[Strawbale] corner detail problem

[John Swearingen]

Andrew,

Although we do it often, framing a section and/or stuffing with flakes
leaves the section vulnerable to moisture intrusion.  Properly lathed, there
shouldn't be any cracks between the baled and loose sections, but if one day
there is, the loose straw provides no barrier against water entering deep
into the wall, and also will let the wind blow through.

You could make a full plug of straw/clay without timber posts.  You would
need to work with your material, starting deep inside the wall with more
straw/less clay and finishing to the outside with more clay/less straw.
Wrapping a bit of mesh around the metal post and extending it into the
corner would probably key the whole plug nicely.  We prefer tying in with
mesh, which holds in many places, rather than pegs which only grab in one
place.

John "Plughead" Swearingen

John Swearingen
 SKILLFUL MEANS
design and construction
 www.skillful-means.com


-----Original Message-----
From: strawbale-bounces at listserv.repp.org
[mailto:strawbale-bounces at listserv.repp.org] On Behalf Of Andrew Webb
Sent: Sunday, July 09, 2006 4:09 AM
To: unlisted-recipients:; no To-header on input
Cc: strawbale at listserv.repp.org
Subject: Re: [Strawbale] corner detail problem


Hi Derek & John,

I thought about framing out the corner but dismissed it because it seems 
like that's asking for vertical cracks in the render where the bales 
abut the framed part.  Whether that's true or not depends how well it's 
built, I suppose.  For these particular owner-builders I want to keep 
things simple.  Round corners would be nice.  I think I mentioned in my 
first post on this about doing it with a light timber frame to hold 
straw biscuits to form the corner.  This is how at least one builder I 
know does rounded window reveals. 

If you do it in light straw-clay, you'd basically have an 18"x18" 
rounded stray-clay corner post and be relying on the mesh to hold it 
vertical; wouldn't you?  Or is there a reliable way to key that corner 
into the bales - timber pegs or something?  If so, it could even be 
sculptural.

-Andrew



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