Re: SB: Re: Moisture Again Rears it's Wet Head.

["Malcom Snakesfield" <snakesfield@hotmail.com>]

Straw Wolf, I'm not sure if I fully understand your post regarding the lack 
of eaves and verandahs as the primary responsibility for moisture problems 
in your clients window and door areas. Not trying to undermine their 
importance for they do help protect walls, but they should not have been the 
cause of leakage into your clients window and door frames. I agree that if 
water never touches a window it can't possibly leak, but for many of us that 
scenario is impossible. It sounds to me like this building's problem comes 
from inadequate window and door flashing details for that type of exposure. 
How were these openings flashed? Just now ready to install my windows and 
doors which some will have exposure to driven horizontal rains. Overhead 
protection in my case won't help so we have to go "overkill" on the flashing 
details and sills. I'm confident they won't leak even without the protection 
of eaves and verandahs, but I guess we will just have to see. Regards

>From: "Huff 'n' Puff Constructions" <huffnpuff@shoal.net.au>
>To: strawbale@crest.org
>Subject: SB: Re: Moisture Again Rears it's Wet Head.
>Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 15:05:54 +1000
>
>G ' Day Balers
>
>I had been expecting the phone call from the clients of the first straw
>bale building that we built near Sydney some 4-5 years ago.   Those that
>remember; one of the two buildings was the first load bearing approved
>straw baler in Australia.
>
>Both buildings have NO eaves nor verandahs.  Moisture is getting in
>around the window and door frames especially the windows on the south
>wall (our weather walls), that do not have a sill with drip grooves.
>Both buildings have been painted with Murobond which is a cement based
>paint.  Apparently no moisture is getting directly into the walls.
>
>We will be going back to the buildings in a couple of weeks to inspect
>them and see what remedies are needed to fix the problems.  The rainfall
>in this area varies but is on the high side of 40" per annum.  I know
>that it should never have been built, wrong design for straw bales, but
>our clients wanted a certain look!  They both love the buildings and do
>not want any retrofits such as verandahs and eaves.
>
>I thought that one solution would be to install awnings above the
>windows and doors but I will not know until we have made the
>inspection.  The buildings have three coats of cement render 5:1:1 mix
>with use of the Murobond paint in many different colours.  Even though
>the clients were the owner builders we will fix the problems with the
>windows and doors somehow!
>
>So for those of you who want to build a straw bale house without eaves
>or verandahs all round; DON'T.  We will let you know what we find as I
>am sure that we will be replacing some bales especially below the window
>sills.  Another lesson from the school of hard knocks.  We have not
>built a straw bale anything without adequate eaves or verandahs since;
>nor will we be doing so in the future!
>
>Kind regards
>The Straw Wolf
>http://strawbale.archinet.com.au
>61 2 6927 6027
>
>
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