Owner(s): Mark Richardson & Linda Taylor
Region: Greater Ottawa Area
Municipality: Pakenham
Email: OurStrawHouse@gmail.com
Web site: http://www.OurStrawHouse.com

Number of bedrooms: 2
Number of bathrooms: 2
Usable floor area, square feet (interior): 2800
Building footprint, square feet: 3160
Number of stories: 1
Occupancy date: July 2010
Cost per square foot and what that includes: About $85 per sq foot. That includes driveway (1000' long), hydro hook up (1000' underground), septic, well, separate garage, all electrical, plumbing, heating system, kitchen cabinets, kitchen and bathroom fixtures. It does not include land.

Builder arrangement: Both owner and contractor
Plaster subcontractor name: Tina Therrien
Plaster subcontractor company: Camel's Back Construction
Designer's name: Mark Richardson & Linda Taylor
Structural engineer's name: John MacIntyre
Structural engineer's firm: TSC
Length of time to build (start to occupancy): Including the garage (our 'practice building') - just under 3 years. But we took the first two winters off.
Volunteer participation: yes - installing trusses, stacking bales, installing windows.
Ease of obtaining a building permit: Very easy

Other foundation info: Techno Metal Posts support our roof structure.



Other insulation materials used: Roxul Safe'n'Sound in interior walls.

Straw type: Wheat

Other bale joint stuffing info: Cob on the garage, loose straw on the house.
Other plasters used: Earthen plaster (clay/sand/chopped straw/wheat paste)


Mechanical systems info: Hydronic radiant floor heating system that uses an on-demand propane hot water heater.
Electrical systems info: Grid connected.
Other green features: Passive Solar design.