When constructing a house, insulation and aeration are important factors to consider. They play major roles in temperature and humidity regulation. Proper ventilation and insulation help cut down the additional cost of using air-conditioning to regulate the temperature of your home.
This involves using the appropriate material for construction. One of such materials to use for insulation is the straw.
Straw, a product with various functions
Straw is a material used from time immemorial for the construction of houses. In ancient times when fans and air conditioners were yet to be invented. Straw was an effective and cheap construction material.
Straw is also used for long-lasting building projects. It has been used for various purposes, and it is still being used for most of those purposes.
Roofing
Before the coming of asbestos, zinc or aluminum roofing, straw was the most commonly used roofing material. Straw is woven together and knit tightly to prevent leak. At that time, this material had to be changed from time to time as there was no form of preserving it.
Reinforcement
Straw can serve as reinforcement for buildings. They can be used to serve as reinforcements for walls as dense straw can help prevent against wall collapse. When using them for laying foundations, it is important to ensure that the straw is fire safe.
Insulation
In times and areas where items like standing/ceiling fans or air conditioners are available, insulation starts from the construction of the house. Straw is often used to either serve as walls or reinforce the walls.
If the straws are to serve as a wall, they can be stacked on each other in bales. They cannot be nailed into, so provision for nailing has to be made. For reinforcement, they can be enclosed in wooden cases to reduce the amount of wood spent in construction.
Dam Construction
Unlike what most people think of straw, it is actually very compact when compressed. As a matter of fact, straw is packed into bales and used for the various purposes like the construction of dams.
Despite its efficiency, straw cannot serve as a long-term material for building a dam. However, the straw will become moist with time and water will pass through it.
What are the advantages of straw insulation?
The United States of America has approved the use of straw for building purposes. In Asia, more buildings are being constructed using straw. It has also been approved for the construction of buildings of up to two stories.
The reason for this amount of progress is the benefits the straws entail. Below are some advantages of using straw for construction.
Cost Effective
Straw is cost-effective as it is cheap for those who want to purchase it. Straw reduces the cost of building by minimizing the amount of materials having to be spent on construction.
You should also note that it reduces the amount of wood needed for construction. This implies that fewer trees will be cut down.
Environment Friendly
Most construction materials tend to produce chemical wastes during manufacturing. Straw is environment and eco-friendly. It does not harm the environment or produce toxic wastes. This includes the process through which it is manufactured.
Multipurpose
Straw can be used in a wide variety of construction purposes. For example, you can use it as roofing. It can also be used as a wall or serve as reinforcement of the wall of the house.
