Re: [Strawbale]strawbale shed advice

[Steven Luttikhuis <stevenluttikhuis@solcon...>]

Hi Simon,

Like Martin, I'm no expert too but enthousaist enough to (hopefully) help
you a bit further. 

I took a look on http://www.friendlybynature.co.uk/strawbale.htm (thank you
Martin). To see was a field cottage build on only four poles. My guess is
that in an wet environment these pole might just be what you need for your
shed if you don't want a concreet foundation. Although wooden pallets is a
creative idea, I think that they have to much contact with the (often) humid
ground and that they prevent air to ventilate freely. My guess is that
rotting (of pallets and straw will start soon if you use pallets.

If you choose to use poles for your shed, small poles might just be
effective enough.  Drill them (deep enough) by using these simple handly
operable drills and if you doubt, use more than four poles; 2 on each
corner, and/or poles in the middle). Stones will carie the risk off sinking
slowly into the ground, unless it's a sandy ground.

Curiouse of what you finaly decide to do, I say:

Bye,  Steven

(stevenluttikhuis@solcon...  from The Netherlands)

> Van: Simon Blackbourn <piemanek@gmail...>
> Beantwoord: strawbale@amper....muni.cz
> Datum: Sun, 19 Sep 2004 12:21:25 +0100
> Aan: strawbale@amper....muni.cz
> Onderwerp: [Strawbale]strawbale shed advice
> 
> Hi
> 
> We are thinking of building a small shed from strawbales as a
> demonstration workshop on an allotment here in Oxford. We are
> confident about how to do the walls and roof, but we need some advice
> about the foundations and floor.
> 
> The ground is fairly heavy, damp soil and as it's in England it
> obviously rains a lot! We want to keep it simple and very cheap and if
> possible not to use concrete. The whole thing will be light and small,
> so we don't really need foundations for strength, but our concern is
> about keeping the bales away from the damp ground.
> 
> We have thought of raising it up on legs made from brick, breezeblocks
> or wood, but apart from that we're not too sure. Does anyone have any
> suggestions?
> 
> Thanks!
> Simon
> 
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