The roof sheathing overlaps the barges to tie them in. Uses low-cost OSB made from wood scraps and small trees. OSB meets all current building codes and is the industry standard. Without the super insulation provided by the bales, the house would not function adequately in this harsh climate. There is no other building material that offers so much affordable insulation.
Straw is environmentally friendly, locally available, and lends itself to volunteers.
Bales typically weigh 50 pounds or less and the walls can be stacked in one day. Another major timesaver is tieing rebar or bamboo on the outside of bales instead of pounding reinforcing into the bales. Stucco and earthen plaster bond well with straw. Stucco creates a great deal of strength to resist wind loads. Once encased in stucco and plaster the bales have proven to be virtually fireproof.