Graham Walker

Thanks for the welcome 😁 yes I’ve researched this for two years. Northern France, 100 years and still going strong, so time will tell.

I’ve noticed the skepticism wow! I’ve done the research and spent a lifetime in the construction industry, as has my dad, who is also involved, albeit not in a physical capacity. I’m hoping for 6 months on the warrant. Thanks for the welcome 🙏

Hi Dave. Time will tell, but the availability of bales isn’t an issue. There are places that store bales specifically for building. As for insulation, I’ve lived in and worked on many many traditional houses in my 40 years in the trade, and I’ve stayed in bale houses and there’s no comparison, but as I say, time will tell.

Hi Alan. Haha, I’ve been building houses for 40 years. I’ll be over the moon to finish the next one and relax. The view will be decent from the main bedroom, over the loch and mountains with the sunrise too, but the winner on the plot is the river at the bottom of the garden. I’ll pop a video walk through of the plot later, just needs to be shortened a bit.

Mainly it was costs, both outlay and running costs. I’d like to say environmental issues were foremost, but apart from reducing fuel use, the benefits, many though there are, are incidental. Having said that, we are using foamglass and Stieco Flex for the other insulations.

Hi, I’ve been a member for a while but have been mostly sitting, getting frustrated, waiting for our planning decision. 2 weeks ago we finally got our approval for a strawbale house in the village of Minard, in Argyll and Bute. Now we’re moving into the building warrant stage and at least this time, we’re prepared for a wait - our planning took ten months after being told ten weeks. I’m a bricklayer by trade and this one is going to be the last house I build. 61 years old and I’ve had enough, but definitely looking forward to getting stuck into this. Graham Walker

Hi, my wife and I are just in the process of buying a plot of land near Inverary, for a 1.5 storey straw build. I was just reading your thread when I came across "a year for a building warrant"? I'd be interested to pick your brain, if you're amenable, on how, and why this took so long, and potentially avoiding a few pitfalls? Hope it's all turned out brilliantly for you. Regards, Graham