ᐅ EIFS / exterior wall / insulation / energy experts’ experience reports

Hello,

I am about to have a new house built. This house is planned to be constructed without external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS) / external wall insulation. The builder’s reasoning is that the exterior walls will be 36cm (14 inches) thick, so no ETICS is needed.

Is this just an excuse, or is it really the case?

Regards,
Maik

Hello,

tuxxnet schrieb:
...Is that just an excuse, or is it really like that?

An exterior wall has to fulfill several functions, for example: load bearing (structural stability), thermal insulation, heat storage, sound insulation, and fire protection. These often involve partly competing requirements. In addition, the economic effectiveness of insulation must always be considered in relation to the building’s technical systems. Overall, this is a complex topic that can only be clarified in connection with the specific requirements of the construction project.

Best regards

Is this just an excuse, or is it really like that?

That can be the case... there are many who want exactly that: a monolithic wall construction. Many are concerned about how an external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS) will look after 20 to 30 years... whether that concern is justified or not, I won’t comment further.

One way to build monolithically is, for example, using Poroton bricks. With the wall thickness you mentioned, it should be around t7/t8 classes... the other option is aerated concrete (Ytong).

So it is possible...

Whether this is the right or best solution for you cannot be determined here, as there are many other requirements for a wall, as €uro has already mentioned.

Hello Maik,

tuxxnet schrieb:
I am about to have a new house built. This house is to be constructed without external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS). The builder's explanation is that the exterior walls are supposed to be 36 cm (14 inches) thick, so no ETICS is necessary.

Is this just an excuse, or is it really true?

This is one of the "Jehovah topics" in construction.

You can build either monolithically or with ETICS; ultimately, there are both advantages and disadvantages to each option. You need to make the decision based on your personal preferences. BUT: if you decide to go with ETICS, you should under no circumstances skip ventilation; whether decentralized or centralized depends again on your wishes and your budget! Even with monolithic construction, it is sometimes seriously negligent to forgo regulated indoor air quality!

Kind regards

I am also very interested in this topic,
but what exactly are the advantages and disadvantages of a thicker monolithic wall?
Personally, I imagine it acts as a stronger thermal mass and may also help create a better indoor climate naturally.

What about the cost? --> If you plan for a thicker wall and therefore less external insulation (ETICS / external thermal insulation composite system), is there a cost calculator for this?

At the moment, our new build is planned with 24cm (10 inches) Poroton plus 16cm (6 inches) external insulation.

This is the response I received from my architect:
30cm (12 inches) is not necessary. I don’t know any reason for it. The 24cm (10 inches) wall provides the load-bearing function, and the 16cm (6 inches) insulation provides the thermal insulation. I could possibly imagine soundproofing reasons, but not in this case with almost no noise exposure.

I would appreciate some answers… Thank you

But what exactly are the advantages and disadvantages of a thicker monolithic wall?

I'm not an expert in this field, but one common concern is often the "fear" of external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS). On one hand, there is the worry about expensive renovations in 20 years if the ETICS need to be removed; on the other hand, there is concern about the increased fire risk associated with some ETICS.

However, if you want to build with a strong focus on soundproofing, you will likely use building materials like sand-lime brick or concrete, which then definitely require an ETICS.

With a monolithic wall construction, you also have fewer or no problems with attaching things to the exterior wall afterward.