Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
A brick plinth for a hempcrete wall in a listed building. The
bottom of the render curves in towards the wall, dis-
guising an unusual hidden drip detail, included to meet
conservation aesthetics requirements.
If you are using concrete blocks then you may as well use a cement mortar to stick them
together, and indeed the use of water-impermeable cement mortar in this situation is argu-
ably an advantage, in that the job of the plinth is to prevent water from coming into contact
with the bottom of the hempcrete wall. However, it does carry an increased risk of cracking
with any later movement of the building, compared with lime mortars, which are naturally
more flexible and can tolerate small movements in the building. There is no reason, other
than increased cost, why NHL 5 or a natural cement could not be used in a concrete-block
plinth instead of ordinary Portland cement.
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