One may be inclined to believe that there is a limit to how useful a plant can be. After all, it’s just a plant, right? Well, the humble hemp would surprise anyone who thinks along those lines, and pleasantly so.

Hemp is one of the most versatile materials on the planet. History has seen it used as paper, rope and even in construction. It is believed that the pyramids, wonders of the ancient world that we marvel at even in the 21st century, are built of a biocomposite of hemp and lime; as it petrifies over time, such a compound would have the required flexibility and strength to survive harsh weather conditions for such long durations.

Harking back to the wisdom of the ancients, the modern construction industry has been quick to adopt the benefits of hemp as a construction material. High in material strength and the ability to withstand extreme conditions, hemp is fast becoming one of the choicest substances for engineers and the construction industry. Hempcrete, a biocomposite of hemp and lime, is already bringing in a silent but sure revolution in the industry.

But what is Hempcrete exactly, and how does it solve the problems that conventional construction materials fail to overcome? And exactly what are the structures that can be successfully constructed using hemp? To know the answer to these questions and more, continue below.

A Bit About Hempcrete

As mentioned above, Hempcrete is a biocomposite of hemp hurd or shiv together with lime. The mixture is prepared by combining the above components with suitable quantities of water. The lime acts as a binder that coats the hemp particles and, once it reacts with the water, the lime glues the hemp particles together to provide a high material strength. Any excess moisture is removed from the blend. The resultant residue is Hempcrete.

What differentiates Hempcrete from conventional construction composites is the fact that the binder in Hempcrete