House Building is an important job and as sustainability and ecological consciousness continue to grow in popularity, alternative building materials like hemp concrete are becoming increasingly popular. Hemp concrete is a sustainable, natural and environmentally friendly material made from hemp fibers, lime and water. It has great insulating properties, is non-toxic and has a low “carbon footprint.” If you’re considering building a hemo home, here’s a general overview of the construction process in this Article:
1. Planning and design
As with any building project, building a hemp concrete home starts with careful planning and design. Work with an architect or designer who has experience building hemp concrete to create custom home plans. Consider factors such as your home layout, size, style and location.
2. Place preparation
Once you’ve made your plans, it’s time to get the place ready. Clean the area, perform excavation work on foundations and ensure proper drainage. The foundations should be designed to meet the weight and carrying capacity requirements of your home, as hemp concrete is commonly used for nonexistent walls.
3. Preparation of a concrete mixture of hemp
Hemp concrete is obtained by mixing the hemp plant’s inner wood fibers (known as hemp shives) with lime and water. Lime is an essential ingredient that binds hemp fibers and provides natural mineral insulation. The mixture is usually prepared on site.
4. Construction of frameworks and concrete hemp walls
The next step creates a home frame and incorporates a mixture of hemp concrete into openings between the battens to create airtight walls of the home. Filling is usually done in multiple layers, with each layer compacted to prevent air gaps and provide a solid structure. The molds can be removed once the mixture has solidified sufficiently.
5. Hardening and drying
Hemp concrete doesn’t dry up like traditional concrete. Instead, it dries and hardens over a longer period of time, absorbing carbon dioxide from the air. Depending on the impact of the weather, this carbonisation process can take weeks to months, depending on different environmental conditions. During this time period, the walls will become harder and more stable.
6. Interior and exterior finish
Once the concrete walls of hemp have hardened, you can do finishes for the interior and exterior of your home at will. Inner walls can be flipped, painted or otherwise done in any way you choose. You can use a variety of finishes for external finishes, including lime-based coatings, natural colors or other suitable options.
7. Roof and interior construction
Complete the construction of the roof, floors and interior according to your building design. These home elements can be made from traditional building materials because hemp concrete is mainly used to build non-existing walls and as a heat layer.
8. Final inspection and commissioning
Once completed, your hemp concrete house needs to be tested by a certificate construction engineer to make sure it meets all building codes and standards. Some counties may have specific requirements for the exterior appearance of buildings. After a positive opinion from a construction engineer, your home may be put into service.
Building a hemp concrete home is a sustainable and eco-friendly choice that offers many benefits including energy efficiency, healthy indoor air quality and low carbon emissions. While it may require a slightly different approach to traditional construction, the result is a beautiful, eco-friendly home that reflects your commitment to sustainability and responsible lifestyles.
f you’re not fully confident in the process of building a hemp home, consider working with experienced professionals – we’ve been specializing in building hemp concrete houses for many years. In case of any questions, we would like you to contact us. For an early meeting on the construction site!