ᐅ Selection of Stone for a New Single-Family House Construction
Created on: 26 Jun 2025 06:28
H
Holzi68
Good morning forum members,
I registered here because I am looking for some support with my construction project. I have already read a lot on this forum. Unfortunately, I am still undecided about the type of masonry to use for our new home.
We are building a 1.5-story bungalow with about 140 m² (1,500 sq ft) of living space. We have basically decided on a wall thickness of 36.5 cm (14 inches). We do not require any government efficiency subsidies such as KFW, but we are aiming for something close to an Energy-Efficient House 40 standard.
We will have a brine heat pump, and the piping for it is already installed.
We want to build monolithically, meaning no external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS / External Wall Insulation) if possible. Sound insulation is also very important to us, both from outside and inside.
We will do all the work ourselves and are confident in our ability to manage it.
There are so many types of masonry systems available these days. I had initially focused on Poroton blocks with insulation fill in 36.5 cm (14 inches) thickness and have already requested some quotes. These materials are quite expensive by now, but that’s the reality.
Now, I’m wondering if there are other options that might be a bit more affordable? Stone is not an option for various reasons.
Does anyone have experience, especially regarding sound insulation, that they could share?
So far, our planned construction approach has been as follows:
1. 36.5 cm (14 inches) Poroton block filled with EPS replacement or wood fiber, with interior walls made of calcium silicate blocks. There may be issues with material transitions here.
2. 36.5 cm (14 inches) Poroton block filled with EPS replacement or wood fiber, interior walls made of Poroton acoustic blocks filled accordingly... still under consideration.
3. 36.5 cm (14 inches) Poroton block filled with EPS replacement or wood fiber, interior walls made of drywall. Also still an option.
4. KLB autoclaved aerated concrete blocks seem very interesting, and I am trying to get a quote. I think they might offer even better sound insulation than Poroton.
5. Old school calcium silicate blocks would have been my favorite, but unfortunately, those require external insulation systems.
It feels like there are a thousand Poroton block manufacturers and all of them claim to be excellent, at least according to their websites. However, I haven’t really found any genuine sound insulation testing reports for these products yet. So, I do not know how the manufacturers arrive at any specific decibel ratings.
In summary, we want to build a masonry solution that offers the best combination of price, performance, and sound insulation. We are not yet finalized, although we are leaning toward Poroton.
If anyone has experience, positive or negative, please feel free to share it here.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Best regards
I registered here because I am looking for some support with my construction project. I have already read a lot on this forum. Unfortunately, I am still undecided about the type of masonry to use for our new home.
We are building a 1.5-story bungalow with about 140 m² (1,500 sq ft) of living space. We have basically decided on a wall thickness of 36.5 cm (14 inches). We do not require any government efficiency subsidies such as KFW, but we are aiming for something close to an Energy-Efficient House 40 standard.
We will have a brine heat pump, and the piping for it is already installed.
We want to build monolithically, meaning no external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS / External Wall Insulation) if possible. Sound insulation is also very important to us, both from outside and inside.
We will do all the work ourselves and are confident in our ability to manage it.
There are so many types of masonry systems available these days. I had initially focused on Poroton blocks with insulation fill in 36.5 cm (14 inches) thickness and have already requested some quotes. These materials are quite expensive by now, but that’s the reality.
Now, I’m wondering if there are other options that might be a bit more affordable? Stone is not an option for various reasons.
Does anyone have experience, especially regarding sound insulation, that they could share?
So far, our planned construction approach has been as follows:
1. 36.5 cm (14 inches) Poroton block filled with EPS replacement or wood fiber, with interior walls made of calcium silicate blocks. There may be issues with material transitions here.
2. 36.5 cm (14 inches) Poroton block filled with EPS replacement or wood fiber, interior walls made of Poroton acoustic blocks filled accordingly... still under consideration.
3. 36.5 cm (14 inches) Poroton block filled with EPS replacement or wood fiber, interior walls made of drywall. Also still an option.
4. KLB autoclaved aerated concrete blocks seem very interesting, and I am trying to get a quote. I think they might offer even better sound insulation than Poroton.
5. Old school calcium silicate blocks would have been my favorite, but unfortunately, those require external insulation systems.
It feels like there are a thousand Poroton block manufacturers and all of them claim to be excellent, at least according to their websites. However, I haven’t really found any genuine sound insulation testing reports for these products yet. So, I do not know how the manufacturers arrive at any specific decibel ratings.
In summary, we want to build a masonry solution that offers the best combination of price, performance, and sound insulation. We are not yet finalized, although we are leaning toward Poroton.
If anyone has experience, positive or negative, please feel free to share it here.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Best regards
Arauki11 schrieb:
Bedroom location, windows with soundproofingThe bedroom location is already fixed. I will consider doors with enhanced sound insulation and windows as well. Thanks.
Holzi68 schrieb:
I’ve already read quite a bit here as well. At least from my side, that’s still far too little – otherwise, you should know my #StoneMantra and also my urgent advice to all newcomers to present their entire project and submit the draft before any "commitments" to criticism (because once the die is cast, criticism is useless).
Holzi68 schrieb:
So, to summarize, we actually want to realize the best combination of cost-performance ratio and sound insulation somehow as masonry. [ / ] Anyway, we’ll coordinate that with the architect. It will also be part of the architect’s planning. That sounds contradictory: such triangular priorities are usually put forward by people who do not hire an architect—without quotation marks—and certainly do not commission one for detailed design (work phase 5).
Holzi68 schrieb:
We don’t want clinker brick nor aerated concrete. 1. Okay; 2. needs further explanation!
Holzi68 schrieb:
We already have that. Poroton blocks, either filled or unfilled! What is the architect’s profession? If you have focused on sound insulation, a professional cannot simply equate unfilled and filled porous bricks!
Holzi68 schrieb:
Stone is not an option for us for various reasons. I don’t know that at all (?)
You mention a “one-and-a-half-story bungalow,” which probably means a house with a converted or at least conversion-ready pitched attic (without knee walls?); in the attic you will hardly avoid using lightweight partition walls parallel to the gable (which is not a problem). Also, you should reconsider being a fan of calcium silicate blocks.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
11ant schrieb:
At least from my side, definitely not enough—otherwise you should know my #stoneMantra and also my urgent advice to all newcomers to show their entire project and submit the design before any “final decisions” for critique (because once the die is cast, it won’t help anymore).Not usable for our purposes and, in my opinion, not particularly helpful.11ant schrieb:
That sounds contradictory: such triangle priorities are usually suggested by people who don’t engage an architect—without quotation marks—and certainly don’t commission them to include execution planning (work phase 5).Also wrong. The architect handles everything up to and including work phase 5.11ant schrieb:
1. okay; 2. needs explanation!We don’t want aerated concrete. It is sensitive to moisture, non-recyclable, contains aluminum powder, etc.11ant schrieb:
What is the architect’s profession?—if you discussed your focus on sound insulation, a professional can’t possibly lump unfilled and filled porous bricks together!Well, architect is architect. No use. They are just commissioned, and we have to deal with it.Holzi68 schrieb:
The bedroom location is already fixed. I will include doors with enhanced soundproofing and windows as well. Thanks.I’m not saying you have to implement all of these measures or that they will solve the problem. In fact, almost any product can be purchased with sound-optimized features, which would significantly increase construction costs, and in the end, you might still overlook weak points. But if noise control is particularly important, it’s worth giving it proper attention and research. Why not share your entire project here? That way, you might receive more useful advice.Holzi68 schrieb:
We don’t require any KFW funding or similar and are therefore only aiming to build roughly to efficiency house 40 standards.Basically, it’s the same here. Maybe you choose “better” windows or something similar but then lose insulation quality elsewhere because something else wasn’t adequately considered. You can also build the house well insulated overall without any funding, but it should be done systematically, not just by upgrading individual components—that doesn’t help much and only adds unnecessary costs.Holzi68 schrieb:
Not usable for our needs and not particularly helpful in my opinion. This forum alone contains many cases where "final" plans have been completely overturned by the community and, if discussed early enough, successfully saved. By the way, the #Steinemantra is applicable to absolutely everyone (and not only related to wall construction questions).
Holzi68 schrieb:
Also wrong. The architect handles everything up to and including design phase 5 [ / ] Well, that’s just the architect. It doesn’t help. They are commissioned, and we have to deal with that. That sounds as if you pressured an architect warned by @Gerddieter (design phases 1 to 4) to also take on design phase 5 ;-)
Of course, architect contracts can be terminated, and in case of doubtful competence, they should be.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
11ant schrieb:
It sounds like you pressured an architect who was contracted for design phases 1 to 4 ("@Gerddieter warnt") to also take on phase 5 ;-(
Of course, architectural contracts can be terminated, and if there are doubts about competence, this should be done.No, actually, we don’t want to refuse payment at all. Where do such absurd ideas come from? You seem to me to be a somewhat odd character. Of course, the architect is commissioned for design phases 1 to 5 and will receive payment accordingly.
Thanks to Arauki11 and Nordernay. Your information has at least helped me a little.
By the way, the so-called “Steinemantra” is completely useless and unnecessary for me. But that is just my opinion.
Similar topics