Angel Romero Jr., Stuc-Go-Crete/RAAX Dryvit, LLC
Angel de Paz is head construction foreman for Dodge City, KS-based RAAX Dryvit LLC
My responsibilities are acquiring estimates, distributing hemp products, head stucco applicator, and head mixer for hempcrete jobs. My mother Julia is in charge of speaking to clients and the bookkeeper for the business with over 20 years of experience in the industry.
The most fascinating discovery about hemp I have witnessed is the strong capabilities it has to benefit natural building. Being the VP of the Industrial Hemp Coalition and BuiltForTheFuture, working with hemp has opened my eyes to toxic materials that have been forced on us for many decades. It is incredible to be a part of the change for a building material that is sustainable and can deteriorate back into mother earth if it ever needed to be destroyed.
What was a win for your company in the past year?
A win for 2023 was being able to assist Kansas State University and build the Hemp Casita. Sponsored by Right Coast Hemp, the powerhouse team of K-State architecture professor Michael Gibson, Sarah Selmons of Midwest Hemp Technology, and RAAX Dryvit LLC were able to build this 100 sq ft structure to be able to showcase the different hemp materials and how they can be used in residential homes. Utilizing hemp wood from HempWood, hemp wool from Hempitecture, and hemp supplied by Midwest Hemp Technology, we now have a tiny house that can be transported on a trailer and be taken to expos around the area to promote hemp building.
What is something about hemp building/construction/processing you didn’t know a year ago?
Something I learned this year was to give credit where credit is due. While it's incredible to see the growth of the industry, many building companies aren't being given the proper credit for their projects. Credit being taken by subcontractors and sponsors that participated in the project but was not rightfully theirs. Remember as an industry it's okay to lend a hand, come together to help the cause, but please give the credit to those who have invested their capital into moving this industry forward.
What challenges does the hemp building industry face that it must overcome in the next five years?
The challenges I see in the future all lie within the capital and convincing building companies to take into consideration the longevity of these materials. To show companies that by taking a step back and the proper investment into these materials, we can build homes that will last for generations with minimum repairs. Another challenge I see is proper techniques and materials being used. While it is a simple process to build with help, before building consider reaching out to those in the industry that are familiar with the mixes to help prevent any structure being built incorrectly. All it will take is one building built wrong, to crumble and harm an innocent family, for this entire industry to collapse. Please be aware of the bigger picture and reach out to the experts of the industry for any upcoming projects you are interested in building.
