Make Stroyan eco-house without myths: a guide to natural materials and a warm home

An independent guide to houses built from natural materials. We do not build, do not sell, do not run workshops and are not connected to the former website on this domain. Leave the structure, the stove and the building services to professionals.

Planning

Planning the work

A house made of natural materials forgives a lot, but not a muddled order of works. Clay needs warm, dry weather, straw needs cover from the rain, and the roof needs walls ready to carry it. If you buy materials first and look for a design afterward, it is easy to lose the season. Here we describe the general order from idea to final inspection and talk about the most underrated resource on any build: time and energy.

Wet work loves a warm summer, and deadlines love an honest calendar with no hope of miracles.

— Guide insight

How this section works: we describe the general order of works without dimensions, calculations or costs. The structure, foundation and roof are designed and calculated by a professional, and building and fire safety requirements should be confirmed with your local authorities.

Stages of building an eco-house

  1. Idea and plot

    Describe the house you need and how you will live in it. Study the plot: sun and shade, wind, slope, where water drains and whether suitable materials are available nearby.

  2. Researching local rules

    Find out what you are allowed to build on the plot, which setbacks and fire requirements apply and what paperwork you will need. It is easier to do this before the design than to redo the design later.

  3. Design and structural calculations by professionals

    A professional designs the foundation, walls, floors and roof taking into account the chosen materials, the climate and the rules. This also covers the stove, chimney, electrics and ventilation.

  4. Materials and the work season

    Stock up on material in advance and plan where to keep it dry. Schedule wet work with clay and plaster for warm, dry weather so the walls have time to dry out before the cold sets in.

  5. Foundation and moisture protection from below

    The base, plinth and waterproofing separate the clay and straw from ground moisture. This work follows the design, and cutting corners here costs you more in the end.

  6. Walls, roof, finishes

    First the walls, then a roof with wide overhangs, and only then the finishes. Builders often try to close in the roof as early as possible so the walls and straw do not get soaked by rain.

  7. Sign-off

    Check concealed work while it is still visible and photograph the joints. Before moving in, have professionals inspect the stove, chimney and electrics, and look over the walls yourself after the first rains.

Your budget of time and energy

People often choose natural materials hoping to save money, but the savings usually just move from one column to another. Less goes on buying materials, more on manual labor, waiting for things to dry and learning.

Think honestly about how many weekends and vacations you are ready to spend on site, who will help with mixing and what you will do if the summer turns out rainy. Extra time in the schedule is not a luxury but a condition for working calmly.

If you arrived via an old link about how to build an eco-house, the general order of works is described here and in the how-to guides.

What to settle before the first mix

  • Who does the design and who is responsible for the structural calculations.
  • Where the straw and other materials will be stored so they stay dry.
  • How water from the roof will be carried away from the walls and plinth.
  • Where the chimney, wiring and ventilation will run and who will install them.
  • How fall protection is arranged for work at height.
  • Where you will live and cook while the build is underway.
  • How-to

    A test clay mix, checking a wall for moisture and refreshing clay plaster, step by step and in general terms.

  • Materials

    Clay, cob, straw bales, timber, lime plasters and natural insulation: their properties and weak spots. The article catalog lives here too.

  • Ideas

    Ideas to start with: a garden cabin, an insulated porch, a clay wall in one room, a sun-facing house, rainwater and a green roof.

What we rely on

  • General knowledge about building with natural materials
  • Local building and fire safety rules
  • Make Stroy editorial materials

Make Stroy retells widely accepted knowledge about building with clay, straw, timber and lime in its own words, without mix ratios, dimensions or calculations. Load-bearing structures, the foundation and the roof are designed and calculated by a professional; stoves, chimneys, wiring and gas are handled only by professionals. Look up your local building and fire rules before the first shovel goes into the ground, because the rules differ by country.