L
landhausbauer29 Jun 2020 21:01Hello everyone,
The idea:
What I am wondering about:
Best regards
The idea:
- Single-family house built with solid wood construction
- Wooden floor slab
- No basement
- Insulation with straw because it is sustainable and allows for cost-effective implementation even with very high insulation thicknesses
What I am wondering about:
- What about fire safety?
- How can it be ensured that pests do not infest the straw? Even if everything is covered with wood paneling, could worms or similar pests bore through?
Best regards
N
nordanney29 Jun 2020 21:14landhausbauer schrieb:
Any spontaneous ideas?Ask specialists who are paid to handle such unusual requestsP
pagoni202029 Jun 2020 21:18Don’t worry, at least straw burns faster—
Nonsense—but I don’t think I wanted straw anyway.
In our old house, I had the following setup for 30 years (despite all the prejudices and horror stories at the time…).
It was a solid construction with a raw concrete ceiling. Directly on the ceiling, we first laid a foil, then screwed down, I believe, 8 or 10cm (3 or 4 inches) battens. We filled the gaps with cork granulate and screwed down 28mm (just over 1 inch) solid wood planks on top. This floor is still in the house today and will probably last another 30 years (we have since sold the house). The planks were pine (which was popular back then); I sanded them once or had them sanded, then stained them a gray-brown color. They looked very stylish in the middle, but near the edges looked like the aftermath of a room fire, because the stain absorbed differently depending on the sanding. Since then, I no longer sand floors but replace them.
Out of necessity, a covering coat (decorative wax from Osmo) was the only option, and it turned out to be the best solution ever.
Under the planks, we also laid thin cork strips to prevent creaking. Since everything was screwed down, it never happened.
Nowadays, people mostly use underfloor heating, which is probably why this method is used less often. A shame. I have been in so many houses; I would never have replaced my floor.
My construction specialist back then (old school) recommended skipping the expensive cork and just putting sand in between.
I think some will shake their heads at this, but honestly, it would have worked just as well; sand also insulates sound effectively.
Maybe you can take something from this; today I have underfloor heating and stylish oak parquet, but to be honest, I sometimes miss that rustic, solid wood floor that looked even better with scratches than before.
A friend once spread gravel on his solid plank floor and walked on it for three weeks to create a rustic effect (you have to come up with ideas like that).
Afterwards, he vacuumed it off and treated it with an Osmo wax or similar. It looked really great, even if no one in the neighborhood understood it.
Have courage for individual decisions!!!
Nonsense—but I don’t think I wanted straw anyway.
In our old house, I had the following setup for 30 years (despite all the prejudices and horror stories at the time…).
It was a solid construction with a raw concrete ceiling. Directly on the ceiling, we first laid a foil, then screwed down, I believe, 8 or 10cm (3 or 4 inches) battens. We filled the gaps with cork granulate and screwed down 28mm (just over 1 inch) solid wood planks on top. This floor is still in the house today and will probably last another 30 years (we have since sold the house). The planks were pine (which was popular back then); I sanded them once or had them sanded, then stained them a gray-brown color. They looked very stylish in the middle, but near the edges looked like the aftermath of a room fire, because the stain absorbed differently depending on the sanding. Since then, I no longer sand floors but replace them.
Out of necessity, a covering coat (decorative wax from Osmo) was the only option, and it turned out to be the best solution ever.
Under the planks, we also laid thin cork strips to prevent creaking. Since everything was screwed down, it never happened.
Nowadays, people mostly use underfloor heating, which is probably why this method is used less often. A shame. I have been in so many houses; I would never have replaced my floor.
My construction specialist back then (old school) recommended skipping the expensive cork and just putting sand in between.
I think some will shake their heads at this, but honestly, it would have worked just as well; sand also insulates sound effectively.
Maybe you can take something from this; today I have underfloor heating and stylish oak parquet, but to be honest, I sometimes miss that rustic, solid wood floor that looked even better with scratches than before.
A friend once spread gravel on his solid plank floor and walked on it for three weeks to create a rustic effect (you have to come up with ideas like that).
Afterwards, he vacuumed it off and treated it with an Osmo wax or similar. It looked really great, even if no one in the neighborhood understood it.
Have courage for individual decisions!!!
L
landhausbauer30 Jun 2020 00:16I am picturing more of a wooden structure than a concrete slab foundation, resting on a few isolated footings, so it remains accessible from below by crawling at least.
I believe everyone will need to rethink raw materials in the future, and natural insulation offers a sustainable solution.
You often get the typical "just google it" response, even when explicitly asking for constructive advice.
Thanks for the answers.
I believe everyone will need to rethink raw materials in the future, and natural insulation offers a sustainable solution.
You often get the typical "just google it" response, even when explicitly asking for constructive advice.
Thanks for the answers.
P
pagoni202030 Jun 2020 00:38Well, your question has been posted for a day now, so you should try to be a bit more patient. This is quite an unusual request that really needs to be discussed with professionals, especially considering the investment involved, as well as insulation standards, structural engineering, and so on.
I’m somewhat familiar with this type of construction from other countries. For example, an acquaintance owns a house in Sweden built on pier foundations and using lightweight construction techniques.
What surprises me a little is that you want to realize everything using natural building methods, yet you seem quite concerned about nature itself. I have lived in a similar environment abroad, where animals inside and around the house were very much part of everyday life.
You also seem somewhat contradictory when you refer to visiting animals as “pests” that you don’t want inside the house, while considering straw to be optimal but not calling it “weeds.”
With this type of construction, you will inevitably have to deal with insects, beetles, and other small creatures, as well as mice or possibly even rats or martens under the house. Cats and other animals often use such spaces as a place to relieve themselves, which you are probably already aware of.
As I mentioned, I know these living conditions from abroad and am familiar with the regular visitors in and around the house. Hummingbirds were nice, but there were other creatures I could have done without.
The only way to prevent this is through targeted, sometimes drastic countermeasures — but that would contradict the ecological and natural concept you aim for.
Also, from a structural perspective, your proposed construction will likely only allow for limited building volume.
Regarding fire protection, insurance premiums may be higher (similar to thatch roofs), and you should also consider the increasingly common issue of allergies nowadays.
I am building my large garden shed and sauna in a similar way, but for the main house I choose other methods for the reasons mentioned above.
There are many smaller suppliers of wooden houses or log cabins, including those from the USA and the Baltic states. I think you will find the answers you are looking for there.
I’m somewhat familiar with this type of construction from other countries. For example, an acquaintance owns a house in Sweden built on pier foundations and using lightweight construction techniques.
What surprises me a little is that you want to realize everything using natural building methods, yet you seem quite concerned about nature itself. I have lived in a similar environment abroad, where animals inside and around the house were very much part of everyday life.
You also seem somewhat contradictory when you refer to visiting animals as “pests” that you don’t want inside the house, while considering straw to be optimal but not calling it “weeds.”
With this type of construction, you will inevitably have to deal with insects, beetles, and other small creatures, as well as mice or possibly even rats or martens under the house. Cats and other animals often use such spaces as a place to relieve themselves, which you are probably already aware of.
As I mentioned, I know these living conditions from abroad and am familiar with the regular visitors in and around the house. Hummingbirds were nice, but there were other creatures I could have done without.
The only way to prevent this is through targeted, sometimes drastic countermeasures — but that would contradict the ecological and natural concept you aim for.
Also, from a structural perspective, your proposed construction will likely only allow for limited building volume.
Regarding fire protection, insurance premiums may be higher (similar to thatch roofs), and you should also consider the increasingly common issue of allergies nowadays.
I am building my large garden shed and sauna in a similar way, but for the main house I choose other methods for the reasons mentioned above.
There are many smaller suppliers of wooden houses or log cabins, including those from the USA and the Baltic states. I think you will find the answers you are looking for there.
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