ᐅ Recommendation for Exterior Wall Insulation Materials

The post actually shows exactly what I consider unacceptable: an external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS) applied directly onto the masonry and then plastered over. In that sense, the aim is to avoid this exact method, achieving thermal insulation through the masonry itself, with plaster applied both inside and outside on the masonry.

We consciously decided not to insulate our old building. Instead, we preferred to invest in other areas such as an insulated roof and a new heating system. Insulating the walls simply would never have been cost-effective.

Koempy schrieb:
We decided against insulating our old building. And we did so quite deliberately. We preferred to invest in other things like an insulated roof and a new heating system. Insulating the walls simply would never have paid off.

Well, in the case of an old building, I can still find this comparison plausible, and exterior insulation is not always exactly what it seems to be. At least, that’s what you hear or read in some responses; personally, I don’t know. With a new build, however, the whole situation looks different again.

BAUFREUDIG schrieb:
Hello,

we live in an existing building and now want to improve its energy efficiency. Unfortunately, we are confused due to the reports about expanded polystyrene foam for exterior wall insulation and the flood of information about all kinds of insulation materials. We simply want to insulate our exterior walls...

So I wanted to ask about your experiences with facade insulation and different materials. From the decision on the material and installation to living in the insulated house...

I would appreciate it if someone could share their experiences here.

Thanks in advance

Basically, you should first seek advice from an energy consultant. For a layperson, the amount of information is too overwhelming to make a decision independently. Regarding the insulation materials themselves:

EPS (expanded polystyrene foam) offers the best price-performance ratio among all insulation materials, so it pays off the fastest. There are some reservations about EPS that I personally do not share. Arguments such as the lack of vapor diffusion can be disproved quickly by listing material-specific properties. Objectively, in my opinion, there is little against EPS.

Mineral wool/rock wool: Slightly more expensive than EPS. It is often said to have higher water vapor permeability, although I do not understand what practical benefit this should have.

Wood wool boards: Even more expensive than mineral wool with poorer insulation values. Very sensitive to moisture and requires meticulous detailed workmanship.

As for other, sometimes quite exotic insulation materials, to be honest I am not very familiar with them.

Well, EPS is not as bad as it is often described... there are just different types in stock, and people are pushing against each other... just like in politics.

You simply have to look at the matter objectively...

I saw narrow, perlite-filled bricks on the website of a Poroton brick manufacturer, which can be used as insulation on the inside or outside. I’m not sure if they are practical or what they cost, as I haven’t looked into it in detail. You’ll have to google it yourself.