More Architects are Opting for Hemp Walls Using

More Architects are Opting for Hemp Walls

Using hemp in construction is growing more popular as the days go by and more architects switch to sustainable materials in one of the most carbon-intensive industries globally. Hempcrete is cementing its place in the industry with its ability to capture significant amounts of carbon, its fire and moisture-proof qualities and its purported insulation.

What is hempcrete?

Normally, the hemp crop takes about 100 days to mature. Once it is harvested, the stem (hurd) is processed, with the woody fibers being crushed and shredded to size. The crop has regenerative benefits for the soil and is used in different industries, from textiles to building.

To make hempcrete, hemp hurds are often mixed with a lime-based binder. In construction, hempcrete is packed into timber wall frames. This biocomposite material is also carbon negative, which is great for the environment.

So, why are more architects opting for hemp wall?

Michael Leung, an architect, began using hempcrete in 2015 when he constructed an experimental cabin. Leung, whose father-in-law died from asbestos-related mesothelioma, renounced the use of toxic materials in building.

Almost a decade later, he has a broad portfolio of commercial and residential projects, built with hempcrete exclusively. He reveals that the material can be reused, which means less material in the landfills.

Public Realm Lab, this year’s winner of the National Award for Sustainable Architecture, also recently constructed Australia’s first carbon-positive, hemp buildings. Anna Maskiell, principal architect and co-founder of the organization, explains that hempcrete has marvelous acoustic properties and great moisture regulation.

The material, which she says, ‘literally breathes’, may also eliminate the need for synthetic wall lining, bulky insulation, and timber studs. Lime render and a sealant, which are both added to hempcrete, help ensure waterproofing.

Despite being slightly more expensive than double brick construction, the organization hopes that more will be encouraged to experiment with hempcrete. Already, new projects like the Lithgow Women’s Shed and the forestry building at the University of Tasmania are using hempcrete for their walls.

Maskiell also hopes that as the industry diversifies and develops, more prefabricated hemp systems that’ll help decrease labor costs more will be released.

Klara Marosszeky, the managing director of the Australian Hemp Masonry Company, agrees that hempcrete is owner-builder friendly and light to work with. She explains that the expense in constructing houses using the material mostly lies in the labor component. Despite this, she praises hempcrete and its features, recommending its use by owner-builders, builders, and architects.

This use of hemp hurd in the construction industry creates an economically viable use for what is left when enterprises like Software Effective Solutions Corp. (d/b/a MedCana) (OTC: SFWJ) have extracted cannabinoids from the hemp biomass.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Software Effective Solutions Corp. (d/b/a MedCana) (OTC: SFWJ) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/SFWJ

Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the HempWire website applicable to all content provided by HW, wherever published or re-published: https://www.HempWire.com/Disclaimer