SB: Sound Barrier wall? Ranch house retrofit?

[Mark Pomerleau <markp@imine.net>]

Y'all:

I've been reading up on strawbale for a while now: planning, scheming, 
dreaming, etc. Now it looks like I won't be building a complete SB home 
anytime soon, but retrofitting our existing house and making do with what 
we have.

So I've got two somewhat unrelated questions.

1:      We live right off a rural highway. The noise can be bad. I'd like 
to build a strawbale wall between the road and our property, but I've seen 
conflicting info on this. Some say "Forget it! You'll never keep moisture 
out and it'll rot!" Others say "Works nice. Layer the top with a moisture 
barrier." I live in Helena Montana, and it is pretty arid here. Although we 
do get some snow, and splattered snow and spray from the road. I was 
imagining a slightly undulating wall (for strength) with a moisture barrier 
on top and on the northern/road facing side, chicken wire and a cement 
plaster both sides. Any thoughts? (Actually our neighbors have strange 
verbal communication habits and a love of bad music and two-stoke engines, 
so this won't be the only wall.)

2:      Our house is a modified ranch that was originally brick facade on 
all sides. It has been added on to by previous owners, so the south walls 
are lightly insulated frame and plywood sheathing (Originally a screened in 
porch, now "dining" room, etc.) I though I'd start by insulating the attic 
and this south side, since I think the insulation here is poorest. Should I 
strip off the siding, etc? Or just nail up retaining strips, butter the 
bales and squish 'em on?

BTW: The roof needs to be replaced, so I'm planning to extend the eaves and 
put on steel roofing as part of this project. Perhaps strip off the roof 
sheathing (some of it is particle board and rotted) and SB the inner roof 
(did I mention that the original roof has been covered by a second roof? 
Yup. The entire structure is now the floor of the attic. Part of it was a 
flat roof, Part of it was an inverted "California" roof. I guess it didn't 
work very well with snow.)

Any advice would be much appreciated. - Mark P.

--------------------------
Mark Pomerleau
markp@imine.net


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