How to build a straw bale house. Thatched house. It is necessary to comply with fire safety rules at a high level during the construction of a house

Just recently I came across an interesting video material. While watching a video about how to build a house from timber, I noticed another story - about how to build a house from straw with your own hands. And after looking, I decided to write about it.

The video was filmed by the settlers of the Ark.
It turns out that the cost of building such frame house made of clay and straw, it is not very large. The technology is also not very complicated. The house turns out warm. The plot itself shows how to build a frame house from clay and straw, describes the timing of the work, the price of construction, and the technology of pressing clay with straw. The video is definitely worth watching, even just for your own development. And suddenly, it will come in handy in life!

The return to partially forgotten construction technologies is associated with the trend of using natural materials. They give homes a natural coziness and have good environmental qualities. A classic example of such buildings are adobe houses, the main material of which is a mixture of clay and straw. The buildings gained popularity for their environmental friendliness, natural regulation of the indoor microclimate and relative simplicity.

Adobe house. What it is?

Analogues of modern houses made of straw and clay existed in ancient times. Some of them have survived to this day - in the arid regions of Asia and Africa you can find entire adobe cities. Improvements in construction technologies have led to the widespread spread of clay buildings throughout central Europe and modern Russia. Properly built clay houses have a service life of more than a century and are safe for residents.

Visually, adobe buildings do not always differ from ordinary ones, although their main “charm” lies in the ability to give the walls any shape and adapt them to objects home interior. Numerous recesses, bathtubs and smooth transitions strikingly distinguish clay buildings from brick and other block-cement structures.

Old technologies are rarely used in their original form, since the performance parameters of modern houses are improved through the use of modern additives. The natural fire-fighting properties of clay, which is prone to baking at elevated temperatures, are improved with the introduction of components that increase strength characteristics.
Clay construction technology

1. Materials that you should stock up on in advance:

wooden boards and beams for building the frame of walls and roofs;
clay;
sand;
straw;
water (well or centralized water supply).

Additional materials that will be useful during the preparation and finishing stages include:

gravel - for preparing backfill for the foundation;
material for the manufacture of solid or brick foundations;
flat wooden planks for upholstering the walls of the house;
wooden (metal) formwork or mold for making blocks.

Although the house will be made of clay, it is better to make its foundation classic - strip. A solid and elevated foundation will increase the lifespan of the house and reduce the impact of melt water on the lower part of the walls.

The site for construction should be chosen away from lowlands and access to the surface of groundwater. The optimal location of a clay house is on a hill.

To get the most durable building suitable for our latitudes, it is better to make walls by pouring mortar into the formwork. You can also use clay blocks, which are laid similarly to classic block structures.

A significant reduction in construction costs is achieved by independently extracting clay on your own site. Straw is cheap in small quantities, but the largest costs will be associated with the purchase of sand and lumber.

The straw should be dry and free of rot. It is best to buy it immediately after the harvest season, and then leave it for the winter in a dry and ventilated area.

2. Preparation of the solution

Many authors advise using not pure clay, but a mixture of it with sand. Since clay and sand differ in composition for different regions, you can test their different proportions (2:1, 1:1, 1:2, etc.). The clay-sand mixture, to which water has been added until a dough-like consistency is obtained, should be clenched in a fist and dropped onto a solid base from a height of 1.5-2 m. The lump suitable composition It should not crack or become too flat when dropped.

To prepare the solution, you can use a concrete mixer or a flat base with edges curved upward (mix the solution with your feet). The clay is crushed to a fine powder, after which sand and water are added to it. There should not be a lot of the latter so that the mixture maintains a highly viscous consistency and does not flow out of the formwork.

Straw is added to the resulting clay-sand solution in an amount of 30 to 60%. The more straw, the lower the thermal conductivity of the walls and their strength (you will have to limit yourself to one floor). The resulting solution is poured into formwork forms placed along the edges of the wooden frame of the house.

The frame is assembled from beams and consists of vertical and horizontal guides. There should be a blank for the roof on top, since after pouring the walls you need to immediately start covering it. The solution is poured in stages (up to 30 cm per day), after which the wall should be given time to dry. When built independently, the wall usually “grows” by 10-15 cm in one daily cycle.

The outside walls are covered with sheathing made of straw or reed - they create an additional heat-insulating layer. The lathing is fastened with a thin layer, which is pressed against the wall with wooden flat strips (nailed to wooden supports). The outside of the sheathing is covered with clay or lime plaster.

3. Roof made of straw and clay

Tied sheaves of straw are laid on top of the boarded roof frame, which are then leveled (the rope holding them together is cut). The straw is fixed in the same way as the sheathing on the wall - with wooden slats. After covering the roof, you can begin to coat it with clay-sand mortar.

The process is carried out from the lower edges of the roof to the ridge. After hardening, the coating will not allow moisture to pass through, but will allow the room to “breathe” and maintain humidity at an optimal level of 50-55%.

Feature: the roof should be filled alternately and evenly on both slopes to avoid skewing.

4. Decorating the walls of the room

What is the difference modern houses from old buildings?

To give additional tensile strength to the clay solution (straw partially copes with this), cattle manure was previously widely used. The same solution was used to plaster the walls of the room, which was called the “muzanka”. The main disadvantage of such houses is the abundance of insects in the walls.

Nowadays natural chaff and firewood are used to increase strength. A couple of centuries ago they were difficult to get, but now they are waste from plant processing.

view of adobe house

The addition of crushed stone or expanded clay increases strength and reduces shrinkage during drying. The auxiliary element is sand. To increase the rate of hardening, cement or lime can be added to the clay-sand mortar. Their additives are used during construction in humid weather, with the goal of reducing the risk of wet wall material becoming wet.

Casein, starch and liquid glass help increase the viscosity of the solution during operation. The latter is an antiseptic, therefore it additionally prevents the appearance of mold and insects.

The use of modern construction technologies, including the sublimation of a strong foundation, increases the strength and stability of the building. Instead of a clay roof, you can lay out a regular roofing felt covering, which is covered with slate or tiles on top. This will not worsen the environmental properties of the house, but will improve its performance.

To protect your house from rodents, you need to provide a thin metal mesh under the sheathing.
Features of caring for thatched houses

Fire safety is a separate issue in the operation of buildings. Clay houses with external and internal surfaces coated with clay or lime mortar are less prone to destruction in a fire than ordinary ones. When a fire occurs, the straw in the walls does not ignite, since air access to it is blocked by a layer of clay.

house wall made of clay and straw

Despite the high fire resistance of the walls of adobe houses, the wooden parts of the roof do not have it. To reduce the likelihood of fire, wood should be treated with fire retardants. They do not provide absolute protection against fire, but are very effective if the application technology is followed.

Construction companies involved in the construction of houses made of clay and straw claim that it is practically impossible for insects to appear in the walls. This is true only when maintaining low humidity, which is not always possible. Do not neglect the advice to use lime plaster, which will block the walls from allowing moisture to enter and will suppress the development of insects.

Before building a house, consider the location of the stove and bathroom. Reflective screens should be placed in places of contact with heated surfaces, and waterproofing should be done in wet areas.
Adobe house: pros and cons of the structure

Advantages of adobe buildings:

clean and healthy "atmosphere";
indoors is cool in summer and warm in winter;
low cost of building materials;
relative ease of construction.

About the features of houses made of clay and straw, as well as personal experience construction of the author, look at the video:

based on Internet materials

Good afternoon Remember the fairy tale about the three little pigs? One of them had a dwelling made of straw. But, unfortunately, it did not bring happiness to its owner. Our fascinating portal, without being lazy, found a selection of houses made of such material in which not only fairy-tale characters, but also people can live comfortably and be completely satisfied with their lives.

How quickly everything is developing! The need for efficient and environmentally friendly designs is becoming stronger and more obvious. Designers and architects are constantly looking for (and finding!) new options for using materials that will help them achieve their goals.

That's why we see all sorts of unusual designs. For example, houses made from recycled waste or underground structures. Straw is also an interesting alternative.

Small eco-house in the forest in Southern Finland

Let's take this cute cottage. It can be found in Finland. It was built for summer holidays. This is a small room in shabby chic style.

It was built gradually, from sand, stone, waste wood, straw and other natural materials. The walls are adobe and the outside is plastered. Friends and neighbors of the owner took part in the construction. It may not be as spacious or fancy as some, but it's all about relaxation. For example, the fact that the interior is illuminated by candles.

In order to somehow expand the small space of the structure, the builders found a way out in the form of a ceiling window. The idea was a great solution that allowed the owner to admire the starry night sky and watch warm drops of rain flow down. The roof was originally constructed from a pile of cardboard and tarpaulin. We can say that it never happened. Now it is wooden with a waterproof layer.

The small window at the back is well secured with plaster on the walls. Perhaps the home is not the most perfect creation on the planet, but such a building is enough to spend several summer days and take your mind off daily problems.

Hobbit House

This is what he looks like

When you imagine houses made of straw, the fairy tale home of the Hobbit probably comes to mind. Today, many architectural firms use the design idea of ​​the habitat of this fairy-tale character in their projects of environmentally friendly buildings.

The house was built on a hillside and has a very original design. Its owner decided to start this project primarily because he no longer wanted to pay off huge mortgages to build or buy his home. As you can see, the solution to the problem was found when inspiration struck its owner.

The owner of the house was not a professional architect, but this did not bother him at all. He began construction by collecting scrap, wood and other building materials. After just four months everything was ready.

The house has an amazing and magnificent interior, it is charming and attractive. Why not live in it? The refrigerator here is cooled naturally. Plus there are other cute features. The house is compact and inspires new exploits.

Straw bale frame

Eco-friendly house from ModCell

As a rule, buildings made from the material in question are small in size, shabby in appearance and definitely do not look like the wonderful creation demonstrated in the photo.

It is a prefabricated structure built by British company ModCell, which offers an innovative approach to traditional straw bale construction. The house they built is modern and quite spacious, not to mention very attractive in appearance.

Modern home interior

Dining room interior

It must be said that the buildings are sustainable and energy efficient. The company uses compressed dried grass, which provides good insulation and stability. Blocks and wall systems are built from lumber filled with local straw or hemp.

As a result, very important qualities are achieved: air tightness, anti-mold effect and stability. This type of construction proceeds with virtually no waste.

Wooden staircase

Modern furniture in the dining room

The outside of the dwelling is covered with rendering lime. In addition, straw panels can be successfully used in the construction of any houses. You can safely use them when developing several levels. Modern open-plan houses with large panoramic windows are built in this way. This is a simple example of what can be built from the material.

Straw bale housing for Carol Atkinson

Either a house, or a huge bale of straw (at the creation stage)

Here is another example of amazing housing. It is, in fact, the first such building in the UK. It is quite suitable for spending a holiday there. Located in East Yorkshire, it is popularly known as the "straw bale cabin".

It is an eco-friendly structure that was built using grass grown and recycled from local farms, as well as a number of other materials given a second life. To make the house more sustainable, the owner placed a micro wind generator on its roof, which generates energy for the needs of the residents.

Home in all its glory

Pond nearby

Roof structure

Living room

The house can be rented to those who want to live in such a building, enjoying peace, tranquility and clean air. From the outside it looks very simple, but in fact the appearance is deceptive - a much more complex structure is hidden inside. The place is ideal for solitude and spiritual practices; from here you can be transported to a completely different world.

Sustainability and energy saving

One of the stages of construction

When such buildings were first conceived, it was expected that the result would be something shabby and unattractive, waiting to be replaced by something better. But as it turns out, we can now truly appreciate straw houses due to their low cost and significant energy savings. Many designers began to recognize the benefits of such structures, and soon a number of similar projects were created.

Beautiful building

Bale cutting

The program is aimed at developing energy-efficient, environmentally friendly structures and methods of their construction. Making a straw bale house turned out to be the best solution. The material became more popular after people began to appreciate the benefits it offers.

Such housing is easier to build, investments are minimal, and it offers more advantages in terms of energy saving. This is the first step towards a more harmonious future.

There is an increase in construction using eco-materials all over the world, and the results are already impressive. The value of the project also lies in the fact that many people are beginning to think about changing their usual lifestyle.

The first dry grass house in Rome

Old building

Contrary to general belief, houses made from eco-materials are not only suitable for rural areas. In fact, they can look quite charming and fit nicely into the urban landscape.

The Officinamobile group of architects knows this very well, and that is why they are trying to change the stereotyped attitudes in people's minds. The team recently built remarkable block buildings in Rome, the first of their kind in the city.

The bale was initially mixed with crushed bricks and earth. The walls are plastered with a mixture of crushed shell rock and local mud. It may not sound very attractive, but the resulting result is surprisingly beautiful. In fact, this coating gives the house a very beautiful earthy tone that makes it feel especially warm and cozy.

The goal of the project was to create an energy efficient space with a sustainable design that would fit perfectly into the terrain.

Earthquake-resistant houses

In Pakistan

As we mentioned earlier, the buildings are extremely environmentally friendly and energy efficient. But there is also another valuable quality they can offer. These structures are earthquake resistant. That is why they are a wonderful alternative and a real salvation for some regions.

A group called PAKSBAB has already started a program in which durable buildings are created using local resources.

These dwellings are built according to inexpensive designs using eco-materials. Seismic resistance is the most needed feature in them. They are able to withstand the destructive force of earthquakes. Oddly enough, it is straw bales and bamboo that give buildings this property.

Construction of the century

Final stage

The panels serve as load-bearing structures and means for insulation. The walls are covered with clay plaster. This is a great innovation and also low cost. Construction costs only $2,250 - this is the total cost of the materials used. The structure of the building is simple and does not require much effort to implement. The group of architects who built 11 such structures is a great success all over the world.

Eco-houses

Nice little mansion

Man is constantly looking for alternative materials that can help him improve his quality of life. Today, the negative impact of construction methods and materials used on the environment and human health is of particular concern. Therefore, the process of finding ideas to solve a problem is an important part of the work. Modern companies focus their efforts on the use of natural materials.

Construction crew

For example, the amazingly beautiful and original building in the photo is built from natural raw materials. It is located at the top of the slope, offering a wonderful panoramic view, and looks quite majestic. Its shape is rectangular and the overall design is simple. As you approach the building, it becomes noticeable that it is built of timber. But no one will see that it is filled with dry grass.

The raw materials provide thermal insulation and allow the structure to be strong enough to support the roof. It took about 700 bales to build the living space and workshop. The creation process itself is simple, but it takes time, so the more volunteer helpers you have, the better. This is another big project that inspires us to accomplish new feats.

Another plan of action

All examples of buildings presented are large in volume and encourage one’s own creativity. But before you start sculpting yourself, you need to find out in what area the implementation of such a program is allowed. Construction itself will not cost a lot of money, but it will require time and effort. Prefabricated houses will be even easier to make if you think about the right frame from the very beginning.

Home construction

After completion of work

Straw bales are used only for filling walls. The base of the structure is made of wood, which is a successful and organic addition that will bring more warmth to the building and lead to energy savings. It is best to plaster the walls. In terms of design, don't expect perfection. appearance. It will be more of an organic interior with irregularities and unique details. You can try to round off the protruding corners for greater beauty.

Three times more efficient

Construction

We have looked at the main advantages of eco-buildings, let's summarize. Firstly, the material is three times more efficient than that used in the creation of conventional houses. Costs are reduced by up to 75%. Secondly, the life cycle of such a structure is about 30 years. Thirdly, excellent thermal insulation does not require additional means for heating. And fourthly, the costs of transporting raw materials are minimal.

And one more wonderful property. Walls made of dry processed grass “breathe”, they have a special charm - the living structure creates an extraordinary indoor climate.

One of the stages of construction

Continuation

The material retains heat inside and maintains a constant temperature. Clay is used to coat bales and absorb dirt. It is a renewable resource that is also considered more sustainable and has better fire protection properties than wood.

The walls can support weights of over 1000 kg/m2 and are easy to construct. The mixture used for plaster is made from earth, straws, sand and plants. A house with an area of ​​about 100 m2 can be built in 3–4 months, which in itself is very attractive. Currently, such construction is gaining momentum, and you can find unusual mansions not only in rural areas, but also in cities.

Thatched houses are built and loved all over the world! In the North-West, the first such buildings were built 10 years ago. Reliable, warm, cozy, they have stood the test of our climate perfectly! However, until now, the modern technology of construction from pressed straw is known to few people.

Modern technology of straw house construction (in the West it is called strawbale-house) is based on best properties this unique natural material. When pressed, turning from an armful of dry stems into a straw block, it becomes an excellent building material. Pressed straw is considered the best insulation material. The straw stems of plants are tubular and hollow. They and between them contain air, which, as is known, has low thermal conductivity. Due to its porosity, straw has good sound insulation properties.

The composition of cereal straw, like the composition of wood, includes cellulose, semi-cellulose, and lignin. Straw contains a lot of silica, 2-3 times more than wood. Thanks to this element, straw has enviable durability. There are examples of thatched houses being used for 100 years.

Advice

Since straw walls are lightweight, the foundation design can be quite simple and economical. A geological survey will help you accurately calculate the preferred type and amount of foundation material.

The straw of rye, flax, wheat, and hemp is best suited for making blocks and constructing buildings. In the USA, compressed hay was used. Dry straw must be used as a raw material for blocks. During pressing, the desired density value is set. The finished straw block has the correct parallelepiped shape. It is tightly tied with metal wire or polymer cord. Blocks of different parameters are produced. The best dimensions for construction are: length 50-120 cm, width 50 cm, height 40 cm with a weight of about 23 kg. In the world experience of straw house building, there are even “elephant”-jamba bales measuring 0.5 by 1.0 by (1.6–2.2) m. They have a double density of 160–180 kg/cub.m. But in this case, a crane will be required to lay the blocks, and, therefore, construction will be more expensive.

Frame plus straw

A straw house can be built using either frameless or frame methods. With the frame method, a load-bearing frame of wood is built on the foundation, between which straw blocks are tightly laid. Even before laying the blocks, a roof is erected so that in case of precipitation the straw does not get wet. The blocks are fastened together in the same ways as in the frameless method. The first row of straw blocks is laid at an elevation above the floor to protect against moisture penetration.

The walls are leveled (the straw is shaved) with a special hand saw or an ordinary chainsaw. A mesh and several layers of plaster up to 75 mm thick are applied on top of the straw blocks. Sometimes they plaster without a mesh on the sheathing. This is cheaper, but a more labor-intensive process. The plaster mixture consists of clay, sand, and water. The ratio of components is related to their qualities and is determined experimentally. Flour paste is added to the top layer of plaster (so that it does not get dirty) or linseed oil(improves the level of moisture protection). There is a method of treating straw blocks with clay when the block is on a short time dipped in clay or applied to a straw surface with your hands in 3 layers. Total share clay in the wall structure will be no more than 10%. Such walls are stronger and better protected from fire, but the technology itself is more labor-intensive. The walls turn out heavier and take a long time to dry. In terms of the number of storeys, the frame-straw technology is limited by the load-bearing capacity of the frame, i.e., in principle, it is even possible to build a straw skyscraper. Currently, five-story thatched buildings already exist.

Behind the straw wall

Humidity is one of the most important factors taken into account when building a straw house. In our rainy climate, with a high moisture content in the air throughout the year, with temperature changes, the straw walls of a properly constructed house feel great.

Advice

A thatched house can have a roof of any shape. During construction, avoid heavy roofing materials. Natural roofs, such as shingles, will harmoniously combine with thatched walls. It is important that the contact of straw walls with precipitation falls on it is minimized, so design the eaves overhang to be less than 60 cm.

Anton Tofilyuk, CEO Ecofocus LLC

The technology is based on the natural ability of straw to evaporate excess moisture. Straw even “breathes” better than wood. It has good vapor barrier properties. There are already examples when a bathhouse and a swimming pool were installed in a thatched house without using vapor barrier films.

The equilibrium moisture content of the straw in the wall is no more than 8%.

When building a thatched house, it is extremely important to ensure that the humidity of the straw enclosed in the wall is no more than 18%, otherwise organic rotting processes may begin. You can, of course, treat the bales with an antiseptic, but then the principle of environmental purity of the materials will be violated. If the correct technology is followed, the straw structure will survive even a short flood. But structures made of straw cannot stand being wet for a long time.

It seems that the phrase “fire-resistant straw house” sounds paradoxical. A plastered wall made of straw is not afraid of fire. Bales coated with plaster are tested to withstand 2 hours of exposure to an open flame. A straw block that is open on only one side will not support combustion. The bale compaction density is 200–300 kg/cubic. m also prevents combustion. But fire safety measures must be observed at the construction site, because straw stems scattered throughout the area are easily flammable.

The frame technology of straw house construction allows you to ensure the stability of the house against strong winds and not be afraid of a storm warning announced by weather forecasters. You can obtain the required amount of airtightness of the walls by varying the thickness of the plaster and the structure of the external façade finishing.

How to protect straw walls from rodents? Straw house construction has its own tricks that prevent rodents from settling in. For example, it has been noticed that mice do not like rye straw. The bales are also sprinkled with slaked lime.

Both in the USA and in Belarus

The first thatched houses appeared in the USA, Nebraska, in the 19th century.

In the CIS, with government support, houses are being built from straw in Belarus. This type of material is familiar to the republic. In the modern construction of thatched houses, one of the pioneers and promoters is E.I. Shirokov, now the president of the Belarusian branch of the International Academy of Ecology. In 1996, under his leadership, the first frame wooden house from straw.

Construction technology using straw is certified in many countries of the world, including Belarus. In Russia, it was patented by the Moscow company Sereda Obitaniya.

Advice

The money saved on wall material can be used for various new technologies for home improvement. For example, solar lighting system, project smart home, alternative energy. As a result, truly environmentally friendly and energy efficient houses can be created at the cost of traditional construction.

Anton Tofilyuk, General Director of Ecofocus LLC

In the Leningrad region, straw house construction began in 2000 with the participation of Norwegian eco-architects. Under their leadership, straw houses were erected in the Vsevolozhsk region for the School House initiative in the village of Ryzhkovo and the Svetlana charity project. So we already have the first eco-villages. Perhaps in the near future there will be more and more such ecologically safe settlements in Russia!

You can build a straw house yourself. It is no coincidence that this technology is classified as open-source, i.e. information about it is in the public domain. Self-construction will allow you to save on wages for hired builders.

Will thatched construction be standard?

In Russia, about 800 million tons of rye and wheat straw are produced annually. A significant part of it is burned. But half of the straw produced is enough to build 390 million square meters. m of housing per year or 2.6 million houses of 150 sq.m. Straw - quickly renewable natural resource. We get it almost for nothing. Cost of straw for a cottage average size(150–200 sq. m.) will be about 30 thousand rubles. Since straw blocks are enough lightweight material, the cost of building a foundation will be minimal.

A thatched house has many advantages. Builders do not need to have any special skills. If they have a qualified manager, they will be able to handle the technological process quite well.

So far, the cost of building a straw house in our country is the same as that of a wooden mansion, because there is no infrastructure to ensure the production of straw blocks. The straw needs to be dried, but hot and dry summers are rare here. And the construction process itself is quite labor-intensive and troublesome: sawing and “shaving” the walls, leveling, plastering.

However, adherents of green construction are confident that straw houses have a great and bright future. Our builders are thinking about developing standard projects. The idea of ​​a house made from ready-made modules is considered very promising. Such a house is built with the expectation of family growth and future additions to the family.

Text: Irina Khlyzova

Consultant and photo: Ecofocus LLC, BRO

Today, people are increasingly inclined towards eco-construction and the use of only natural materials, all this is due to the fact that Construction Materials manufactured today contain quite a few chemical components that negatively affect human health. So to build clean house, you will need rye straw, the construction process will be shown below.
Materials

1. rye straw
2. clay
3. sand
4. lime
5. roofing material
6. waterproofing
7. board
8. rail
9. fine mesh

Tools

1. laser level
2. hacksaw
3. a circular saw
4. axe
5. hammer
6. professional pipe
7. Master OK
8. putty knife
9. mallet
10. roulette

The process of building a house from straw.
And so let's figure out what this construction is and where it came to us from, and everything is quite simple, our great-grandfathers built houses from straw and covered the roof with it. In those distant times, materials were used exclusively of natural origin, because people were distinguished by good health and endurance, since they did not cause any harm, unlike today. The best material is the material from Mother Nature.
To build the walls of a house or roof, our ancestors used rye straw, because “rodents” don’t really like it and don’t settle in it, unlike wheat straw.

According to the author’s advice, rye straw should be used, and it must be prepared in the fall and stored in storage or a hayloft so that it remains dry during storage. Straw is best used in bales, because with the mechanical formation of a straw block, a high density is achieved, which again prevents the breeding of “rodents” in the walls; also, pressed straw does not burn, but only chars at the edges.
The density of the block can be checked as follows, simply by standing on it with your feet; if the bale is strong and does not fall apart, then it can be used when laying a wall.
After the material has been prepared, you should mark the site for the construction of the future house and decide on the construction of the foundation; you can use the well-known strip foundation, or screw in piles. Pile foundation was used during the development of the North, today this technology is quite well known and is available to anyone who wants to build a house on stilts. The advantage of this type is that the building does not come into contact with the ground. And so the author and his friends screw in the piles, first in the corners, and then around the perimeter.
As soon as the piles are screwed in, the author takes measurements with a laser level, because the slightest unevenness at the beginning of construction can lead to an uncomfortable situation upon completion. The piles must be located at least 50 cm above the ground surface. After all the conditions have been met, you can begin to build a frame from timber and boards.

The roof is covered immediately, so that when laying straw blocks in the walls of the frame, they do not get wet from sudden bad weather and rain.
And only then does the masonry of the walls begin; the undeniable advantage of this masonry is that no mortar is required, and the blocks are simply laid in two rows in a checkerboard pattern.

Then window openings are inserted into the walls of the building.

Glass packages are installed in the resulting window openings
After the main work is completed, the master proceeds to plastering the walls. For this purpose, it is worth using a solution based on clay, lime and sand.
The prepared solution is applied to the walls.

Nowadays, many people are trying to build houses from environmentally friendly materials. Speaking of such, thoughts about the tree immediately come to mind. But do not forget about the same clay or even straw. Many may say that straw is a thing of the past and is not reliable. But thanks modern technologies Such material has acquired not only quality, but also strength. And if you don’t want to spend money on it, then you can also make straw concrete blocks with your own hands.

Straw concrete blocks are a cheap, durable and environmentally friendly material.

But first you need to figure out what it is. This material is produced in the form of rectangular blocks. The block has a standard width (45 cm) and height (35 cm), but the length can vary from 90 to 112 cm. Such a block can weigh from 16 to 30 kg. To ensure that such material retains its shape, the blocks are tied (and some manufacturers even stitched) with polypropylene cords. In agricultural applications, such blocks are assembled into a single whole using wires or natural fibers. But these fastenings are suitable for storing straw, and not for buildings. After all, the wire itself is iron, and iron tends to rust. And over time, the fiber loses its strength due to rotting. Straw also comes in several types, so it is better to use rye or rice for construction. They have optimal properties. If you choose the first option, then it is better if it is winter. This straw has a denser structure.

Requirements

There are certain requirements for straw blocks, namely:

1. Dryness. Moisture accumulated inside will cause rotting. By the way, it is dry blocks that are so light, and if they have significant weight, then there is a possibility that the straw was not properly dried. If you smell rot or feel moisture with your fingers, then the material is of poor quality.
2. Straw quality. The stems must be flexible and strong. If it does not break when bent, then it is a quality block. Otherwise, such material will quickly crumble.
3. High quality press. If the correct technology for pressing the block was followed, then it should not lose its shape. To do this, you can try to insert your fingers under the cord; if more than 3 fingers do not fit, then this is a high-quality press.
4. Same sizes. The entire batch must be identical. If the blocks differ in size from each other, then it is better to refuse to use this material and find another manufacturer.

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How to create a straw concrete block with your own hands?

When you do something yourself, there is always a huge plus - cost savings. In addition, when making it yourself, you can always be sure of the quality of the materials used. The same applies to straw and concrete blocks. Cement is combined with straw not only for the reason of imparting strength. It helps the organic matter in the straw to convert into sugar, which is easily dissolved in water. But such transformations prevent the straw block from hardening. In order to eliminate this negative effect, physical and chemical methods are used.

The first thing they use is oxidation. To do this, the blocks are placed in open sunlight, under the influence of which substances are oxidized, and they begin to be absorbed into the walls of wood cells. At the same time, some other substances, when interacting with bacteria, are converted into crystals and subsequently form insoluble forms. But for all this to happen at the proper level, a lot of time is needed. The second method is soaking with water. If the unit is left in the rain for a long time, almost all water-soluble substances will come out of it. For this purpose, special containers are also used. But again, it takes considerable time to process the entire batch of straw blocks. The most common method today is treatment with solutions of calcium chloride or liquid glass. On average, they need about 9 kg per cubic meter. This technology is popular for a number of reasons:

1. Thanks to the liquid component of the glass and calcium chloride, the product quickly hardens. But if we compare the strength of finished blocks of both brands, the latter have this indicator much higher than the former. If you are using calcium, you should know that it is best to use aged straw. But for the use of liquid glass, the type of straw does not play a special role.
2. Using such additives, provided that the average temperature environment will be 20 degrees Celsius, such blocks can be folded after 24-4 hours, and after 7 days they can be used for construction.

• cement – ​​1700;
• slaked lime – 600;
• sand – 1550;
• straw – 80-105.

But several factors affect water consumption:

• what is the required viscosity of the batch and filler;
• brand of concrete mortar;
• an indicator of the initial moisture content of the straw.

Such proportions will allow you to create a block with a strength index of M-10. Some builders are replacing concrete with clay. Initially, they chop the straw into pieces (0.5 m), after which they soak it in a clay solution. And again, the resulting material is pressed.

The block itself is formed using a baling machine.

You can build it yourself, or you can turn to professional balers or rent a press. If you still decide to seek help, you should know that the quality of the straw largely depends on how it was collected and stored. An important point is its grinding, because if its tubular structure is damaged, then such a material will lose all its properties. Nowadays straw is often sold in the form of rolls, which slightly lengthens the process. After all, such rolls will have to be re-rolled and boiled. And this can lead to disruption of the original structure of the straw. But everyone chooses for themselves what is convenient for them. We must not forget that ready-made straw blocks are impregnated with special chemical compounds, which significantly affect their strength characteristics.

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Technical features of straw blocks

Construction country house– these are always some problems related either to work or to finances. But the use of straw blocks helps solve some negative aspects in construction.

And all because they have a number of their own characteristics.

1. Low cost. Straw is basically a waste product agriculture. Therefore, purchasing it will not be difficult. The only thing you will have to spend money on is transporting such material. But if the farm where the straw was purchased has a bale machine, then there will be no need to transport it anywhere.
2. Low thermal conductivity. Buildings made of such material do not require additional insulation. No problem with finishing works, because, having a rough surface, the material perfectly “clings” to any coating.
3. But it should also be noted that straw concrete blocks still have a certain “softness”, so floor slabs are not placed on them, as this leads to deformation. This is the main reason why such material is used for the construction of frame houses only.