OK, you all were great to help my husband and I with design ideas, not we have another question. I have looked at many websites for straw bale, but cannot find out: what do they use to build the interior walls with?? after going to all that trouble to be conservationist, do they just use regular materials like stick frame houses? and I need more details about how do you hang a picture on a straw bale wall? Thank you.

-- Lisa (lgh@rmci.net), March 15, 2000

Answers

well, Lisa You can build walls just like in a stick house, but the only straw bale house I helped build we used chicken wire on the inside, held in with wire " U "'s. Make sure to get it tight, then we mixed up a thick concrete and "plastered" the interior. We wanted it to be fireproof. Then you can put regular plaster over it if you want a finer finish.

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), March 15, 2000.

Nothing wrong - or unconservationist - about using timber framing and wall coverings anywhere, but particularly inside where you don't need thermal insulation. Just use recycled timber, or plantation-grown. Actually, probably OK to use recycled (second-hand) wall-boards of any kind (except asbestos) - better than having them end up in landfill with all their remaining energy and resource investment wasted. I understand (reading, not experience) that for wall hangings on straw-bale walls, the trick is to let timber into/between the bales as you build (a layer of timber - well anchored, good depth into the wall), finish the walls, then attach an old-fashioned picture-rail to that. Alternatively, you could put timber baulks into the wall at the corners of bales as isolated attachment points for the rail, but you'd need to keep VERY careful track of where they were - maybe a long nail as a marker, only about a quarter inch into the end of the timber, so you could pull it out when you're putting up the rail. Same trick lower down if you're going to need to fasten kitchen cupboards to walls. If you're actually going to need to hang heavy things from wall, add timber uprights as well - all while the bales are going up. Keep track of where all these timbers are as you finish the walls.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), March 15, 2000.

I haven't had any direct experience with straw-bale construction but from what I remember in reading it real similar to what the second response recommended---cement over chicken wire. It used to be called stucco. It can be applied with a grooved straight trowel so a nice pattern can be built in. Be sure you like the pattern tho cause it will be there for the duration. I would think you'd be able to finish coat it with plaster tho for a finer, smooth finish if you prefer.

-- john leake (natlivent@pcpros.net), March 15, 2000.

I assumed you meant interior walls. Of course, the others are right for inside lining of exterior walls.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), March 15, 2000.