Everything you ever wanted to know about hempcrete

by southshore | Jun 2, 2017 | Guest post

The construction industry is focusing more and more on finding and adopting new ecologically friendly building practices during the last years. The quest for greener materials isn’t always easy. However, there are some materials which could change completely the way we build. With no doubt hempcrete is such an example.

We are talking about a building material which revolutionize the construction process and significantly reduce the impact of the industry on the environment. It is also considered to be a very smart choice in terms of cost and efficiency during the building procedure. Hempcrete isn’t yet the leading player of our industry but there already are high hopes about it. Before we describe some of its strongest advantages and of its future applications in construction, it would be a good idea to offer some more details on what hempcrete actually is. South Shore Roofing, the best roofing company brings you the whole scoop.

What Hempcrete Actually Is

Hempcrete is an eco-friendly material which originates from the plant called hemp. More specifically, hemp’s shiv is mixed with lime and water for hempcrete to be produced. Hempcrete is highly adaptable and it can be used in a number of different construction tasks. Some very representative examples could be roofing, insulation and flooring. Due to its substance, it’s a material that can easily be transformed and take different schemes. On top of that, it’s water and fire resistant and it can successfully absorb mold. Because of that, it’s expected to be a powerful construction material in the near future.

Its strongest point is regarded to be insulation. The ability of absorbing moisture and releasing back to the environment according to the current needs of its surroundings makes hempcrete an admirable material. Furthermore, it has a remarkable resistance against earthquakes. An interesting but necessary remark about hempcrete is, of course, that it’s a perfect fit for above the ground usage only.

At the moment, it’s used in a wide variety of building structures from regular homes to offices and shops. But of course, it still has a long way to go before it takes over the whole industry. In a nutshell, the traits that make hempcrete such a unique material is its endurance to extreme conditions in combination with its low cost and its non-toxic substance. Now, that we have a more complete image about the characteristics of hempcrete it would be useful to analyze with more detail some of its benefits.

Benefits of Using Hempcrete

Hempcrete has plenty of benefits for the buildings process and it can bring a new era for the construction industry as a whole. We have listed some of its main advantages below:

Fire and water-proof material

Hempcrete is a very strong and durable component. Its fire and water-resistant texture offers increased safety both during the building procedure and after it. Especially in areas where floods or fires can be an issue, due to the environmental conditions, hempcrete can offer a significant safety and protection boost for the residents of the building.

Rot-resistant

A common hussle for the majority of buildings around us undoubtedly is mold. Hempcrete can be the perfect answer to this problem. To be more specific, hempcrete has the ability to absorb humidity. In that way, it can store moisture instead of allowing mold to appear. What’s more, when the environment is dry hempcrete has the ability to release humidity back in the environment. It becomes clear, then, that hempcrete can be the perfect choice when we are talking about insulation. It can successfully substitute the extra layer of insulation on the wall in a totally natural way.

Energy saving material

Due to its texture, hempcrete can offer great help in saving energy during its production. If we were trying to compare it with concrete, we would notice that it requires much less heating thanks to the presence of lime. That being said, hempcrete can bring on the table a way greener solution than concrete.

Pest-resistant

Another great benefit of hempcrete is its pest-resistance. The best example regarding this comes from Australia where the problem with a number of insects is part of the everyday life. Hempcrete has the ability to keep insects like fire ants away with no need for pesticides or other toxic substances.

It minimizes material-waste

Hempcrete can play an essential role in the big problem of material-waste, as well. The fact that it can be function as an excellent fertilizer helps a lot in cases where there is more hempcrete than necessary. In that sense, we can refer to hempcrete as a recyclable material and an exceptional choice for green building.

Great durability

Finally, thanks to the process of the lime through the years hempcrete has the ability to become stronger and stronger and hard as a rock. This offers it great durability through the years and it allows it to stand strong for hundreds of years in unlike concrete which may last up to 100 years in the best of cases.

The Future of Hempcrete

It is understandable that hempcrete has a lot to offer to the construction industry, if used correctly. At the moment, it’s a material that does its first steps in construction and that has some very useful applications in other fields as we saw above. For example, it can be part of the clothing industry thanks to its outer fibers. On top of that, it also can be used for the production of paper. Hemp can also be regarded as a very nutritious food source due to its high concentration in protein, fiber and other substances. All these usages of hempcrete are expected to expand even more in the near future.

Coming back to the construction industry, though, what we should expect from hempcrete in the near future is the further optimization of the building process and the promotion of a greener construction. More analytically, the wider use of hempcrete will allow for more sustainable and cheap housing. This can help essentially in the reduction of the house prices. Moreover, this reduction in price will come with an augmentation in quality due to the higher insulation standards that hempcrete will establish in the industry. Higher efficiency in terms of energy saving is expected.

Conclusion

Hempcrete can be the answer to many everyday problems in construction. Nevertheless, there are still many things that need to be done. It is indicative that hemp is even today illegal in some places around the globe. Keeping that mind, it becomes understood that there has to be a thorough dialogue within the industry for the realization of the full potential that hempcrete has to offer.

About the author: Anastasios Koutsogiannis is marketing coordinator in GenieBelt.

What our HAPPY CUSTOMERS are saying

Terri Giannattasio

SSR (South Shore Roofing) has a very “Classy” business model. First touch call was with Erica and she demonstrated grand skills, collect data on our needs, received our emailed pics and set up the appointment. SSR sent and email confirming the on-site visit. Luke with SSR sent a text day before visit with his arrival time, picture and informative Bio! Luke texted us to share he was in route. Evaluation and next steps were COMPLETED! CLASSY! Thank you. The G’s

Lee Haight

Professional organization from the top down . Class act to hire for any roofing project

Kaye Torgerson

South Shore replaced our roof this past fall and made the entire process painless. From meeting with our insurance adjuster (as this was for a rental property we own) to keeping us updated with photos, they did an outstanding job throughout. The job supervisor even personally made sure the shingles were tucked under the siding to prevent leaks. All correspondence was courteous and professional. Would definitely recommend.

Steven Bicette

Kile and his team made me very proud,after building my roof,perfect job,i will recommend them to any home owner way to go.

Lisabeth Degnan Silady

My husband spent a lengthy period of time researching potential roofing contractors and brand of material to be utilized. It is a critical investmnt both in terms of structure and cost. We narrowed the search down to three companies. It was a difficult decision, but now that the project is complete, we know we made the best choice. We are delighted with their honesty, professionalism, communication, follow-through, and outstanding workmanship. One note for constructive improvement would be the final nail pick-up (at least on our project). A thorough job is so important for all the obvious reasons. Again – we made the right choice with South Shore Roofing – Kyle Patrick and his entire team are the best. We recommend South Shore wholeheartedly.

Chad Laster

I needed my old roof replaced and was looking for a reputable roofer that I could count on. Ran across South Shore on the internet and saw their trucks around town. They looked very professional so I gave them a call. I was lucky to have the pleasure of talking with the office manger, Casey, who was very helpful and answered all the questions I had. She got the the ball rolling for me. Soon Kyle, the owner, and his crew had me scheduled and were on site shortly after. The roof looks great! I’m always nervous dealing with contractors but this is one that gets the job done right the first time.

Hema Kaviratna

South Shore Roofing just finished, getting our new roof done. It was such a pleasure to work with them, especially our contact person Tyler McGowan. He is very quick to answer our phone calls, emails and text messages. Tyler was very patient with answering all our questions and took care of all our concerns during the project. He and others, Kyle Patrick and Luke Patrick, were very punctual and explained the process well. Working crew was commendable, hardworking, efficient workers and they did a wonderful job! South Shore Roofing worked very efficiently with our insurance company to get the claim going through very smoothly. South Shore finished the roofing job in a timely manner as promised. My house looks very beautiful now!

John Cheatham

I had a roof replaced after a free inspection that revealed hail damage. The workers were quick, efficient, and effective. The edge lines across the roof could not have been straighter had they been laid out with a laser. My vents that went through the roof were painted, from white to black, and visually disappeared. Just an example of the thoughtful attention to detail in their work. The sealant around the mounting points for my satellite dish guarantee it will never leak. I give them my highest possible recommendation. OUTSTANDING!

Hannah Joy-Dinello

We had been looking for a company to come fix our roof after the hurricane last October. After several failed attempts with other companies we finally asked a friend and were referred to South Shore. We met Luke and Tyler and were immediately impressed! They were professional, easy to talk to, and we ended up getting the pristine shingles from all the money we were able to save. The work was done almost immediately and only took a couple of days. Tyler came after it was done to check the work and make sure there were no nails left in our yard. Now we have a beautiful new roof and peace of mind the next time a major storm comes through! We will definitely be reccommending South Shore to anyone that asks!

Alexander Oliver

Thank you South Shore for doing such a great job on my granddads roof! The staff at South Shore were very professional and put him at ease enough to finally get the new roof he needed. We are SO happy that he didn’t try to keep patching it with duct tape and tar. We can rest easy that that roof will last a good long time and its all because of you! Thanks again SOUTH SHORE!!!You are AWESOME!!!!

Amanda Hedrick

South Shore really did make my roofing experience easy. Tyler was prompt with the estimate and very responsive by text and phone. Kyle kept me updated once the project began and the working crew was efficient and cleaned as they went. I had a roof removal with some decking replacement and a new architectural roof installed. It looks great and I highly recommend South Shore to friends and family now. Definitely the team to work with!

Paul Tilson

You won’t find a better roofing company anywhere than South Shore Roofing, definitely a 5 star roofing company. Top quality work delivered very professionally. Superior customer service. Luke and Kyle are the best! Luke was especially awesome with working up the estimate, explaining the options and the entire procedure, and helping with the insurance claims. The installation crew was top notch, hard working, very professional including great clean up afterwards. They even made a return visit a few days later for some finishing details. I recommend South Shore Roofing without reservation to any home owner.

Tom Lawrence

South Shore Roofing was a pleasure to work with and met all our needs in a prompt and efficent manner! If you’re looking for great customer service and a job well done, you won’t be disappointed!!! My wife and I are tremendously impressed with this company and the way they conduct business!!!

Jennifer Estelle

They did a great job. They we’re on time, efficient, did a great job from beginning to end. My yard is heavily landscaped, and I have a pool. They were very careful around my plants, flowers, and pool. They did an excellent job cleaning up during and after. My roof looks wonderful! Staff was very polite, and easy to work with. They even helped me with my insurance claim. Overall wonferful to work with. Would definitely reccomend them for roof work.

Lisabeth Silady

We made the best choice of roofing contractors selecting South Shore Roofing. We are delighted with their honesty, professionalism, knowledge, follow-through, and outstanding workmanship.

Amanda Mendiola

I want to take the time to say how pleased I am with Kyle Patrick on his service with my new home recently we just got into a bad storm and I was looking everywhere up-and-down trying to find a great deal I happened to see A sign posted on Facebook and I called Kyle he was very nice and very professional of what he does and at a reasonable price !!!!thanks to him and his guys I am able to relax a little keep up the good work Kyle ! And I recommend everyone in Savannah area and pool area to give him a call he’s the best in town and he won’t lie or cheat you out of your money !!!!!!!

Lois Maher

The team at South Shore Roofing was fantastic, they were supporting, understanding and helpful.
They worked with my insurance company to get me the best outcome.
The team that replaced my roof were terrific, excellent job. The contractor Shore Shore Roofing sent to replace the interior damage was also terrific. In the repair of interior they found more damage than previously thought which was very discouraging, however they went right to work repairing the damage and billed my insurance carrier.

I am very pleased with total repair of the roof & interior. I would recommend South Shore Roofing.

Samantha

South Shore Roofing provided me with all of my roofing needs. My representative, Tyler McGowan was charming, professional, and extremely helpful in assisting me work with my insurance company in order to get me what I needed – it was almost like I didn’t have to do anything at all! My roof was completed in a timely manner and is everything I imagined. I would hate to imagine where i’d be without it. My old roof was outdated and the siding was busted. Now I have confidence it can weather any storm. My neighbors are already asking about it. Thank you, Tyler! You really know your stuff.

Amanda Hedrick

Jessica Smith

Casey and the team at South Shore are above and beyond professional, timely to reply to inquiries, priced very reasonably, and most importantly do amazing work.
I feel confident recommending this company to anyone who will listen. Tyler did amazing work and left the workspace immaculate upon completion.
We know that Hurricanes are frequent in south GA- and while I hope my roof never needs their services again, *if* it does, they’re the ONLY ones we will call.

Thanks so much for everything.

Lindsay Roberts

South Shore Roofing was amazing to work with! Tyler was very professional and friendly and explained the whole process to me thoroughly. He was always great at responding to my calls and messages without making me feel like a bother. I was so happy with the finished product and will definitely be recommending them to family and friends!!

Jorge Valdes

Incredible service! I had a tight deadline from my home insurance to fix my roof or else they’d cancel my policy. South Shore Roofing was the only company who got back to me on a timely manner and were able to finish the job before the deadline. I’m incredibly happy with them and I definitely recommend them! They had all the professionalism of a big company but with a sense of being 1-on-1 with me. Very happy and saved me from being forced into an insurance policy 3x more expensive from my bank. Thanks a bunch!

Marcena Brinson

I had a very good experience with their rep. He helped me pick out the color, the style, etc. He called me often and returned all calls that I made to him. We had problems with the painters and he got right on it to see that new better ones were hired. My roof looks wonderful and interior work meets my satisfaction! Very good people skills!

Chris Sommers

I’m very happy with this company. I took estimates from three contractors for a brand new roof. South Shore was the most expensive, but I felt better about going with a business that was well established and had already demonstrated good customer service. I made the right choice as the new roof was put up within seven days of signing the contract. The workers were great, and everything was cleaned up very well after the job was completed.

Neal Hamilton

After we encountered storm damage for the first time ever, I had no idea who to call and South Shore was one of the roofers recommended. From the moment I met Luke Patrick I knew my decision was made. His knowledge and experience in dealing with insurance company adjusters made South Shore stand out high above my other bidders. Luke’s efforts to negotiate a full roof replacement v. partial was masterful. Additionally, South Shore agreed to act as the G.C. to handle all other aspects of the remediation work. I HIGHLY recommend South Shore for any roofing needs! I only wish they did commercial work so I could ditch my so-so existing roofers.

Debbie Walker

South Shore Roofing gave me very professional service from beginning to end. I was emailed a picture and brief bio of the estimator who would be viewing my roof. Luke Patrick arrived on time, was very professional and was very knowledgeable. He met with my insurance adjuster and handled all the paperwork and phone calls. It was truly a blessing to have South Shore handle all the details. During the roof process, they kept me informed, answered all my questions and were very reassuring. I highly recommend them.

Daniel Menges

We are so thankful to have come across South Shore Roofing while searching for contractors. Luke went above and beyond, to make sure the whole process was quick and painless. Erica was efficient, making sure the paperwork process went smoothly. Overall, South Shore is a phenomenal company. If you want a professional, hardworking company with great pricing, South Shore Roofing is the way to go!

Kaye Torgerson

South Shore made the process of replacing our roof completely seamless. From meeting with our insurance adjuster when we could not be present to keeping us updated with photos of the work’s progress, they were professional and courteous all the way through. the work they did was top notch and the final product is beautiful. Would do business again in a heartbeat and have already recommended them to neighbors.

Craig Delaney

This was the best experience that I have had with any roofing company. They worked with us from start to finish and never once did we have to have them redo anything. They began work at 7 a.m. as stated in my contact with the tearing off of the roof and was finished with the replacement asking with clean up by 8:30 pm. Awesome job!

John Spotto

An absolute pleasurable experience dealing with South Shore Roofing. From the first contact with Justin, to the last correspondence with Erica at the office and the dealings with the project managers (Brent & Kyle) in between, it has been nothing but a very smooth & professional experience. The new roof looks fantastic and workmanship top notch.
If you need a new roof these are the people to seek out! Highly recommend South Shore Roofing!