Frequently Asked Questions

Straw insulated panels respond well to fire due to their dense composition. They behave like heavy timbers in fire, where the outer layers char and insulate the interior layers. Unlike synthetic insulation materials like foam, straw is naturally fire-resistant and has proven durability in various conditions. But don’t take our word for it - check out the ASTM - E84 rating for straw bale and this study conducted by CASBA on fire resilience of straw bale homes in a wildfire zone.

Testing our buildings over a 25 year period has shown that the oldest, properly designed buildings are the driest. Straw has the ability to transfer moisture concentrations within itself and supports good drying potential when combined with a well-designed assembly, though it cannot tolerate being wet for extended periods.

We emphasize airtight construction and moisture management strategies, such as drainage, deflection, drying, and diffusion, to mitigate moisture issues and ensure long-term durability and performance. Straw insulated panels are resilient to moisture for short periods of time, behaving similarly to wood.

We have not had one case of pests in our straw bale homes in the Northeast over the 25 years of our practice. Straw insulated panels have low pest risk due to their high density, making them difficult for pests to tunnel through.

Additionally, pests like insects or microbiological organisms typically indicate a moisture problem, which we avoid with proper moisture control strategies. Overall, through careful construction practices, a focus on moisture control, and the airtight nature of the panels, straw insulated panels tend to be largely inhospitable to pests.

Through a review conducted by the California Straw Building Association (CASBA), it has been concluded that our products are in line with similar European products, which have an R-value of R-38. Our floor and roof panels, filled with Timberfill HP, are R-55 and R-60, respectively. Additionally, our panels can be easily detailed to meet higher R-value requirements.

With the ability to store 60 times more carbon than is expended in their production and transportation, straw naturally sequesters carbon, mitigating the overall environmental impact of home building.

Incredibly, our Casitas are climate positive, sequestering significantly more carbon than is released during the building process. More generally, straw bale structures have demonstrated remarkable durability, enduring for at least a century when well-maintained.

Beyond their longevity, straw bale buildings are cost-effective, widely available, fire-resistant, and offer enhanced insulation—an excellent combination for eco-friendly and high-performance construction solutions.

Also known as carbon sequestration, carbon storing is a way of capturing carbon emissions and storing them. Straw naturally sequesters gaseous carbon by storing it within the plant during the growth phase, acting as a vital mechanism to drawdown atmospheric carbon emissions.

By harnessing the innate ability of straw to sequester carbon, straw bale buildings are an essential component of regenerative building practices, contribute to a healthier planet, and play a crucial role in addressing climate change.

It is possible to use a crane to install our straw and Timberfill HP panels, however, it is not required. In fact, our panels are smaller than the average sized SIP and only requires a telehandler in most 2-story applications. In single-story applications, especially in wall-only applications, the panels can be installed by hand witha small team or by the use of a dolley or forklift.

For custom panel projects, our lead time is at minimum 3 months to account for design collaboration and fabrication. In most seasons, New Frameworks is booking delivery dates about 6-9 months in advance, and occasionally up to 12 months in advance.

However, we are also a founding member of the Seed Collaborative, which is a decentralized network of straw panel manufacturers that have all been trained through our manufacture and install training program. Even if New Frameworks does not have production availability to meet your timeline, it is likely someone in the collaborative does. You can reach out to us directly or the companies in the collaborative individually - you’ll always get routed to the company that makes the most sense from a financial, timeline, and carbon perspective no matter where/with which company you start.

A standard straw panel (39” W x 14” D x 8’ H) weighs about 350 lbs. However, each custom panel project is unique, and even our pre-designed Casitas have many diferent types, sizes, and weights of panels.

No - we source local organic straw from the Nitty Gritty Grain Company in Charlotte, Vermont. Straw is the second cut of grain production, and it is baled and installed without binders or treatments.

Straw is the dry, hollow stalk left behind after grain is harvested. It’s made primarily of cellulose and lignin fibers, which are very similar in chemical makeup to wood. Hay is made from grasses and legumes grown as animal feed, so it’s nutrient-rich and typically not as suitable for construction.

Our main offices are in Essex Junction, VT. Typically we can offer installation serices up to 1 hour away from our facilities. We can ship panel and Casita kits to most areas of Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.

We also collaborate with members of the Seed Collaborative, who have facilities across the US. We do not yet have a package for travel-installations, however, we are actively exploring this option.

High-performance, natural building combines energy-efficient design with low-toxicity, renewable materials to create homes that are comfortable, durable, healthy, and dramatically more carbon-storing than conventional construction.

Check out this blog on how New Frameworks prioritizes high performance, natural building methods in practice.

Yes! We have monthly shop tours posted on our events page.

For custom panel projects, we can either work with your existing architect to optimize the design for the most cost-effective use of our panels, or we can create the architectural design for you. No architect is necessary when purchasing a pre-desgned Casita.

There are typically five foundational questions to answer to ensure you are ready to move forward with a new construction project. Answering these questions - whether you are working with New Frameworks or otherwise - can help you align your goals and your process.

1. Do I own the land I am looking to build on, or have permission to build from the owners?

2. Will permitting allow the construction of the structure I am looking to build?

3. Does my timeline for construction work with the lead times of vendors (like New Frameworks as a panel provider), and/or the availability of contractors to conduct site work and construction of the unit?

4. If I am utilizing a loan to finance this project, do I qualify for financing, and do the disbursement schedules of that loan meet the requirements of my contractors and/or vendors?

5. Does the estimated project total cost fit within my outlined budget?

Asking yourself these questions can help you prepare for conversations with vendors and contractors and ultimately will help prepare you to efficiently set the stage for new construction.

Yes! We work closely with engineers to engineer our panels. We can also connect our customers with them to be the engineer of record if desired.

To our knowledge, New Frameworks was the first straw panel manufacturer in the U.S., building off of decades of research and implementation by European companies.