This book explains in straightforward terms the principles of straw-bale building for self-builders, architects and construction industry professionals.

Straw-bale buildings are cost-effective, easy to build and are highly energy efficient, enabling you to design and build beautiful, environmentally friendly buildings. Written with non-experts in mind, this practical book takes you through everything you need to know in an easy, accessible way:
? The benefits of building with straw bales
? Design principles
? Building with straw bales
? Finishes: lime and clay plasters
? Planning and permission
? Building regulations

This revised and expanded third edition brings the book up to date and includes lots of stunning full-colour photographs throughout to illustrate the design and build process. In this full colour edition of the book Grand Designs described as "the essential guide to straw-bale building", Barbara Jones uses her years of experience in natural building methods to guide self-builders and architects using straw as a sustainable material for a diverse range of comfortable and environmentally friendly buildings.

Barbara Jones, FRSA, is well known internationally as a pioneer of strawbale building and designer of innovative foundations (including using car tyres). She has been designing and building with natural materials for 20 years; including forming part of the Strawbale tour of the USA in 1999, organised by Judy Knox and Matts Myrhman, that brought European strawbale pioneers to the US.

Barbara has also developed a uniquely empowering method of practical training on building sites. She was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by Women in Construction in 2011, and a Woman of Outstanding Achievement Award in 2009. Her practical skills include strawbale building, clay and lime plastering, carpentry and roofing. Barbara runs her own company, Straw Works, designing natural buildings of all shapes and sizes, and supporting self-builders.