FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
HOW IS CARVER CO2 DIFFERENT FROM OTHER HEMPCRETE COMPETITORS?
We parnter with the very best local contractors, architects and real estate developers to develop energy efficient and economically viable homes and buildings. Furthermore, we've partnered with one of the top universities in the world to conduct research on a propriety precaste building method for hempcrete bricks and boards. We call these products Carver Bricks and Carver Boards and they'll be coming soon. We aren't just passionate, we're professional and understanding of our clients needs. Environmentally friendly needs to be economically affordable.
HOW MUCH DOES A HEMPCRETE BUILDING COST?
This question depends on a lot of variables, but buyers should expect to pay anywhere between $100 - $250 per square foot.
WHAT SEPERATES US FROM CURRENT CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES?
We're a nimble and flexible company that depend on established partners and relationships as opposed to large internal teams. Furthermore, many big companeis that real estate developers are used to dealing with become brain dead and suffer through group think. We may be a smaller group than you're used to dealing with, but we don't treat our people and partner like gears in a complex building machine. This allows us to recruit and retain highly qualified and creative individuals. We only hire and partner with passionate people.
WHAT IS THE CARBON FOOTPRINT OF HEMPCRETE?
Many homeowners and builders are looking at hemp due to its energy efficiency, breathability, durability, and flexibility, but many other buyers are concerned about CO2 emissions. There are many ways to make hempcrete buildings so there isn't a one size fits all answer, but what we do know is that hempcrete buildings have the ability to be sequester carbon and be net-zero. It is estimated that 165 kg of CO2 may be sequestered into 1 cubic meter of hempcrete.
Builders and buyers that are looking to minimize their building's carbon footprint should focus on reducing the amount of traditional concrete and building products made from petrochemicals. If you're thinking about building a concrete structure think again. Concrete accounts for roughly 8% of the global concrete emissions, doesn't breath like hempcrete, is more brittle than hempcrete, and doesn't last as long. The built environment requires a tremendous amount of energy to manufacture and operate and Carver CO2 our purpose is minimize energy consumption and encourage the use of rewneable and low cost energy.
WHY IS HEMP FIBER THE BEST OPTION TO USE WITH LIME BINDER?
The hemp fiber that is used in hempcrete is the woody inner fiber known as the hemp hurd. This material is a low-value material in most cases, but it contains high levels of silica which allows it to bind strongly with the lime binders.
WHAT TYPE OF BINDER IS USED TO MAKE HEMPCRETE?
Traditional concrete uses energy-intensive portland cement, but hempcrete products are based on a lime binder. Depending on the application the binder may be either a hydrated lime, hydraulic lime, or a combination of both. In certain mixtures, natural cement or a small amount of portland cement may be used to encourage a faster initial set. Hydrated lime requires the smallest amount of energy to produce, but is typically only used for precast products. The type of binder and the quantity of binder used will dictate the majority of the mechanical and thermal insulation properties of the end material.
HOW STRONG IS HEMPCRETE?
Hempcrete is a load-bearing material, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t enhance the strength of the building. The hempcrete mixture increases building strength by supporting the wood frame and improving the ‘racking strength’ or rigidity of the structural building (protects against lateral forces). This racking strength means hempcrete will become the preferred building material for earthquake-prone areas or areas that experience high winds.
Furthermore, racking strength becomes more important the higher your building becomes. In the future, precast hempcrete systems using hempcrete may become a preferred option for developing energy-efficient skyscrapers. Furthermore, hempcrete’s lime binder protects the timber from water, fire, and insect threats, and hempcrete will reduce the cost of wood that traditionally needs to be used to brace the frame.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HEMPCRETE AND CONCRETE?
Hempcrete is carbon negative, is breathable, more durable, more flexible, better insulator, and doesn't require expansion joints. Concrete is the most consumed commodity outside of water and its main advantage over tradition hempcrete is that it is a load bearing product. Hempcrete provides racking strength, but it isn't load bearning... yet.
CAN HEMPCRETE BE USED FOR TALL BUILDINGS?
Yes, hempcrete has amazing racking strength, which means it can deal with a tremendous amount lateral force from wind and it has been found to be 6-8 times lighter than concrete.
CAN HEMPCRETE BE USED FOR WALLS, FLOORS, AND ROOFING?
Yes, yes, and yes.
IS HEMPCRETE FIRE PROOF?
Yes, the lime binder fully coats the hemp fibers and creates and non-flammable material. Studies have shown the hempcrete can withstand intense temperatures for up to two hours. Furthermore, hempcrete protects the wood structure.
WHAT TYPE OF FINISHES CAN BE APPLIED TO HEMPCRETE?
There are a wide variety of finishes that a desig