ᐅ New Construction – Is Insulation Worthwhile? Experiences?
Created on: 22 Jan 2023 15:03
H
Hausbau189
Good day, esteemed experts,
We are currently building our single-family house. It is being constructed using solid masonry (T9 unfilled 36.5), with a living area of approximately 290sqm (3120 sq ft) spread over three floors.
The roof will be insulated with about 24cm (9.5 inches) internally and 5cm (2 inches) externally.
We will heat the house using a geothermal heat pump (underfloor heating). Additionally, the house will be equipped with a controlled mechanical ventilation system. It should also be mentioned that we will have a fireplace (mainly for the ambiance). A photovoltaic system will be installed on the roof, potentially covering the entire surface area. The question now is whether it makes sense to additionally insulate the exterior walls (ETICS / external wall insulation system)?
We are not building to KfW standards…
Please do not be too harsh in your judgment ;-)
I could not find an answer to my question through the search function.
Our goal is to achieve good insulation in summer and, of course, to minimize heating costs.
Thank you for your kind exchange.
Best regards
We are currently building our single-family house. It is being constructed using solid masonry (T9 unfilled 36.5), with a living area of approximately 290sqm (3120 sq ft) spread over three floors.
The roof will be insulated with about 24cm (9.5 inches) internally and 5cm (2 inches) externally.
We will heat the house using a geothermal heat pump (underfloor heating). Additionally, the house will be equipped with a controlled mechanical ventilation system. It should also be mentioned that we will have a fireplace (mainly for the ambiance). A photovoltaic system will be installed on the roof, potentially covering the entire surface area. The question now is whether it makes sense to additionally insulate the exterior walls (ETICS / external wall insulation system)?
We are not building to KfW standards…
Please do not be too harsh in your judgment ;-)
I could not find an answer to my question through the search function.
Our goal is to achieve good insulation in summer and, of course, to minimize heating costs.
Thank you for your kind exchange.
Best regards
H
Hausbau18922 Jan 2023 17:35Interesting turn of events…
I had no intention of starting such a debate. Furthermore, I am not interested in presenting our project here in full detail. Please understand that I have already been quite open about the budget and related matters. Of course, everyone is free to form their own opinion.
What I generally find unfortunate is that, no matter the situation, the conversation immediately turns to money. Whether it’s strangers commenting on the purchase price of the plot or other budgets being questioned. There is something positive about not discussing money openly.
But that seems to be how our society is.
I had no intention of starting such a debate. Furthermore, I am not interested in presenting our project here in full detail. Please understand that I have already been quite open about the budget and related matters. Of course, everyone is free to form their own opinion.
What I generally find unfortunate is that, no matter the situation, the conversation immediately turns to money. Whether it’s strangers commenting on the purchase price of the plot or other budgets being questioned. There is something positive about not discussing money openly.
But that seems to be how our society is.
Well, if you ask about an ETICS (external thermal insulation composite system) during the construction phase, it always comes down to budget. If money is no object:
A robust ETICS made from 8–14cm (3–5.5 inches) wood fiber insulation boards with an appropriate exterior render. This offers significant benefits for summer heat protection (cooling effect).
I would NEVER apply an ETICS made of “plastic” on top. That would also be ineffective for summer heat protection.
How exactly the interfaces need to be designed is tricky. Inevitably, questions will arise, or you rely on yourself and your contractors—which, in my opinion, is not a good idea. A building surveyor or expert is a better choice.
My house has an ETICS made from wood fiber insulation boards. I did a lot of the work myself and partly managed the construction supervision (together with my brother, who is a civil engineer). I COULD share this information... if I wanted to ;-)
But a forum, especially this one, can also be difficult. I understand your concerns. However, just picking up a few disconnected pieces of information here won’t work or lead to success. There aren’t many clairvoyants around here.
A robust ETICS made from 8–14cm (3–5.5 inches) wood fiber insulation boards with an appropriate exterior render. This offers significant benefits for summer heat protection (cooling effect).
I would NEVER apply an ETICS made of “plastic” on top. That would also be ineffective for summer heat protection.
How exactly the interfaces need to be designed is tricky. Inevitably, questions will arise, or you rely on yourself and your contractors—which, in my opinion, is not a good idea. A building surveyor or expert is a better choice.
My house has an ETICS made from wood fiber insulation boards. I did a lot of the work myself and partly managed the construction supervision (together with my brother, who is a civil engineer). I COULD share this information... if I wanted to ;-)
But a forum, especially this one, can also be difficult. I understand your concerns. However, just picking up a few disconnected pieces of information here won’t work or lead to success. There aren’t many clairvoyants around here.
H
Hausbau18922 Jan 2023 19:14Thank you for your feedback. We will definitely discuss the two options mentioned. My intention was not to promote myself, but simply to explore the possibilities regarding insulation. Of course, no one has a crystal ball on their desk, so I really appreciate your suggestions!
K
KarstenausNRW23 Jan 2023 11:00Hausbau189 schrieb:
We will definitely discuss the two options mentioned. My intention was not to promote myself, but simply to explore the possibilities regarding insulation. Go ahead with that. Please keep in mind:
- Compared to the current thermal insulation certificate (you are currently building at least to KfW 70 standard, which is legally required), what standard would be achieved with the additional insulation? What energy savings are possible?
- Costs (for the building envelope, an additional charge of around €50,000 [€50k] can easily arise)
- Adjustment of detailed planning (how are roller shutters/exterior blinds integrated into the insulation, basement exterior insulation, roof overhangs or roof construction, etc.)
- Consultation with the architect, as a new building permit/planning permission will be required and/or setback distances might no longer be met
- Adjustment of heating technology to a changed heat load
Nothing else comes to mind at the moment.
H
Hausbau18923 Jan 2023 17:26Thank you, Karsten, for your valuable feedback! I will first consult with our architect.
Best regards
Best regards
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