Hello (tag: firstname} and welcome to the Autumn edition of Strawtegic News, During summer we have updated our website with many great photos of our straw bale projects.  Of particular mention is the spectacular Wandi project, an outstanding showcase of how great straw bale can look.  After viewing the photos you will be left wondering is it really straw bale?  See the website for the latest in construction photos in the project gallery. Construction tip:  A great practical idea is to have solid construction such as rendered brickwork or block construction below and around window sills – especially where plumbing pipes need to be run into the wall below the window such as the kitchen sink or bathroom.  You could even use cladding on studwork.  The advantage is that it makes it easier to install your windows, and of course it eliminates the possibility of water leaking into your straw bale wall should your plumbing fail in future, by not having any taps plumbed into a straw bale wall.  For those of you who like to mix and match external surfaces, it also gives a nice contrast to the external face of the building.  Of course the idea may not appeal to everyone, but it certainly worthy of consideration during the design process! To see a great example of how this is done please visit the Project Gallery on our website and view the Wandering project.  You will see a beautiful example of how the combination of limestone blockwork and rendered brick was skilfully constructed by Dave to create the surround for a kitchen window, where the sink is located. For this and many more great construction tips from Dave, our 2012 Autumn/Winter season of workshops is about to commence! Straw Bale Construction – 2-day Weekend Workshops:     April 7th/8th – Boddington     May 5th/6th – Boddington     May 19th/20th – Bindoon     June 2nd/3rd – Bindoon     June 16th/17th – Bindoon Maximum of 12 participants per workshop. Enrol online now to avoid disappointment – our workshops book out very quickly! Website:  www.strawtegic.com.au We hope to see you soon! Dave & The Team at Strawtegic  {tag:subscriptions}  {tag:unsubscribe}