Design fundamentals - The Hempcrete Topic: Designing and Building with Hemp-lime - page 527

at the top of a hill might experience more frequent and heavier snowfalls than those at the
bottom of the valley. Houses very close to each other but on opposite sides of the hill or
valley might experience dramatically different levels of rainfall or exposure to sun.
Site-specific effects on the construction process
The main way in which the prevailing weather affects the construction process is in the
planning for protection of work, both during the construction phase and while waiting for
the hempcrete to dry.
During the placing of the hempcrete, walls under construction must be kept covered and
sheltered from driving rain. High winds are also a nuisance at this stage, as small particles
of lime-covered hemp get blown about and into people's eyes.
During the drying phase, the prevailing weather and the building's orientation will have
an effect on the management of the drying hempcrete. Here, strong winds can be a help
to drying, although temporary protection needs to be erected if the winds are driving rain
towards the face of as-yet-unrendered or -unclad walls. Walls that are exposed to winds
or orientated towards the sun are likely to dry more quickly, especially early and late in
the year, while walls that are shaded, sheltered or exposed to rain will probably dry more
slowly.
Mitigate these effects by temporary precautions put in place on-site to protect or expose
the work as required, and by planning the schedule of works for the finishes according to
the expected order in which different walls will be ready for finishes to be applied.