Straw bale construction
If you are thinking about creating a structure with straw bale construction or want to know more about it, here are some things to consider. One of the large considerations you will want to figure out early on is the specific type of construction. You can either do a post and beam construction with the walls filled in with the straw bales, or you can use the straw bales as the weight bearing part of the structure with the roof resting on the bale walls.
When looking at cost structures, there are elements that can vary widely. If you are considering this type of structure, then you already know that these types of buildings cost considerably much less than a size equivalent conventional structure. But beyond that, cost of the bales, for example, varies depending on what season you choose to purchase them in. Transportation distance will also play a key role in the cost per bale. Texas is a great place to get straw bales from. 200 Million tons of straw are burned every year because, almost all of which is perfectly useable for construction purposes. As for the exterior applications, you can either do-it-yourself, which may take longer but will almost always result in lower cost, or you can hire a contractor. The material you choose for the outside will cost different amounts depending on what you choose. For example site soil will cost much less than stucco. Straw bale buildings have been built for as low as $10 per square foot and the higher end homes for about $100 per square foot.