you build another one it's cheap enough. You

would need to keep a ready supply of bales in a 'solid house' store as just

when there might be an earth quake there may not be any bales around that

are DRY and suitable for making a new building.

Make sure your house is not too close to others, as when infrastructure goes

down this creates problems. Your sanitation won't cause any problem at all

because you will be using the Stvik Indore Toilet system which means there

is no possibility of pollution from burst holding tanks or pipes holding

water bourne sewage. This will also provide you with a constant supply of

the most convenient fertilizer which should always be in abundance. You

won't have to worry about your supplier of commercial fertilizer being out

of business due to any possible catastrophy. Ok a nuclear bomb landing on

your roof is another consideration, but no worry there really either, as you

will be chanting Hare Krsna!

 

 

>- what kind of roof is on such hut

 

You can put a conventional roof as you'd find on any house to suit your

requirements. basically it's only the walls that are different. All other

features need the skills of all other professions. One idea I had for

cheapness was to use corrugated iron, proof it well, and then cover this

with timber poles for good looks. This material however is very noisey when

it rains but in your climate for insulation you can pack the roof space with

more bales for insulation and soundproofing. Make sure the roof space is

completely sealed from fire risk inside.

 

>- what is the waterproof strength

 

As waterproof as, or more than, houses of normal construction. This is

because if the rain does blow in a storm at right angles to the walls the

rain will only go in about half way through the bale then when the rain

stops and the weather clears up all the moisture will return out through the

lime plaster mix. No damp will get into the building. Even if you leave the

walls uncoated with lime render, while say you are trimming your outer walls

to required shapes etc. ie cutting off round corners, the effect will be the

same.

 

 

>- can mouses eat through the walls of such hut

 

The principle is against rodent infestation is this.

According to the leading expert in the UK on this subject rats and mice only

like to run along passages. ie. passages between a two skin wall. Straw bale

building is very tightly compacted and should leave no room for rodents to

enter. However, as I had my doubts on this the first building I wanted to

build in Croatia was a house for Smita Krsna Maharaja. This would have been

on raised staddle stones-thus solving all damp problems from the floor and

the rodent and indeed snake problems. A staddle stone is a device that looks

lika a mushroom that makes it impossible for rodents to climb. If you coated

these with cow dung the snakes and other bugs would be detered.

 

>- will the bears or wild boars become irritated with the smell of the hut

>(and eventually run against it)

 

This you will have to see. Croatia being one of the last places inhabited by

wild bears and boars in Europe, but I wouldn't have thought this a problem

as I've heard in Canada if a bear comes, stay in the house he will soon go

away.

 

>- what about snakes

 

As per above

 

Insulation properties are: Straw bales are of high thermal mass and low in

conductivity so to increase heat still further internal walls facing the sun

can be built of cob (mud mixed with small stones) or clay casting. These are

of low thermal mass but possess high conductivity - so they release the heat

they have accumulated in the day the same night.