Several of our budget-conscious clients have considered a slot-together timber cabin as a cheaper alternative to a bespoke straw clay building.

In particular, the D.I.Y. variety seem to offer a good value for money in terms of cost per square metre.

ABC have built one small cabin for a kit for a client. Based on this, the general conclusion is that you get what you pay for.

Specifically the cabin needed a foundation which is not included in the headline price. The construction process was reasonably straightforward once all the components had been unwrapped and spread out in order to be identified.

The building was supplied with asphelt "shingles" for the roof, which have a limited lifespan. The provision of lights, power and plumbing were an extra charge.

The timber walls and roof offer a small degree of insulation, although I suspect that extra insulation would be desirable. The lack of thermal mass also affects the "livability" of the building

Straw Bale Building