Quick Glossary
Bale Needle--A pointed metal rod with a handle used to push through and stitch bales.
Infill--Straw bales used between the posts of a post and beam or timber frame structure to form walls and act as insulation. Normal infill has historically been rock and mortar, cob, wattle and daub, etc.
Load Bearing--Bales actively hold roof weight.
Modified Post and Beam--"modified" meaning arranged to better suit the dimensions and special necessities of straw bales. Post and beam refers to the erection of wooden posts and beams to form the structure of the house and roof support... as opposed to so-called conventional framing.
Precompression--A technique (various) for tensioning top plate and foundation/sill together to minimize settling after construction.
R value--Standard insulation value. One "R"value equals one inch of wood. Normal straw is R 45 to 50.
Rubble Trench--A foundation technique using gravel instead of cement--normally bound in steel mesh--as made popular by architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Gravel allows moisture to fall away and is support for house.
Top Plate--plate (normally wood) used to precompress bale wall, use as a roof connection, and help distribute roof weight.
