Essential Hempcrete Construction

The Complete Guide to High-Performance Hempcrete Building

Part of the Sustainable Building Essentials series, Essential Hempcrete Construction is the definitive step-by-step guide to designing and building with hempcrete—an energy-efficient, breathable, low-carbon insulation material for walls, roofs, and floors.

What You'll Learn

Fire-safe, Healthy, Breathable Walls: Hempcrete offers exceptional fire resistance (0 flame spread), indoor humidity buffering, and mold-resistant performance.
Energy-efficient Thermal Comfort: High insulation value and thermal mass help maintain stable indoor temperatures year-round.
Lightweight, Low-carbon Material: Made from renewable hemp hurd and lime, hempcrete dramatically reduces embodied carbon compared to synthetic insulation.
Step-by-step Building Guidance: Tools, mix design, testing, formwork, installation, and finishing for reliable, high-quality results.
Design and Detailing Confidence: Material specs, climate data, detail drawings, building science insights, and complete code references.
Plan, Budget, and Build Efficiently: Labor estimates, cost planning, and practical advice for residential and commercial applications.


Written by Chris Magwood, one of the world's foremost sustainable building experts, this guide blends rigorous building science with decades of practical experience to help you confidently incorporate hempcrete into any project.

Discover the full Sustainable Building Essentials series to explore natural building techniques that deliver measurable performance and environmental benefits.