Straw wall?

knightstyle

Our house was built in 1984 and I noyiced a small bulge in the wall by the stairs. So now i am decorating I scraped the wall to remove the bulge and found the wall full of straw!

Is this normal and is there a fire risk?

Section62

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6663583/straw-wall

1984? Was it a full newbuild, or a modernisation of an older home?

Strawboard was a thing in building construction from the 1950's, but was largely phased out by the 1980's. You'd normally find it used as an insulating layer, particularly under felt on a flat roof.

There have been various modern techniques using straw in construction, but pretty much ad-hoc on architect-designed eco homes, than something you'd encounter unexpectedly. Before that you'd need to go back to times where 'clay lump' or 'wattle and daub' were used to see straw as anything other than thatch, or sometimes as insulation.

Have you got a picture?

twopenny

Yes straw walls are a thing. I remember being taken round some of the first eco houses in Somerset. It was impressive if taking some getting your head around.

I've heard about it spasmodically since then.

There's something about compressed straw that isn't a fire risk. https://www.strawbale.com/blog/fire-testing-strawbale-walls

https://www.strawbuildinguk.org/self-build

stuart45

If you Google Stramit boards you'll probably find a bit of info on them.

knightstyle

Yes it looks like Stramit board, I wonder how much of the internal walls are built of this.

No pic. as I have already patched the area ready for painting.

RedFraggle

My Persimmon house that was built in the late 80s had this. Warmest house I ever lived in.