Straw panels are a natural construction material, consisting of extruded wheat straw surrounded on all sides by recycled paper. Straw panels ensure an excellent and healthy microclimate for a building via temperature and air humidity regulation, while also serving as an excellent sound insulator. The panels have a dense and strong structure, allowing for all furniture, electronic devices, pictures, etc., to be mounted on walls or the ceiling using ordinary wood screws. No predrilling of holes or use of dowels is necessary. Straw panels can be used in places that are not in direct contact with water. The panels can be used for building walls, ceilings and floors in both old and new houses. Straw panels can also be used in saunas and bathrooms. In wet rooms the installation of a layer of water-proofing or a moisture barrier is required prior to applying tilework, cladding or other finishes.
Straw panels are also an excellent material for adding additional insulation to old or new wooden frame and log houses, since the material’s properties are quite similar to that of wood. Straw panels work well with cellulose insulation. No vapour barrier is used in the outer walls, so the constructions are open to water vapour diffusion and are always able to dry out. Compared to widely used gypsum board constructions for providing additional insulation, the use of straw panels in construction is less labour intensive and saves a lot of time. More and more people have begun to choose straw panels for insulating their log houses, since it helps to preserve the good natural microclimate of the house.
PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS
- The material is comprised of 98% extruded (compressed at a high temperature) wheat straw, 0.5% glue and 1.5% covering paper (recycled kraft paper);
- Thickness: 38 mm and 58 mm;
- Width: 58 mm panel – 120 cm or 80 cm and 38 mm panel – only 80cm;
- Length: 2.4 or 2.7 m. Please Note! When ordering larger quantities, a length between 1.2 – 3.5 m can be selected;
- Weight 22-24 kg/m2 (58 mm panel) and 18-20 kg/m2 (38 mm panel).
Panels are produced in the EU and have all required certifications for use in construction.
PRODUCT PROPERTIES
- Good thermal insulation and regulation of heat, because no fillers that conduct cold or heat were used during production;
- The panels store heat, which grants a stable temperature for a longer time. Additionally, the panels provide for smaller temperature fluctuations during summer (in smaller buildings);
- Can be used as a self-bearing wall construction;
- Good sound insulation properties – a 58mm panel with finishing provides -35 dB;
- Air humidity regulation – during wet periods the panels absorb excess humidity, and during dry periods they releases the humidity into the rooms. Furthermore, no cracks are formed when drying out;
- The panels ensure the best heat and moisture regulation when finished with a clay-based plaster;
- Suitable for people with allergies, as there have been no reports of any symptoms similar to those caused by many other building materials;
- The material is easy to saw; openings can easily be cut or edges can be cut into the right shape. It is easy to build cornices with an irregular shape since the supporting frame does not have to be the same shape;
- The originality of the materials can be highlighted by grinding down the paper or cutting the panel in half plane-wise. This reveals compressed straw with a distinctive and unique texture, which can be effectively used in interior design for purposes of decor or for improving the acoustics of a room;
- The material compensates for mistakes made during insulation works, meaning that the cold is unable to penetrate through the wall if the insulation material has been damaged during installation;
- The material can be easily installed, saving hours of work for the builders;
- The use of straw panels eliminates multiple building phases (erecting a framework, installing insulation, installing gypsum board on both sides). Once installed, the panels are self-supporting, sound insulating and ready for finishing works.
POSSIBILITIES OF USE
- Construction of dwellings (single homes, semi-detached houses, terraced houses, and apartment buildings);
- Construction of small houses (summerhouses, garden houses, and ancillary buildings such as saunas, sheds, and garages);
- Construction of public buildings (kindergartens, schools, government buildings, and youth centres);
- Construction of sound studios;
- Renovation of old buildings;
- Improving the sound insulation of existing walls, ceilings and floors;
- Additional insulation of buildings;
- The construction of new walls, ceilings and floors, or improving existing walls, ceilings and floors.
MATERIAL FINISHING
- Exterior finishing – moisture barrier, weatherproof primer + cladding (boarding), plaster or stone facade;
- Interior finishing – water-based paints, wallpaper, plaster, ceramic tiles, parquet or other solutions.
Straw panels do not set significant restrictions on interior or exterior finishing materials. It is possible to use almost all of the same materials that could be used with alternative construction types. For the best possible results it is recommended that materials with a lower water vapour diffusion coefficient be used, so that the characteristic properties of straw panels would not be affected or diminished.