How to Use Straw Bales as Windbreaks on a House

Round bales can provide a windbreak without any stacking.

Setting up a straw bale windbreak can substantially reduce heating costs for your home, just as windbreak landscaping can, by reducing the windchill around your house. Straw bales can improve insulation in extreme temperatures and if you live in an area with hot winds, a windbreak can even reduce your cooling costs. Erecting a straw bale windbreak may even help to protect your home in the event of severe weather conditions.

Things You'll Need

• Straw bales
• Heavy-duty dolly
• Hay hooks (optional)

Instructions

1. Stack the straw bales with the long sides against the ground like dominoes, if you use rectangular straw bales. Set up the straw bales on edge if you use round bales, lining them up cut edge to cut edge like a roll of dough. Use a dolly to move straw bales to avoid strain. Hay hooks help to get a firm grip on bales to position them.

2. Situate a row of straw bales at least 1 ft. from the windward wall or walls of your house, for example, on the north side. This creates a dead air space that helps insulate your home. If you are placing straw bales as a windbreak for an emergency such as a hurricane, use storm shutters or board up the windows before placing the straw bales to reduce the risk of bales breaking through window glass.

3. Stack the bales to the desired height, working carefully to avoid injury. A windbreak 1/2 the height of the house will help reduce windchill significantly -- it isn't necessary to stack the bales to roof height. A single row of 5-by-6 round bales serves as an effective windbreak for a single-story house. The higher you stack the bales, the greater the risk of toppling.

Tips & Warnings

• Because a windbreak can reduce wind force and windchill for many feet beyond the windbreak, you can put the straw bales at a distance from the house if you prefer, if you don't need the insulation or structural protection of having them closer.

• Wearing long sleeves and buttoning your shirt up will help keep the straw out of your clothes.

• Rectangular straw bales generally weigh 50 to 75 lbs.

• Feed stores sell straw bales, but you may get a better price from a farmer.

• Straw bales will grow mold when they get wet, and can become a home to rodents.

• Straw creates slippery footing and is highly flammable when dry. Do not smoke or use open flame near straw bales.

References

• U.S. Department of Energy; Energy Savers: Landscape Windbreaks
• The Last Straw; Bale Wisdom -- Bale Buying 101; 2003

Resources

• "The Jefferson County Sun": Straw Bales and Evergreen Windbreak