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Derek Roff expresses his opinion very forcefully on
the subject of straw bale panels and though he makes a number of valid points he
needs to reflect that the straw bale panel is around because the market also
known as the customer wanted it! If you conduct in depth market research as we
have done then the profesional construction industry customer expresses
their view very clearly on what they want from all renewable fibre
materials.
The construction scene here in the UK is a
frustratingly complex and ultra conservative industry with everyone working on
professional trust backed with insurance support and financial penalties for
failure to deliver over the life of a project or building, in support of any
guarantees required. It's pretty much the same anywhere with a modern set of
building codes, industry best practice and sustainable construction criteria and
a meaningful health and safety system.
However having to deal with a professional industry
does not mean that a straw bale panel shuts out the
owner/builder or makes straw bale building less of a community
project. In our model the opposite is the case we actively encourage
non-professional builders, owners and even members of the general public
to participate fully and with the support of the professional contractors
who provide neccesary supervision to ensure professional quality control in
line with all aspects of modern construction.
Where Derek is right is the need for a
'construction bale' and guess what we have also incorporated that technical
requirement into the model as well, so much so that we can offer
a construction bale with an engineered bulk density, and moisture level
specification, in different sizes, still made on farm if required but also able
to be made off farm too.
Derek's cost argument is also wobbly, we buy
our straw at a price that is good for the farmer because we want construction
grade material not animal bedding. This allows us to supply a range of
products, construction grade straw bales, DIY interior and exterior wall panel
components with or without straw bales, part-finished and fully finished panels
with the option of site installation and panel finishing
services.
By the way we can manufacture onsite or offsite and
still source our raw materials and labour locally in 99.9% of the situations we
deal with here in the UK.
With volunteer labour we are no different in cost
than onsite loose bale construction per sq metre. Against modern
materials we are competitive against brick, block and ballon frame stick
timber construction built by the trade skill professionals, we
can certainly offer a quicker build and as many design variations as you
would like up to four stories high
In conclusion it is clear that there is as in most
things a market for everything and though I am fortunate in being able to choose
to grow my lettuce myself but I also like the option of being able
to choose to buy my straw bale building a number of different way's
too!
Best wishes to everyone!
Mark
Mark Harrison
Harrison Embrey 48 East Street
Olney Buckinghamshire MK46 4DW United Kingdom Tel: 0203 2875886
Mbl: 07527 974637 Website: Coming Soon
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