What if the bales get wet?
It is problematic in any type of building if the building materials get wet; at a bale raising, be scrupulous, and reject any wet or even slightly damp bales. If the bale wall gets wet during the construction phase, it does have the capacity to dry out through capilliary action, but if it is soaked, occasionally you may have to replace a portion of the wall during construction. Proper building techniques must be strictly adhered to when building with bales, including having large overhangs around the building, and the placement of the windows flush to the outside of the building. The CMHC have done several tests on moisture in straw bale buildings, and the conclusions are that moisture damage occurs with improper building practises.
