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Straw bale retrofit?

prefab | Posted in General Questions on

Hello, I would like to insulate the exterior of my 1940’s prefab with straw bales. Has anyone done this? If you have, could you advise me of the best way to tackle it?

Thank you.

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  1. GBA Editor
  2. Mike Eliason | | #2

    there have been a few passivhaus retrofits that have done this in austria. though those seemed to utilize prefab panels as well... or at least prefab wood panels that were infilled w/ straw. if i can find them again, i'll post.

  3. rtasker1 | | #3

    Hi David,
    Where are you located? There are special considerations if you are in a seismically active zone like I am here in San Diego. Straw bale walls are heavy and need to be engineered be safe in an earthquake. I am a straw bale builder and have been planning to wrap my 1952 insulation-free home. I have developed some details and talked it over with my engineer. Let me know if you are in this area.

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