Industry partnerships: Building sustainably with Buckland Timber to meet your environmental goals

​​Tell us about The Hemp Block Company

We know hempcrete is a sustainable, future-proofed alternative to traditional building materials, and we’ve worked to make it easier to use by developing hempcrete blocks.

We’re set on delivering exceptional performance across our building products and services. The company’s philosophy is to make building materials beneficial for both human health and the planet by:

–       Increasing carbon capture and providing an alternative to traditional concrete use.

–       Making high-performing, healthy homes that are insulated using natural, breathable materials.

What are hempcrete blocks?

Hempcrete blocks are a ready-to-use material made from hempcrete, which is a mix of hemp plant (shiv), water and lime. This production creates a low-embodied carbon alternative to conventional insulated walling systems.

Hempcrete in block form solves the problem of needing specialist knowledge to work with the material. When prepared in this way, no additional equipment or preparation is needed – they’re good to go.

Why choose hempcrete blocks when starting a build project?

You can imagine we get pretty excited when asked about this! Hempcrete blocks are a great option.

Our customers and partners across construction are increasingly seeing hempcrete blocks as their high-performing material of choice. The lightweight nature of the blocks mean their application is flexible and varied, including working beautifully with glulam timber frame designs.

You’ll also find the running costs of a house are lower over time because of the natural breathability and high insulation qualities. In terms of environmental benefits, it’s a no-brainer for your sustainability targets and impact on the planet – a small amount of innovation and adaptation in your building design means your home or building will be actively locking up carbon. You could say it gives a warm home, and a “warm” feeling!

What are the advantages of working with hempcrete blocks?

With the eco-friendly hat on, hempcrete blocks have great environmental benefits – you truly are making a difference to the future of the planet by choosing hempcrete blocks:

·      Hemp is a renewable, sustainable crop requiring very few pesticides.

·      Because it grows quickly, it absorbs lots of carbon during its growth cycle

·      This carbon is then locked into the block, never to escape!

·      The carbon capture is in direct contrast to concrete production, which is a major contributor to carbon emissions.

If we switch to the hard hat though, they are not just ecofriendly – they are also a quality building product.

Hempcrete blocks are a natural insulator, yet they’re breathable and allow moisture to escape to give the ventilation buildings need. Alongside the thermal efficiency, they offer great acoustic performance, with minimal noise transfer.

Working with hemp blocks is practical because they’re lightweight and can be cut and shaped easily, with normal building practices and tools. The blocks are strong and durable, can be screwed into, and are superbly resistant to fire, pests and mould. Plus, the blocks are getting cheaper and cheaper, with reliable availability and a responsive supply chain in place too.

What are the disadvantages of working with hempcrete blocks?

Hempcrete blocks do have limited load-bearing capacity, so additional structural support is needed when using them. This means design changes might be needed. This is not usually a problem if you work closely with a business like Buckland as their team of designers will take this into account, but it is something you have to factor in and should be aware of.

Cost is also a factor depending on your budget. Right now, they do make longer-term financial sense, and hemp blocks are getting cheaper, but they are not the lowest-cost option. Making the choice will very much depend on whether your end goal is sustainability-driven, cost-driven or a bit of both.

You’ve mentioned costs of using hemp blocks. Can you tell us some more?

On the website, there is a pricing matrix to help you calculate a ball park figure but in the same way as calculating glulam, we can only give you an exact cost when we know all the details of your project.

If you’re working directly with us, we’ll guide you clearly through a project quotation. If you’re working with us via Buckland Timber, they too will use their detailed knowledge of working with us to guide you to the right decision for you and your project.

Can you tell us about the projects you’ve completed with Buckland Timber?

We’ve worked on several projects with Buckland now, including two extension projects, one single-storey and the other two-storey, and we were proud to recently finish a big build in Bude, Cornwall. It’s a fantastic building and shows what’s possible. We used hempcrete blocks throughout, all set around a stunning structural glulam frame.

If you’re looking to start a new project and would like more information on hemp blocks you can visit their website or get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to help.