Strawtec.com.au :: Workshops

Straw Bale Construction Workshops

We run strawbale building & rendering workshops and working bees throughout the year.

Our working bees are usually free of charge for participants and provide the opportunity to gain hands on experience at a current building site.

Our workshops include daily theory sessions, slides & videos, expert guest speakers on related topics, access to a large variety of related books and magazines, comprehensive hand-outs and some hands-on experience.

Next events:

1. Strawbale wall raising working bee in Wallagoot, Far South Coast of NSW, from 14 – 17 October 2010

We have finalised details for a 4 day wall raising working bee in Wallagoot, NSW, approximately 20 kilometres southeast of Bega (NSW), (450 kilometres south of Sydney or 250 kilometres southeast of Canberra ACT) facilitated by Frank Thomas from Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow, Strawbale Construction www.strawtec.com.au

Please join us from Thursday the 14^th to Sunday the 17^th of October 2010. Times: 08:00am to 05:00pm

The project: A 4 bedroom strawbale family home measuring approx. 250 square metres: Main features of the project include: passive solar design, waffle pod slab, solar hot water & solar electricity systems, 120.000 litre in-ground water tank & Biolytix black & grey water system. The structure will be a Hybrid system i.e. minimal framing for door & window openings that shares the load of the roof with the strawbale walls and threaded rods for compression of walls. Comparable to fully loadbearing strawbale walls, the walls go up first with the hybrid system, followed by compression plate and installation of roof structure and roofing.

You can read more about the project and look at some pictures of progress to date via the owners blog – please follow this link http://www.ourstrawbalehouse.blogspot.com/

The working bee: This working bee is free of charge for participants, morning & afternoon tea and light lunches will be provided. In exchange for your labour you will be able to gain hands-on experience raising the hybrid strawbale walls for this project, making custom sized bales & installing and fixing compressing plate. The slab, bottom plate system and strategic posts will be completed prior to the working bee – ready to commence stacking of bales. Rendering will possibly commence on the last day of the working bee, otherwise on Monday 18 October, if you are interested in learning some basic rendering skills you are welcome to stay on and help us with this, please let Steven and Melanie know about any possible extra days when you register.

What to bring for work: Please bring closed (work) shoes, gloves, long sleeve shirts, long trousers, some warm clothes for chilly mornings & evenings, a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and a water bottle.

Please register with the owners of the project: Steve and Melanie Page, preferably via e-mail: stevomelo@yahoo.com.au or via ph: 0403693502 (Melanie). They will advise of directions to site, advise of local accommodation options and any other necessary details at that stage.

For more information on the area – Sapphire Coast, Bournda National Park & Wallagoot Lake - see http://www.sapphirecoast.com.au/attractions/national_parks_forests_bournda.php

Please book as soon as possible as places are limited.

We look forward to see you in Wallagoot for this exciting event.

Regards, Frank & Ingrid

2. Strawbale Construction Teaching Workshop at AREC (Australian Rural Education Centre)

Where: Mudgee, central west of NSW. When: Monday the 22^nd to Friday the 26^th of November 2010.

A distinctive opportunity to learn about strawbale building details and techniques in a classroom setting, combined with hands-on demonstrations & experience.

We have finalised details for a 5 day strawbale construction teaching workshop from the 22^nd to 26^th of November 2010, time: 08:30am to 05:00pm, facilitated by Frank Thomas from Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow, Strawbale Construction.

This is a great opportunity for builders, carpenters, other building industry professionals and of course Owner Builders and everyone interested to learn about strawbale construction.

Our teaching workshops focus on:

v design issues for strawbale construction

v foundations

v framing options

v load bearing and hybrid techniques

v wall raising

v pre-compression

v openings

v general detailing to suit strawbales

v wet rooms

v rendering materials and techniques

Furthermore we will address topics such as termite protection, water proofing, fire safety, how not to build, and much more. The teaching workshops have a strong theoretical component taught in a classroom setting with visual aids such as drawings/white board, slides, photos, videos, books & magazines and product samples. We will provide comprehensive hand-outs covering all topics addressed in the workshop. Usually we also have a guest speaker presenting a seminar on an issue such as energy efficiency, passive solar design, engineering matters, sustainability in general or similar, to tie in with our workshop. Please note: guest lecturer sessions are subject of availability and are a complimentary component of the workshop.

The theoretical sessions will be complimented with hands-on practical experience where we will demonstrate techniques for wall raising and rendering.

This includes:

v installation of bottom plate system

v stacking bales in running bond

v making half and custom sized bales

v installing rough sawn frames for openings

v installing top plates

v pre-compressing and stitching bale walls

v bracing and corner reinforcements

We will also cover basic soil identification for rendering purposes, mixing and applying clay and lime renders, spray rendering, manual rendering with trowel, floats and sponges, surface finishing and creative touches such as niches, shelves and the obligatory truth window.

In the practical sessions we will build a demonstration strawbale wall section with details such as bottom plate, corners, pre-compression and openings (doors & windows) explained. We will also continue clay & lime rendering on the new strawbale classroom, approx. 80 square metres, that has continously been worked on during the previous strawbale workshops at AREC. The classroom will also feature strawbales for ceiling insulation however, due to safety reasons these cannot be installed during the workshop, but you will have the opportunity to see how they have been fixed into the cathedral ceiling and we may possibly commence rendering the ceiling bales.

The AREC facilities in Mudgee provide a great setting with conference room, modern classroom facilities, kitchenette and other essential amenities available for the event. The outdoor facilities allow space for practical sessions with plenty of room and opportunity to make your hands-on experience as valuable as possible. We count ourselves very lucky to have the opportunity to teach at such great facility and are proud to have the support of AREC for the advancement of strawbale construction. Please click on www.arec.com.au/ for more information on the centre.

Mudgee is located in the Central West of New South Wales, approximately 250 kilometres west of Sydney. Directions to the centre and “how to get there” options to Mudgee will be provided on registering. Please see http://www.visitmudgeeregion.com.au/j/index.php for information on the Mudgee Region

Costs: $770.00 including GST per person for the 5 day workshop. This includes all theory and practicals, morning & afternoon tea and light lunch from MON to FRI, and a comprehensive workshop booklet. A certificate of completion will be issued by AREC. All materials and tools for the practical component will be available on site.

Note: Building Industry Professional may claim CPD points for this course.

Free camping with toilet and shower facilities is available at the centre. BYO tent, bedding, torch and other needed camping gear, BYO breakfast and dinner. Please note that it gets quite chilly in Mudgee/central western NSW this time of the year.

Please see booking conditions and register with AREC online at http://www.arec.com.au/strawbale-building-workshop.html

A complete programme will be available on registration.

Please register asap as places are limited.

We look forward to meet you in Mudgee for this exciting event.

Regards, Frank & Ingrid

Please visit our site again soon for details of upcoming workshops or you may wish to register your interest of being added to our workshop mailing list via the e-mail link below.

Register your interest

To have your e-mail address added to our mailing list please send an email to:
strawbales@bigpond.com