Being more conscious of our natural resources has spawned the development of new materials, and the emergence of old building methods in a quest to build cheaper more environmentally aware homes. Wood has been the material of choice for the frame of the house for many years. The emergence of steel framing and the use of straw bales are becoming viable alternatives.

Building a home using straw bales is an old building method that is making a comeback. Settlers in the Great Plains area during the late 19th century built the majority of their homes using straw due to the lack of trees and the ready availability of straw. Individuals nationwide are using straw bales again to construct the walls of their home. The cost and the availability of materials are two of the main factors why people are starting to use straw bales. There is an overabundance of straw compared to wood, which makes it less costly and it is better for the environment. Straw replenishes itself very quickly when compared to tree growth.

Since construction of straw bale homes is re-emerging, there are not a lot of people who have a solid understanding of building a home using this method. Seminars and workshops are becoming more prevalent as interest grows. These workshops cover the basics of straw bale construction as well as details such as running wires and plumbing in straw walls. The straw bale walls are structurally sound. The walls are 2 feet thick, resistant to fire due to the density of the bales, and are also not prone to insect infestation because of lack of nutrients in the dry straw. Most straw bale homes employ a wooden post and beam frame that stands inside the bale walls after they are stacked. This allows the home to have an upper level due to the extra stability the frame provides. The bales are stacked like bricks and then covered with a plaster.

A few problems can arise when constructing a home out of straw, one being strict building codes. In areas where communities are not familiar with straw bale homes there can be opposition to this type of construction. Installing the post and beam frame is required in most areas where codes allow straw construction. Another problem that can occur in straw bale homes is the build up of moisture, which results in the rotting of the straw. If the straw becomes wet, it dries too slowly, stays wet through the seasons, and eventually rots in a few years. This is much more prevalent in damp areas of the country, but can be combated by keeping the moisture from above and below away. Having big roof overhangs, proper window sills with adequate drainage, minimal backsplash along the base of the home, and eliminating air leaks in the walls should all help keep moisture out of straw bale walls.

Using steel to frame a house has become more and more popular over the last few of years. Steel has been used for years in basement or foundation support, but is now being used more often to frame the entire house. There are many advantages to using steel framing over wood, but it is still not widely used by most contractors.

Most of the advantages of using steel stem from its added strength. It allows greater support to large uninterrupted space allowing larger, more open rooms. Wood can often settle, warp or sag causing cracks in drywall; most of the time with steel you can avoid these problems. The added strength of steel helps in the prevention of damage caused by natural disasters such as hurricanes or earthquakes and eliminates the problem of termites. Steel is also fire resistant, so if a fire breaks out in the home, damage will be considerably less. Other advantages of steel is that they come precut for the specific job and already have holes for wiring to run through. Having the steel precut reduces the waste at construction sites. Steel is more environmentally friendly because it is made from recycled materials and any waste you have left can be recycled. Steel framing contains a minimum of 25 percent recycled steel; a 2,000 square foot house uses the equivalent of six scrapped cars. In wood, that same house uses 16,000 board feet of framing lumber, or about 50 trees, according to the NAHB.

Currently there are some disadvantages to using steel. The biggest being that it is not widely used. Most builders and subcontractors are reluctant to change, they are comfortable using wood. Training framers to work with steel takes time and money and those who are trained in its use can demand higher wages. Lack of familiarity will also increase the amount of time needed to construct the frame. According to the North American Steel Alliance, steel construction will typically add 50 cents to $1 per square foot to the cost of the home. Mainly due to the reasons previously stated, steel right now only has a 3 to 5% market share for wall systems. Some other concerns with steel are that it is less forgiving than wood. It is not as easy to fit, or shave off some of the post to fit into odd spaces. Also steel construction requires at least an inch of exterior foam insulation to have the same energy efficiency as wood. This is due to warm and cold air pass through steel much easier than wood.

As you are deciding on the home you are building you can also start to consider how you would like to construct it. The two different wall systems that have been discussed might have given you a new perspective. Both methods are more environmentally conscious than wood and are gaining popularity. Steel especially will becoming more popular as builders become more skilled in using the material. The advantages of using steel will help it get more exposure and ultimately, more people will be requesting steel be used in the framing of their home. When talking to builders, you can inquire about building the home you find on Dream Home Source using steel, straw or any other material.