Based on our early survey, these are the categories that matter most to developer/financier.
The balance of positive, neutral and negative comments. 100 means people spoke about it almost entirely positively.
How many people talk about in their interview.
Theme codes: the same tags appear on the quotes to the right, so you can trace a number back to a real voice.
Money talk splits cleanly in two, and the split explains the score. Looking back at the point of purchase, residents were matter-of-fact. Some paid a modest premium, one found staged financing a strain, and one named cost as a real barrier to wider adoption. Most remarks are neutral, people stating facts rather than nursing regrets. Looking at what the money bought, every remark was positive. Households described heating bills that barely register, easy indifference to the recent fuel crisis, and in one case a strong energy rating that raised resale value. Everyone who weighed cost against health, ecology, or the chance to build it themselves concluded it was worth it. Only five homes discussed money, so read this one gently.
A middling score could easily be misread as the material wearing poorly. The data says nearly the opposite. Residents reported the hempcrete wall aging without trouble; one venue owner found no sign of aging after a decade of public events. The only reservations were mild, a note that the outer face can take a knock. On upkeep, every remark was positive, and most households have had nothing to do. What pulls the score down is the finish applied over the wall, a separate decision from the material itself. One self-built home used an inexperienced plasterer and paid for it in cracks, by the owner's own admission. Where finishes were chosen and applied well, residents reported no trouble.
This is the topic residents had most to say about, and every home said something. Nobody complained. The strongest praise went to how steadily these homes hold their temperature: cool through heat waves, warm through hard winters, often on nothing more than a wood stove. Several residents described coming home in winter to a house that had kept its warmth on its own. Remarks on energy use were positive without exception, and more than one household noted how little recent fuel price shocks touched them. Humidity drew the most measured talk, most praising the walls' moisture regulation and the absence of damp, a few unable to judge either way. The neutral remarks are open verdicts, not soft complaints.
New prefab single family
Occ. (yrs): 5+
FF1
“We haven't calculated the final costs yet, but we initially expected it to be about 10% more expensive.”
Restoration & Renovation
Occ. (yrs): 10
FF1
“For me, the biggest consideration is still the cost. But as adoption grows and production scales up, I believe those costs will come down.”
Restoration & Renovation
Occ. (yrs): 10
FF1
“There's still a cost barrier, as it's more expensive than traditional building methods.”
New Single Family
Occ. (yrs): 8
FF2
“With energy prices rising, we've been fortunate not to feel the impact. Our energy bills have stayed remarkably low, and the system even helps heat our water, which makes a real difference.”
Kitchen addition & renovation
Occ. (yrs): 6
FF2
“Our home's energy rating improved significantly—from around an F or G to an A or B. That wasn't just because of the hemp, but also the insulation, solar panels, and air source heat pump. The building inspector was very enthusiastic about the materials and even made special visits to see the project, although there were some challenges in fitting these innovative methods into existing building regulations.”
Sunroom addition to farmhouse
Occ. (yrs): 6
FF2
“One important point is the insulation. In France, when you sell a house, it has to go through an energy performance assessment. If the house isn't well insulated, it loses points, making it more difficult to sell. This insulation performs extremely well, so it actually increases the value of the property.”
New Single Family
Occ. (yrs): 8
FF3
“Hempcrete ticked a lot of boxes for us. It was affordable, I could do much of the work myself, and the breathability was a key factor. The insulation has also been excellent, helping regulate the temperature inside the house. Looking back, those were really the things that mattered most to us.”
Kitchen addition & renovation
Occ. (yrs): 6
FF3
“You use resources and materials whenever you build something, so we wanted to make choices that felt more responsible. For our garage conversion, we chose more sustainable materials instead of conventional petroleum-based insulation. It wasn't the quickest option—it took two years rather than six months—but it felt like the right decision.”
Restoration & Renovation
Occ. (yrs): 10
FF3
“Hemp spray is actually priced quite close to conventional materials. The real difference is its performance—you get better temperature regulation, humidity control, and a range of other benefits.”
New prefab single family
Occ. (yrs): 5+
DM1
“No, not really. Our only concern is the old glass in the door, which could break. The walls might get a little damaged if someone bumps into them, but overall, it's not a major concern for us.”
Deep retrofit & restoration
Occ. (yrs): 10+
DM1
“People often ask about pests and worry that they might get into the hemp. For me, it's been 10 years, and I've never had any problems with pests.”
Deep retrofit & restoration
Occ. (yrs): 10+
DM1
“After more than 10 years, we haven't noticed any signs of aging. We've been hosting concerts and welcoming the public throughout that time, and the materials haven't suffered any damage. Neither the lime nor the hemp has shown any deterioration—we haven't had any problems.”
Sunroom addition to farmhouse
Occ. (yrs): 6
DM2
“I did these transformations six years ago, so it's still quite new. I don't have a very long experience with it yet, but so far, I haven't needed to do anything to maintain it.”
New prefab single family
Occ. (yrs): 5+
DM2
“As for the hemp lime, it doesn't require any maintenance.”
Kitchen addition & renovation
Occ. (yrs): 6
DM3
“For me, it's also the reassurance. With concrete, you worry when cracks appear because water can get in and become trapped. With this material, we don't have to panic in the same way. The building naturally moves a little, especially on heavy clay, but we feel comfortable with those small changes.”
Restoration & Renovation
Occ. (yrs): 10
DM3
“When you have paint or a very smooth surface, it's more difficult to keep the wall looking perfect. With hemp and lime, the texture makes small imperfections less of an issue, and if needed, you can quickly repair it with a lime finish.”
Sunroom addition to farmhouse
Occ. (yrs): 6
DM3
“The special thing about these materials is that they're never perfect—and that's part of their nature. They move, small cracks appear, and for some people that can be difficult to accept. But for me, that's what natural materials do. They change over time.”
New prefab single family
Occ. (yrs): 5+
TH1
“The house is well insulated, so it's comfortable in winter.”
Kitchen addition & renovation
Occ. (yrs): 6
TH1
“Even on the hottest days, the room upstairs stays surprisingly cool. We're still finishing the space, so the windows are usually open, but it already feels really comfortable inside.”
Restoration & Renovation
Occ. (yrs): 10
TH1
“Actually, hemp spray is close in price to conventional materials. It's really about performance. You get temperature control, humidity control, and a range of other performance benefits.”
New Single Family
Occ. (yrs): 8
TH2
“I keep a close eye on the temperature and indoor conditions, and if anything, the house tends to be slightly drier than normal. I've never had any issues with humidity. It's simply never been a concern.”
Kitchen addition & renovation
Occ. (yrs): 6
TH2
“I think it's the reassurance as well. With concrete, if a crack appears, you immediately worry because water can get in and become trapped. With this, we don't have the same concern. The material continues to dry out, and even if the building moves a little—as buildings naturally do—we feel much more comfortable with it. If a crack does appear, it doesn't seem likely to cause the same kind of damage as concrete render, so we don't feel the need to panic.”
New prefab single family
Occ. (yrs): 5+
TH2
“It's vapour-open and highly moisture regulating, creating a very pleasant indoor climate.”
New Single Family
Occ. (yrs): 8
TH3
“The house stays at a fairly consistent temperature throughout the year. Our only real source of heating is a log burner, which also heats the water.”
New prefab single family
Occ. (yrs): 5+
TH3
“This house has underfloor heating, and because it's well insulated, the whole home stays warm and comfortable.”
Sunroom addition to farmhouse
Occ. (yrs): 6
TH3
“In winter, once we close the exterior sliding doors, the house stays very comfortable. It never really feels cold, and you don't notice much change in temperature. We heat only with wood, and even when the whole family gathers here at Christmas, it's easy to keep the space warm and comfortable. The temperature stays remarkably stable.”
