ᐅ Facade Insulation: Implications for Windows, Roller Shutter Boxes, and Extensions

Hello,

for our conventionally built house from 1992, I am considering adding exterior wall insulation including new windows. I’m not clear about the details and would like to ask:

As far as I understand, with exterior wall insulation, the new windows are installed further outward, flush with the old plaster. Regarding the roller shutters, this means not only that the old guides need to be removed and reinstalled on/in the insulation. Is this even possible? And what about the roller shutter boxes? Installing new roller shutter boxes in front of the old ones is not an option because the insulation is only about 15cm (6 inches) thick. But removing the old roller shutter boxes is also not possible or would require a huge effort and create a lot of mess. So how is this problem usually solved?

What about canopies and similar structures? We have massive brick-covered canopies over the entrance and terrace. The supporting structure on the house side consists of large beams screwed to the house wall (and at the front end, of course, vertical supports). Does all of this have to be dismantled and reinstalled? Is it even possible to mount such structures on the insulation?

Yes, everything is possible. Get an energy consultant and/or architect. They (hopefully) know what they are doing and will plan it for you.

SoL schrieb:

Yes, everything is possible.
Get an energy consultant and/or an architect. They (hopefully) know what they’re doing and will plan it for you.

If I wanted to blindly generate costs, I wouldn’t ask here. First, I want to have a basic understanding myself, then I entrust myself to so-called professionals. From my experience with the heating system—and now with the heat pump—I have realized that you need to educate yourself sufficiently and not just rely on so-called experts.

MarkFalk schrieb:

As far as I understand, when installing exterior wall insulation, the new windows are installed further out, flush with the old plaster.

That is possible, but by no means mandatory. It is equally common to keep the windows in their original position.

If you stagger the windows, I would also replace the roller shutter boxes.

The porch roof would probably have to be removed. How to reattach it without thermal bridges will surely be advised by the energy consultant.

MarkFalk schrieb:

What about canopies and the like? At our place, there are solid, tile-covered canopies above the entrance and terrace. The supporting structure on the house side consists of large beams screwed into the wall (and of course vertical posts at the front end). Do all of these need to be removed and reinstalled? Is it even possible to mount something like this onto the insulation?

1. Leave it in place and insulate around it. Not professional and it might look poor. However, it works with only minor thermal bridges.
2. Remove, insulate, and reattach. There are suitable fasteners available for almost everything (some even energy-compliant). If thermal bridges occur, a few screws on 259 m² (2787 ft²) of facade area can be considered negligible.

Option 2 is what any professional company would do. Option 1 is more of a DIY approach.