Building a house with hemp

By Tim Bryant
Source: westlocknews.com

Engineer Jayeson Hendyrsan directs hempcrete into the wall frame of the microhouse 

being constructed on Dion Lefebvre’s property south of Westlock on Oct. 5. The house 

is part of a workshop to explain the benefits of hemp as a building medium.

A mini housing revolution took place in the Westlock area over the past week, in more ways than one.

Out at Dion Lefebvre’s property south of town, he and a number of specialized contractors were working on what he termed a “microhouse” constructed from an unusual material — hemp.

“It’s more eco-friendly and durable,” Lefebvre said of his choice of building material.

He’s working on an experiment in portable houses, he said, with an eye on providing low-cost housing for low-income people. Taking cues from the microhouse industry in British Columbia, his goal is to build structures that are more permanent, but still transportable.

Using hemp as the primary building material brings with it different and unique benefits, said Jayeson Hendyrsan, chief executive officer with Hempcrete Natural Building Ltd.

Hendyrsan said hempcrete, which is a mix of hemp fibres, water, lime, sand and some concrete, both insulates and radiates heat. He explained it can absorb heat to a degree, and then radiate it back out into the home, cutting down on heating costs.

An example he gave was in a bathroom after a shower, the walls will have absorbed the moisture, and then gradually release it as the room cools down.

“It likes to live in the same heat and moisture environment as people,” Hendyrsan said.

As a building material, hempcrete is not as hard as concrete, but is still strong enough to last many years once it’s set. The walls of the house Lefebvre is building contain rebar, Hendyrsan said, but that’s only for added support.

One extra benefit of building with hemp comes when it is time to demolish the house, he said. Because the majority of the materials in the wall are biodegradable, the walls can be broken up and spread on farmers’ fields for added nutrients.

The build at his property was a workshop, Lefebvre said. It was a chance for people to see a new building technique and spend a few days learning about the benefits of hemp in the construction industry.

The house was not finished by the end of Sunday, and work was scheduled to continue this week to finish pouring the walls.

When it’s completed, Lefebvre said the house will be meant for his son to live in.