Alternative Building Materials for a House

[Thirteen]

I found something more intriguing than gutting a house to the studs. Check it out!
http://www.dreamgreenhomes.com/

"And her hippie heart grew three sizes that day."

Dr. Owen Geiger's work is just phenomenal - google him if you want to see some of the joint projects he's completed. He and Mr. Hart are amazing!

[diggitydot]

Holy shit! That is AWESOME! I know where I'll be spending entirely too much time online...

[SoonerTexan]

Is the cost comparable?

[BonBon]

I follow a pinterest lady who's been posting these straw bale houses lately. I'm not sure I could get behind that. Some of these are really cool ideas.

My thing lately is this: http://moleculetinyhomes.blogspot.com/ The husband seems to think I wouldn't tolerate rubbing elbows with him in a house that small. He might be right.

[Sheherezade]

My best friend from high school built a straw bale house 10 years ago in Salida CO. I could ask her how it's held up. They had a contractor nightmare story but it was unrelated to building materials.

[diggitydot]

I've watched some really interesting shows on the bale construction. If we were building, I'd seriously look into that option.

[BonBon]

My best friend from high school built a straw bale house 10 years ago in Salida CO. I could ask her how it's held up. They had a contractor nightmare story but it was unrelated to building materials.

I'd be curious to know. It oogs me out just because I had some hay bales out back (I keep them handy for targets) and they disintegrated pretty quickly and had many an ant house within.

[HouseofWool]

I'd be curious to know. It oogs me out just because I had some hay bales out back (I keep them handy for targets) and they disintegrated pretty quickly and had many an ant house within.

But don't they essentially get sealed up within mortar, so pests and moisture do not have access.

[BonBon]

True, but experience has taught me otherwise. We had a bee infestation this summer (different from the honeybees of the year before). Did you know there are such things as mortar-burrowing bees?!?! They drilled/ate/who freaking knows a hole in the mortar of our brick home. I'm grateful it was right on the front stoop because I don't know how I would have found the hole otherwise.

[Momo]

I watched a nicely produced video, on an "Earthship" home, that was really cool. I'll see if I can find it.