[Strawbale] Locking bales in place to walls

[Leanne Rellstab]

To anyone interested,

To lock bales in place against beams or each other we are using a shot of 
polyuerathane foam. I'm sure this will invoke the ire of many. We tried it 
on one short wall, squirting some into the "T" intersections were bales meet 
top and bottom and side to side and against our beams. After it cured the 
wall is incredibly solid, the bales don't move at all. There no air gaps at 
bale intersections or at bale to wall intersections.

Our Plasterer said the usual way to fill this void is to mix a course 
aggragate plaster and fill the void. When I asked if spray foam would work 
he said it would probably work really well and really lock the bales 
together. He plasters over foam quite often and it isn't a problem, the bond 
is fine. Also he said "stuffing" air gaps with loose straw doesn't create a 
good bonding spot for the plaster so he stuffs the air gaps with plaster 
instead.

We are using the modified post and beam method for support of the building 
walls. Essentially there is a verticle post made of 2x4's and plywood put 
whereever the engineer said we needed one,they are 17" wide(the width of the 
bales) . These hold up the "box beam" above, which is made of microlams and 
plywood.

Doug