What Goes Under the Straw Bales?

Wood

• In a post and beam style of home construction, straw bales can be placed on top of a horizontal beam. In this case, the thickness of the straw bale wall acts as an insulator, while the wooden frame gives structural strength to the building. The support beam can be part of a pier foundation or it may sit directly on a masonry foundation.

Plastic

• Exterior walls can be built from straw bales, and installed on property lines, around your garden or as an extension of your dwelling area. These types of walls usually are set directly on the ground with only a strong piece of polyurethane plastic to separate the natural material from the ground. The soil must be well drained and not prone to flooding.

Cement

• Straw bales can used as over-sized building blocks and placed on top of a concrete footer, as if they were cinder blocks. During the pouring process, rebar needs to be placed in the footings to secure the straw bales.