Reed as construction material

Common reed growing in coastal areas can be used for different construction purposes; building thatched roofs, producing various building boards e.g. for heat insulation or soundproofing, and preparing reed blocks for wall construction or insulation purposes. Reed can be considered as ecological building material. It is renewable and durable natural material and when harvested in sustainable way the environment is not damaged.

For construction purposes reed has to be cut during winter when the stalk has hardened and the leaves have fallen. Material is then quite dry, having moisture content around 20 %. Adequate storage of the dry reed is then important.

Dry winter reed has many good properties making it suitable for building:

• good mechanical resistance
• withstands moisture
• withstands temperature changes, UV radiation, snow and ice

• air is trapped in the stalks improving the insulation capacity
• rodents don't like it
• does not burn very easily (B2)when tightly compressed, partly due to high content of silicic acid
• decays slowly because of high mineral content