The term hempcrete comes from the English portmanteau hemp + concrete. Of course, it is not actually concrete, but the same natural product as our hemp bricks, mixed on-site at the construction location, poured, and formed. However, it does not need to shy away from functional comparison with classic concrete! It is especially recommended for walls that remain unplastered on one side, allowing the aesthetic strength of hemp lime to be visible. It is particularly suitable for builders who can contribute a lot of DIY labor. Otherwise, purchasing our finished hemp bricks saves time and costs.

The processing of our hempcrete is very simple. Mix the hemp shives with magnesium-rich lime and water (in standard mixing machines), pour everything into a wooden formwork, and compact the outer surfaces by lightly tamping. After about 15 minutes, you can strip the formwork and move to the next height. We are also happy to supply hemp shives in various bag sizes; however, the building company must follow applicable regulations for building with hemp if the hemp additive is used with limes other than those we recommend and supply. Unsuitable mixtures can delay drying time or cause cracking and other problems. If the material is processed carefully and professionally, after thorough consultation and with precise workmanship, this is not to be expected.

The key element in the production of our Schönthaler hemp bricks, as well as our other hemp-based products, is the hemp shives or hemp wood - byproducts of hemp processing during the decortication of the stalk. Calling them “waste” does them an injustice, because they form the foundation of our entire hemp philosophy. Whether in the aforementioned hemp bricks, as hempcrete for mixing and pouring on-site at your construction site, in our hemp-lime base and fine plasters, or as raw material for the design acoustic panels from SAPPA panels.

The mixer is available for rent

Through our years of experience in research and development with different lime mixtures, we offer mixes that dry relatively quickly and become hard enough to produce stable precast elements. These mixes have now been used for many buildings and precast components. Since 2023, Straub Hanf & Kalk has been producing precast walls with them. In Openly in Widnau, precast elements for a multi-family house were produced using our consulting and lime mix. 

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