[Strawbale] cracks in the plaster

[Leanne Rellstab]

I know, I have to expect some cracking...but...

We've built a two story modified post and beam strawbale house.  We are finally plastering the inside of the house, on the exterior bale walls, and on the interior partition walls, some of which are dry wall, and some are plywood.  We've put on probably three coats of lime plaster, and got the typical cracks in the plaster as it dried.  We rubbed all of these out.  Now that we are on the final coat, every room is cracking along the bottom of the box beam.  As time goes on, these cracks are getting worse.  One room we've put on a lime wash, and the cracks really show here!  I'm trying to figure out why this is happening, and what to do about it.  

We're in a very cold climate (currently 7 deg), so we can't really open the doors and get that fresh air-but we are opening them a little.  It is extremely humid inside the house (because of the plaster, and spraying water), and very dry outside.  My best guess is that the wood in the beam has so much moisture in it that it has expanded, causing the crack.  The shell of the house stood exposed last winter, so I'm thinking that most of the settling has already occurred.  So far we've only had a propane heater and an electric heater going on the first floor, mostly at night.  During the day, the house stays very comfortable from the passive solar design.  We just hooked up the in-floor heat, and maybe if we turn up the heat, it will help dry out the house.  

Should I just wait and see what happens over say, the next year, and maybe the cracks will heal themselves?  Should I try and dry out the house...or will this make the cracking worse?  Should I rub out the cracks, and re-paint (limewash).  I'm open to suggestions, thoughts, or previous experiences.

Thanks,

Leanne Rellstab
Pinedale, WY