Trend embraces tradition: All you need to know about straw houses!

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Fashion tends to repeat itself. The same can be said of architecture and design, which tend to revive many of the past traditions for the benefit of modern homes. Thatching is one of those processes that is experiencing a huge resurgence in popularity. No, we are not speaking of thatched homes in rural areas, but modern structures built in the heart or on the fringes of the city.

Thatched homes use dry vegetation consisting of straw (generally of rice, wheat, rye or oats), reed and sage to cover the roofs and the walls of the building. Sometimes, only the roofs are covered with straw. Fancy building a straw house for yourself? Do not attempt to do so until you read this!

Straw houses – a look back

Traditional straw houses are a prominent feature of vernacular architecture. However, their history is difficult trace. This is one style for residential houses that can be spotted nearly everywhere. 

Bumbung panjang houses of Malaysia have thatched roofs made of palm leaves. Thatched roofs made of rice straw are common in the rice cultivating regions of Malaysia, Indonesia and India.

German, Danish and Dutch houses cover the walls and roofs with straw bales made of rye straw. Country homes of England have not escaped the charm of straw, either. Thatched houses can be seen in such distant landscapes as Maasai in Kenya or the floating Peruvian islands of Lake Titicaca.

What are the advantages of having a straw house?

So what are the reasons behind the enduring charm of straw houses and why is it worth building a new one? To begin with, straw as a raw material is available everywhere. The ready availability also makes it very cheap.

Straw bales can provide excellent insulation to your modern home. This is one of the prime reasons for its increasing popularity. It also makes your home more energy efficient. 

This is one of the fine examples of recycling agricultural wastes for modern architecture. Even when combined with concrete walls, straw can add a very graceful charm to your home.

Benefits to the environment

Natural straw is biodegradable. It is eco-friendly and sustainable. When there is a worldwide drive to remove synthetic materials from modern structures, it makes sense to go back to nature and use organic materials to save ourselves from impending environmental disasters.

From the image above you can see how easily you can construct a two storey family home using straw bales for the roof. It is designed by Friso Woudstra Architecten Bna B.V. from the Netherlands.

Some tricks of the trade

Before opting for thatched homes, it would be better to keep in mind the following factors. Like any other construction material, the quality of the straw bale ensures the durability of the structure. Choose densely packed bales made of long fibres.

To give strength to your walls, use compressed bales. Use clay fillings to toughen up the straw bales. Maintain a very low moisture level in straw walls and roofs.

How to protect a thatched house?

One of the biggest concerns with thatched structures is the potential fire hazard. Some reed grass species are considered to be naturally fire retardant. But it may not be possible to obtain such reed grass everywhere.

Under these circumstances, you can use fire retardant sprays to give protection to your thatched home. Installing fire barriers is an effective way of dealing with the problem. Light Rockwool slabs can also act as a potential fire barrier.

Possible inconveniences

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It is also better to keep in mind some of the possible inconveniences associated with the straw structures. The thickness of the straw bale walls can rob your interior of some space. Maintaining very low moisture level (less than 20%) in your straw walls might pose a challenge – wet sections can suffer from insect and mould infestations. Straw walls should be plastered off properly, as poorly plastered walls can negatively affect its insulating capabilities. 

But if you equip yourself to meet these possible challenges, then you will easily manage to build your first green home for yourself and your family. 

Want to know how to take care of your current bricks and mortar home? See some of our tips to protect your brick walls from moisture.

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