Straw Homes Versus Log Homes.

Straw Homes Versus Log Homes.

The other day I talked with a person that had built a log home and decided to try a post and beam building with straw bales for the walls. Apparently he had a bad time with his log home and wanted something easier to up keep. Some people can be talked into some of the darnedest things. The log home he bought was from a company that did not care what happened to his home after they sold it to him. ( he did not do his homework or find a good technical ad-visor.)
A Straw home reminds me of building on sand mentioned in the bible.
So being ignorant about them I looked them up and yes some people do build with them. They stack straw bales up between post and beams and than cover them with slurry, a concrete cover about 1" thick more or less. They have to put breathing holes top and bottom so that the bales of hay don't mold.
I still wonder how they are going to last when they are made in any wet climate at all. And what about little furry friends? The Post and Beam system that holds the bales of straw will move some, that is what wood does. This movement will eventually crack the concrete around the straw and then water penetration as well as other things.
They say that straw homes will last but I have a hard time trying to grasp how the concrete slurry up against wood window and door trim will last. Every time concrete and wood are put together one of them rots.
So how do they last in earth quakes or Tornadoes?
One final point is the value of a good log home appreciates, the value of a straw home I have yet to see.
From what I have read and seen any-body that builds with straw is grasping for straws as they say.
Log Man Dan