Read more
A comprehensive practical manual for professionals and self-builders, this innovative book explains the many benefits of building with hempcrete. Hempcrete is a building material with excellent, environmentally friendly properties. It's made from lime and hemp shivs (a waste product from hemp fibre growing) and can be used for walks, floor and roof insulation. Hempcrete is breathable, absorbing and emitting moisture; this helps regulate internal humidity, avoiding trapped moisture and mould growth, and creating healthier buildings. It provides excellent acoustic and thermal insulation, and it is lightweight, which reduces construction costs.
Whether you're working on a new build or are planning a renovation,
The Hempcrete Book tells you everything you need to know to get started with hempcrete. It describes how to source and mix it, and provides a detailed account of construction techniques, highlighting potential pitfalls and how to avoid them. With fully illustrated design notes and examples of completed builds, this book is a powerful tool for any eco-builder.
List of contents
Foreword by Professor Tom Woolley
Introduction
Part One: Principles of building with hempcreteHistory and uses of hemp
Hemp in construction
An introduction to lime
Key concepts in sustainable building
Getting the basics right
Variations on the hemp-lime mix
Performance of hempcrete in a building
Tools and equipment
Health and safety
Planning the build
Focus on self-build 1: Agan Chy
Part Two: Hempcrete constructionThe hempcrete wall: an overview
Foundations and plinth
The structural frame
Shuttering
Mixing hempcrete
Placing hempcrete
Floors, ceilings and roof insulation
Finishes for hempcrete
Practicalities on a hempcrete build
Restoration and retrofit
Focus on self-build 2: Hemp Lime House
Part Three: Designing a hempcrete buildingDesign fundamentals
Indicative detailing
Focus on self-build 3: Bridge End Cottage
A look to the future
Resources
About the author
William Stanwix, Alex Sparrow
Summary
The first UK book on building with hemp by people who make their living doing it; including background information, a practical instruction manual with full illustration, and discussion about the hemp building industry.
