Hello, we are currently in the planning phase for the construction of a detached single-family house in Owl. Now the question inevitably arises whether the exterior facade should be finished with a single-layer render with an external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS) or a two-layer facade with Dutch-style facing bricks. Our target is a KfW 70 energy standard. We had basically decided on bricks because they allow better breathability and I have not been particularly impressed with tightly sealed render facades so far, especially regarding maintenance. However, a builder recently told me that there are render facades that can last 30 years with the first coat of paint. Combined with an air-to-water heat pump and integrated mechanical ventilation, this would be acceptable. Additionally, the cost for a render facade is about 10,000 to 15,000 euros less than for a brick facade.
So, my question is: which ETICS setup is the most durable, not only considering the insulation material but also the render and paint? That also plays a significant role.
Thanks in advance for your answers....
So, my question is: which ETICS setup is the most durable, not only considering the insulation material but also the render and paint? That also plays a significant role.
Thanks in advance for your answers....
D
derstefanm29 Jan 2015 23:34That’s exactly what I mean... Experiences Has anyone here already had experience with plaster while also being familiar with brick veneer? If a hole can be caused just by a bicycle, then definitely even more so by a soccer ball. Brick veneer is much more resistant to that. Has anyone had experience with a house over a longer period? New builds always look great, but I’m interested in how they hold up over time.
Regarding moisture diffusion, I have read quite different things—that precisely because brick veneer is ventilated, moisture can be transported away. But I’m happy to be proven wrong. Proper ventilation is essential anyway; until now, I always thought that with a brick veneer facade, a controlled mechanical ventilation system is more of a luxury than a necessity, whereas with plaster it is almost a requirement.
Regarding moisture diffusion, I have read quite different things—that precisely because brick veneer is ventilated, moisture can be transported away. But I’m happy to be proven wrong. Proper ventilation is essential anyway; until now, I always thought that with a brick veneer facade, a controlled mechanical ventilation system is more of a luxury than a necessity, whereas with plaster it is almost a requirement.
My parents-in-law have white ceramic brick cladding. The house was built in 2005 and still looks like new today! The facade is flawless, it looks bright and clean. Friends of ours moved into their light-colored plastered house in 2011. They chose a very expensive render that’s supposed to be self-cleaning and look great. It was very costly, almost as much as brick cladding. Well, now the facade already looks terrible... Especially on the west side, which faces the prevailing weather, it’s really bad... You can see gray streaks running down the wall and window sills. My friend is really frustrated because a repaint is now going to cost around 5,000 Euros (about $5,000). He’s so annoyed that he’s considering adding cladding afterwards.
There’s also monolithic construction, where you don’t have an external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS, also known as EIFS).
There’s also monolithic construction, where you don’t have an external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS, also known as EIFS).
D
derstefanm30 Jan 2015 07:14Yes, with monolithic construction the masonry has to be quite thick to meet the insulation requirements. In our current neighborhood, a house like this is being built, and right next to it another one with Dutch brick (my favorite), which I’m not very impressed by. So, based on what has been reported, I would say that if the budget allows, I would rather go for brick cladding.
Thanks in advance for your responses.
Thanks in advance for your responses.
D
DerBjoern30 Jan 2015 08:17Sunny schrieb:
What comes to mind is a bicycle falling over in an unfortunate way and creating a hole in the plaster layer. Which would probably be impossible with brickwork.A falling bicycle definitely won’t create a hole in the plaster of an external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS). It would take a much stronger impact.
It should be clear to everyone that a plaster facade needs to be repainted every now and then to keep it looking good. I would estimate every 5–10 years, though this certainly depends on various factors. Brickwork should still look good after 30 years without requiring any maintenance.
An affordable alternative is an external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS) combined with brick slips.
We are also currently exploring this topic but are still at the very beginning of our research.
An affordable alternative is an external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS) combined with brick slips.
We are also currently exploring this topic but are still at the very beginning of our research.
derstefanm schrieb:
Yes, with monolithic construction, the masonry has to be quite thick to meet the insulation requirements. For a KfW70 house, a wall thickness of about 36.5 cm (14 inches) is usually sufficient. Depending on the type of brick and external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS) you use, you can reach this thickness quite quickly.
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