We had the fantastic opportunity to participate in the Sydney Hemp Building Workshop in Marrickville. The workshop was hosted by the Australian Hemp Masonry Company, and run by Nick Sowden who constructs hemp masonry homes in Sydney.
We are interested in building with hemp masonry (hempcrete) for several reasons:
The hemp plant is a fast growing plant, beneficial as a rotational crop which increases soil fertility and crop yield. It also sequesters carbon, therefore acting as a carbon sink.
Used as a building material, hemp provides high levels of acoustic and thermal insulation. This reduces the heating and cooling loads on a building, thus reducing energy consumption and associated costs.
A hempcrete wall ‘breathes’. This means it allows for the passage of moisture in the air (water vapour). This porosity, or breathability, can aid in the prevention of condensation build up, rising damp, mould or rot.
Generally, materials required for the construction of a hempcrete wall avoid toxic materials, making it safer both to construct and to dwell within.
A hempcrete building is a healthy one. We seek to construct longstanding, healthy homes, by healthy tradespeople. Give us a call today to discuss your next project!
Donning work gear to get hands on we learned critical information such as:
Ratios to mix hemp, binder and sand. - Including best safety practice when working with lime
Framing and constructing formwork, including classic mistakes to avoid!
Tamping the mix into the formwork