FB "Twelve years ago, I built this straw bale house for my family..."
Twelve years ago, I built this straw bale house for my family—though I should really say we built it, as my wife, Dovilė Rozmanaitė - Bružienė, was both the interior and exterior designer, bringing her best to the project. We’ve been happily living here ever since. While some parts are starting to show wear, we expect it will be another ten to fifteen years before any major repairs are needed. The clay-plastered, textured walls and the excellent air quality inside have become features we can’t imagine living without. In fact, our next house will also be built with straw!
People sometimes raise concerns about mice in straw bale houses. It’s true that some homeowners deal with this issue, as do owners of other types of homes. I can’t say for certain whether straw houses attract more rodents than others, but I believe it largely depends on the quality of construction—whether straw bale/panel or conventional structures. Over the twelve years we’ve lived here, we’ve caught four mice inside and occasionally heard a few nesting in the roof. Four mice over twelve years isn’t a big catch, I should say, especially considering our forested, meadow-rich surroundings, where rodents are common.
From a technical standpoint, good exterior airtightness is key. It prevents warm air and food scents from escaping, which can attract mice. As long as the exterior is well-sealed, I’d argue that uninvited guests are unlikely to bother your home.
This was the first straw bale structure I built. Since then, my team and I have built many more, and I recently published a book on building high-quality straw bale and straw panel homes, sharing the best practices I’ve learned over the years. If you’re considering building a straw home, I encourage you to take a look. If your architect or structural engineer isn’t familiar with this method, the book offers a variety of technical solutions, complete with detailed drawings. Using these insights can help you build a truly high-quality straw home.
If you’re interested in the book, visit
www.strawbuildingbooks.com
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