Is Hemp Wood the Future of building?
Hemp has been legalized in the US, although with serious restrictions. This has resulted in increased production of the plant at an exponential rate. Hemp is a highly versatile plant that is being used for the production of sustainable by-products like plastic polymers, fabric, biofuel and now even wood.
Hemp fabrics have been used for clothing for millennia and it is one of the oldest fabrics used by humans. The plant can also be used in the production of a type of building material called hempcrete. Hemp wood is one of the latest products that this plant is being used to produce.
What is Hemp Wood
Simply? An innovative answer to the question of finding the material for building more sustainably. It's late addition to the list of building materials is because of the decade's hemp has spent as an illegal drug. This illegality due to its relationship with marijuana got in the way of its potential being identified.
Hemp wood has undergone numerous studies and tests thanks to the effort of Greg Wilson and the Fibonacci Company. This investment into hemp has generated a perfected hardwood derived from our favourite plant and poised to replace plywood.
Hemp is very versatile and can be cultivated in different climates. It is the optimal material for people to use as a substitute to tree-based timber since it is cheap, easy to grow and produces large yields.
What is it made from
Hemp wood was derived from hemp by using the algorithm of an oak tree. The hemp wood team reverse-engineered hemp’s growth cycle to imitate the stability and sturdiness of this popular material. They applied the knowledge from bamboo flooring to invent a wood that is similar - but stronger.
Hemp wood, just like its parent plant, contains a THC content of 0.3 per cent or less. The creation process involves the compression of hemp pulp fibres. This process is known as biomimicry. This is followed up by strengthening using a soy-based glue.
Hemp wood is 20% stronger and 100 times faster growing than oak. Hemp is very similar to strand-woven bamboo aside from it being a lot less coarse. However, bamboo is more likely to chip due to its roughness. It is also not as woody has hemp, giving hemp the advantage.
Current manufacturers of hemp wood
Fibonacci LLC launched its $5.8 million Hemp wood manufacturing facility in Murray, Kentucky. This facility measures about 15,000-square-foot. According to Greg Wilson, their founder and CEO, it is to be their first step in the plan to manufacture up to a million board feet of four-quarter lumber yearly,
Wilson and his team have patented the method with which they employed. Hemp wood can be purchased at www.hempwood.com. Fibonacci LLC has plans to build eight more facilities across the US and predict the next one will be up and running by 2021.
The cost of hemp wood is greater than regular wood right now. However, it soon will reach economies of scale and compete with wood. The company expects that by 2021, their prices will give Oak a run for its money. With the many obstacles and challenges that face the introduction of new material, this is a favourable outlook.
Hemp wood uses
Fibonacci intends to manufacture wood tabletops and flooring for purchase. Currently, they are not making structural or exterior products but they insist that it is strong enough. At the moment, they are focusing on interior face grade. Hemp wood flooring is supposed to be available within the year. So, what could it be used for as we move into the golden age of hemp?
- Framework for houses
When it comes to building sustainable houses, a great concern is the selection of a material which is durable and healthy. It also helps that this material is sustainable, eco-friendly and locally sourced. Hemp wood will be first available in boards and blocks. and in the near future, could be used for constructing frameworks for homes.
- Use in woodwork
As mentioned above, interior uses for hemp wood are already in the initial stages. Hemp wood can be used in the creation of sturdy, beautiful furniture, doors, beams etc. It is a non-toxic wood due to its organic roots and soy-derived glue. It is a healthier choice for interior building.
Hemp Wood is an innovative product which can open the path to homes which are safer for us and the environment. It is created through a genius process using the pulp fibres of the plant. Durable, strong and eco-friendly - doesn’t this sound like an excellent option to you?