The construction of Maison Sampson
‘We see this legacy of bale construction, passed on to us by our homesteading ancestors, as… a beautiful baby that got thrown out with the bath water, but managed not to go down the drain.’
Matts Myrhman and S.O. MacDonald, straw bale pioneers and authors
In the beginning…
First we had to create a level slab on which to build the house. This involved pegging out; digging and pouring the foundations, creating a level slab on which to build the house, and embedding bamboo pins for staking the bales.
The wooden framework
Using locally sourced Douglas fir, we then created a load-bearing structure to support the roof and accommodate the walls. We used a 'modified post and beam' framework and pre-fabricated roof trusses.
The roof
Using terracotta Roman tiles, we had to create a seamless entity from what effectively amounted to three separate roofs. We used poplar battens with a plastic weatherproof membrane, interlocking DC12 tiles from Terreal and extruded copper-coloured aluminium guttering from Araltec.
The straw bale walls
We had to fill the voids between the wooden posts with stable and secure bale walls using a ‘running bond’ seven bales high. Then protect them from the elements until they were rendered.
The floor
We then had to create a perfectly level floor that would accommodate the terracotta floor tiles and the under-floor heating. We used a self-levelling anyhdrite screed (gypsum) rather than more durn concrete.
Rendering the walls
Then we were ready to create a breathable sand-and-lime ‘skin’ to protect the bales from the elements and to give them their unique look and feel. This involved a hell of a lot of preparation and almost as much St. Astier lime.
Ceiling and internal walls
With the perimeter walls rendered, we could finish the ceiling and put up the internal walls. We used Fermacell boards rather than the standard plaster boards. Made of gypsum and re-cycled paper, they're stronger and more healthy.
Finishing-off
The last stage before the programme’s deadline was to turn a mess into a home. We are particularly indebted to Choice for their lovely fitted wardrobes, RED and the Shelfing Store for the shelfing systems that have helped to organise our clutter, Kinetico for the indispensable water softener, and ECOS paints and Holkham linseed paints for their beautiful breathable solvent-free paints.
Coming as soon as possible
After we insulate our roof spaces with Batiplume (feathers, sheeps' wool and cellulose), we want to harness the energy of the sun, re-cycle our rainwater and install a little wind turbine in order to become more self-sufficient.