Mycelium is seen as one of the most exciting alternatives to concrete emerging in the construction industry. This material is sourced from miniscule threads in mushrooms and, when mixed with organic matter, forms a dense, durable and naturally fire-resistant material that can be moulded easily into any shape.
Ashcrete can be a general substitute for Portland cement for everything from masonry blocks to columns and road construction. It's often less expensive than standard concrete. Fiber cement uses wood pulp, which is lower maintenance in coastal climates because it resists cracking and warping.
Pulverised Fuel Ash (PFA), aka 'Fly ash' as a cement substitute. PFA is a by-product of coal-burning power stations. As part of the combustion process, coal is pulverised into a powder before being burned.
Cost-effective – Fly ash is much cheaper than cement since it is a by-product of coal combustion. Therefore, the overall cost of production for ashcrete is lesser than traditional concrete. Low embodied energy– Embodied energy is the measure of how much energy is consumed in producing and transporting material.
Hempcrete (in its usual “hemp-lime” form) has been developed as a non-structural material. Therefore, it cannot replace concrete for structural applications.
Despite its many benefits, Hempcrete does have a few disadvantages that make it less than ideal as a building material. For instance, the porous structure of the Hempcrete decreases its mechanical performance and increases its ability to retain water.
Fly ash is used to lower the cost and to improve the performance of PCC. Typically, 15 percent to 30 percent of the portland cement is replaced with fly ash, with even higher percentages used for mass concrete placements. An equivalent or greater weight of fly ash is substituted for the cement removed.
Roughly 95% of the Ferrock is made from recycled materials, Ferrock is both stronger and more flexible than normal Portland cement, allowing it to be used in highly active environments where there is a consideration for seismic activity.
Greenconcrete is an eco-friendly alternative to traditional portland cement. It's made from recycled materials like fly ash and blast-furnace slag, with a carbon footprint about 90% lower than regular cement.
Early cementicious composite materials typically included mortar-crushed, burned limestone, sand and water, which was used for building with stone, as opposed to casting the material in a mold, which is essentially how modern concrete is used, with the mold being the concrete forms.
As a better-performing, carbon-negative alternative to cement, ferrock is a building material made primarily of recycled materials. It is intended to replace or minimise the use of concrete. The primary raw materials used in its production are recycled steel dust and ground-up glass silica.
Gravel is one of the most affordable alternatives to concrete driveways. It is also easier to install and maintain, but may require that more gravel is added and smoothed over time.
Portland limestone cement (PLC) is a type of blended cement made by inter-grinding Portland cement clinker and 5 to 15% limestone. PLC has similar properties to OPC, but it typically has a lower carbon footprint and generates less heat during hydration.
Hempcrete uses much less water than typical concrete and is much lighter, making it easier for construction crews to handle. In construction, contractors often use hempcrete for insulation.
With cement being the costliest ingredient, substituting fly ash or slag can help maintain a stronger mix at a lower cost. Fly ash and Slag will typically be 18% cheaper than Portland cement. When a mix includes 20% fly ash, this will provide savings of 3.5% in cost.
Poor-quality fly ash can have a negative effect on concrete. The principle advantage of fly ash is reduced permeability at a low cost, but fly ash of poor quality can actually increase permeability. Some fly ash, such as that produced in a power plant, is compatible with concrete.
Fly ash consists of silt-sized particles which are generally spherical, typically ranging in size between 10 and 100 micron (Figure 1-2). These small glass spheres improve the fluidity and workability of fresh concrete. Fineness is one of the important properties contributing to the pozzolanic reactivity of fly ash.
As far as installation costs and concrete costs go, poured concrete is technically the most affordable per square foot. However, even though the upfront cost of pavers is higher, concrete pavers offer greater value and durability than poured concrete and stamped concrete.
While concrete has been the go-to construction material for many years, there are viable alternatives that offer superior strength and lighter weight. Fiber-reinforced polymers, lightweight aggregates, and aerated concrete all provide excellent alternatives to traditional concrete, each with its unique advantages.
Hempcrete can be used for roofing, walls, insulation, and slabs, with walls being the most common. These blocks are low maintenance and can be used for an estimated 300-500 years with proper maintenance when needed.
BENEFITS OF HEMPCRETE
Hempcrete is an insulator - We typically build our walls to a thickness of 250mm. This achieves an R value of 3.55, Standard insulation batts are around R-2.5.