ᐅ Brick facing after move-in and construction method?

Hello everyone,

Our construction has started, and we are currently at the stage of the foundation slab.

We want to have our house faced with brick veneer. The wall is planned to be 43 cm (17 inches) thick: 17.5 cm (7 inches) brickwork (red bricks) + 14 cm (6 inches) insulation + 11.5 cm (4.5 inches) brick veneer.

I spoke with a field representative from a brick veneer manufacturer, who suggested the following construction method: 17.5 cm (7 inches) brickwork + 14 cm (6 inches) insulation + a 4–5 cm (1.5–2 inch) air gap + 11.5 cm (4.5 inches) brick veneer.

He also added that it would be difficult to find a bricklayer this year.

From what I understand, after the shell construction, the brick veneer follows, then windows and other elements are installed. He said it’s different nowadays — the brick veneer can also be added after moving in, and that this can be easier and more cost-effective, for example, due to the windows.

Question:
Is the suggested construction method more practical, and is it really possible to install the brick veneer later?

Best regards

From our living room window, I can see a house being built (prefabricated house), where the windows and doors are already installed, but the facing bricks are still neatly packaged and waiting beside the house. So at least that part will be done afterward.

Is the house left without insulation during this period, or how is the weather-sensitive insulation (usually mineral wool) protected?

In our case, the ground floor is now complete, with the ceiling installed, and at the same time the upper floor is being built with masonry while the ground floor is being faced.

So, on the upper part (upper floor at the gable) only the wood is visible from the outside so far, and on the ground floor there is some kind of black foil additionally applied. I can’t tell you exactly what that is, but there are probably differences between prefabricated construction and solid construction anyway?

opalau schrieb:

Is the house left without insulation during this time, or how is the weather-sensitive insulation (usually mineral wool) protected?

For us, the ground floor is now finished, the ceiling is on, and at the same time, the upper floor is being built and the ground floor is being clad.

I guess it will be exposed then.

The field representative said, in response to my question, that this is completely harmless.

Hmm, I wouldn’t want to heat an uninsulated, bare house without plaster during the winter... Maybe put insulation on first and then a protective foil over it? Although airtightness isn’t really the point here.
As you can see, our brickwork was done before installing the windows.