How can I ensure that my building is designed correctly?

The best way to ensure that your project is designed correctly is to work with professionals who have experience with that material. Hempcrete is unlike conventional construction methods, so it is important to appoint a designer who can design details that are thermally and economically efficient.

UK Hempcrete’s specialist design service, Studio Bio, provides all stages of architectural design delivered by a team who specialise in the construction detailing of hempcrete and other natural construction materials. For more information, or to request a fees quote, contact 01629 343 143 or design@ukhempcrete.com

Architects who are not used to working with hempcrete and other natural materials may not find it easy to detail buildings correctly when using these materials. Designing a building using natural construction materials demands an understanding of how thermal performance and vapour movement interact in a dynamic building envelope, to ensure that the risk of interstitial condensation is eliminated. 

In addition, novel materials which are not widely used may have implications for the build process, and may need to be finished differently or detailed differently in how they interact with adjacent materials in the building. This is not an insurmountable problem and can usually be solved simply by the architect finding out about hempcrete and natural building; for example by reading around the subject, visiting existing buildings or buying in consultancy from a company such as UK Hempcrete, that specialises in the use of hempcrete. 

When designing for cast in situ hempcrete, it’s important to remember that significant cost savings can be made at the construction stage, if the building is designed by someone who has a good understanding of energy efficiency within the specialist construction process. Paying a little more up front for specialist design can save money later on site.