Straw Bale Construction/Characteristics/Resistance to pests

From Wikibooks, open books for an open world
< Straw Bale Construction‎ | Characteristics
Jump to: navigation, search

Resistance to pests[edit]

Straw bales are thick and dense enough to keep out many kinds of pests. As well, the outer layer of plaster makes them unattractive or impenetrable to animals and insects. Finally, because straw contains little nutrient value to most animals and insects, it does not attract pests.

Termites like moist damp conditions. While a wall is kept dry, there is little danger termites would have any interest. When termites do manage to enter a wall, they tend to bypass the straw and attack any wooden studs.

In North America, termites attacked straw bale houses only very rarely.