Home-Sustainable Building - Straw Bale - Longevity

Longevity and Durability

It is believed that the strawbale building technique has been used since the late 1800's. However, straw has been used in one way or another throughout human history to make shelters all over the world.

With care and maintenance, strawbale homes can last for many, many years. The oldest documented straw bale house is from 1880's in Nebraska. The natural enemy of straw is water and humidity. Therefore the most important element in building with straw bales is protecting them at all times. Water damage from the ground and through the roof poses a greater threat than at the sides of the walls. One water rotten bale can ruin an entire wall.

However, strawbale buildings in humid areas are capable of "weathering" well. For example the Burritt Museum, which was built in Hunstville, Alabama in 1938.