STRAW BALE HOMES

No courses exist to qualify Home Inspectors to inspect these unique structures. My qualifications are based on my 30 years in conventional residential building, the study of building science, direct building experience and information gathered through my close ties to the straw bale community.

Because the strawbale wall structure is hidden behind plaster, inspecting these homes involves...

• pre-inspection research including a search for plans and photographs and talking with the builder wherever possible.
• Understanding common strawbale construction practices.

While strawbale homes can be comfortable and energy-efficient, they can be very unhealthy if improperly designed or built. Promotional campaigns have sometimes made these homes seem simpler to build than they actually are. As a result, some homes have been constructed by builders and homeowners who were not qualified. These homes are not all they're cracked up to be. "Cracked" is the key word here.

In addition to inspection of the home systems and components usually included in the General Home Inspection, the Strawbale Home Inspection includes evaluating the home for:

Improper design features

Improper or inadequate design features which can lead to future problems. Roof and window details are especially important.

Construction Methods

Are the water supply pipes installed in strawbale walls? Is the first course of bales held above the floor? Straw bale homes require special construction methods.

Moisture Intrusion:

Nothing is more important to a strawbale home than keeping excessive moisture out of the bales. Moisture can enter or leave the straw as a liquid or a vapor.

Proper Flashing methods

Flashings are a main line of defense against moisture intrusion.

*Measuring Straw Bale Moisture Content  

Has moisture already invaded bales hidden within the walls? Measurement is usually only necessary if there is a visual indication of moisture intrusion of the straw bales.

Excessive moisture in bales can cause these problems:

• High mold fungus spore concentrations- high concentrations of mold spores in indoor air can make these homes extremely unhealthy..
• Wood decay
• Steel corrosion
• Concrete degradation
• Wall surface deterioration.

Determining strawbale moisture content involves testing of straw within the wall cavity using a probe attached to a high-qualty moisture meter.

* Without invasive techniques, test results will usually be limited to those areas offering non-invasive access to wall cavities. Invasive techniques require the consent of the seller.

Freeze Damage

If the stucco-cement exterior wall coverings experienced freezing temperatures before they cured, they may have suffered freeze-damage.

Proper Sealing at Terminations

Those doing the plastering sometimes fail to seal all areas where exterior wall coverings terminate such as windows, doors and the tops and bottoms of walls.

For more detail, view Straw Bale Home Basics.