ᐅ Construction Methods for Single-Family Homes: Advantages and Disadvantages of Different Building Materials
Created on: 1 Feb 2014 13:05
P
Pat28Hello everyone,
hopefully soon our municipality will designate a new residential area, and we will be able to secure a building plot for a single-family house.
Since we still have some time, we are already looking into various details so that we don’t have to make all decisions under tight time constraints later on. We already have a fairly clear idea of how the floor plan should look, and we like a model from L...-Massivhaus very much (is it okay to mention the name here?).
Now to the main question: We lack information about construction materials, etc., used for the shell structure. The above-mentioned provider works with prefabricated wall panels made of the building material "KlimaPor" and, of course, promotes it as "optimal." However, for us, the concept doesn’t seem to fully align with traditional solid construction, as the company name would suggest. Does anyone know a good website where we can compare the many different building materials/types individually, including their advantages and disadvantages? Essentially, a classic solid house is still our favorite so far, but even here, choosing between different types of bricks or blocks is quite challenging.
Maybe someone can help us approach this fundamental question a bit better.
Thank you very much and have a great weekend!
hopefully soon our municipality will designate a new residential area, and we will be able to secure a building plot for a single-family house.
Since we still have some time, we are already looking into various details so that we don’t have to make all decisions under tight time constraints later on. We already have a fairly clear idea of how the floor plan should look, and we like a model from L...-Massivhaus very much (is it okay to mention the name here?).
Now to the main question: We lack information about construction materials, etc., used for the shell structure. The above-mentioned provider works with prefabricated wall panels made of the building material "KlimaPor" and, of course, promotes it as "optimal." However, for us, the concept doesn’t seem to fully align with traditional solid construction, as the company name would suggest. Does anyone know a good website where we can compare the many different building materials/types individually, including their advantages and disadvantages? Essentially, a classic solid house is still our favorite so far, but even here, choosing between different types of bricks or blocks is quite challenging.
Maybe someone can help us approach this fundamental question a bit better.
Thank you very much and have a great weekend!
Please excuse me, my previous comment was not meant to be ironic at all. Some time ago, I faced the same question as you and was able to find quite a bit through the search function. Just enter “Liapor,” and you will find several threads with many comparisons of different types of solid construction.
Okay, maybe I should have mentioned that right away.
Okay, maybe I should have mentioned that right away.
Thank you for this really helpful answer; hopefully, it will help me make some progress. When I have searched using more "layman’s" terms so far, I haven’t found much. I still need to learn all the technical terms... at the beginning, it’s a bit overwhelming, and you quickly go from one thing to another.
Just out of curiosity, what answer did you find for yourself to this question?
Just out of curiosity, what answer did you find for yourself to this question?
We chose prefabricated element construction with 42.5 cm (17 inches) Liapor blocks without an external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS). However, I don’t think this should influence your decision at this point—it really depends on what you value most. For example, my wife did not want any polystyrene on the exterior; initially, I didn’t really mind.
I’ll take the liberty to share a summary of some types of solid construction from Bauexperte here:
Aerated Concrete (Ytong is a ‘manufacturer’)
Aerated concrete is a solid building material with high thermal insulation properties. Its closed-cell pore structure allows it to fulfill both structural and building physics functions—usually without additional measures or supplementary materials. It is made from local raw materials and has, like other solid materials, an almost unlimited lifespan.
Thermal Insulation:
Aerated concrete is the only solid building material with a thermal conductivity starting at 0.09 W/(mK) in the density classes 0.30, 0.35, and 0.40. This means a single-layer 30 cm (12 inches) thick wall already provides a thermal transmittance U-value of 0.28 W/(m²K). With a wall thickness of 36.5 cm (14 inches), the U-value drops to 0.23. In exterior walls, the requirements of the energy saving ordinance (Energieeinsparverordnung) can thus be met or even exceeded without additional insulation measures. Moreover, the homogeneous wall structure enables constructions with almost no thermal bridging. A plastered single-layer aerated concrete wall is considered airtight within the meaning of the energy saving ordinance without extra measures.
Thermal Storage:
The thermal storage capacity of aerated concrete lies between the extremes of lightweight construction (e.g., timber frame with about 50 kJ/m²K) and solid masonry or reinforced concrete (about 250 kJ/m²K). For an aerated concrete wall, this value is around 90 kJ/m²K.
Thermal Conductivity:
Due to its very low thermal conductivity of 0.09 W/(mK), energy saving requirements can be fulfilled with monolithic aerated concrete construction. A multi-layered structure for exterior walls, as common with other materials, is unnecessary.
Vapor Diffusion Resistance:
Because of its porous structure, aerated concrete has a low water vapor diffusion resistance factor ranging between µ = 5 and µ = 10.
Building Biology:
Aerated concrete is a natural raw material chemically and mineralogically altered during production. This creates a product generally superior to natural raw materials, making it particularly suitable for buildings with high standards for living quality.
Sound Insulation:
Aerated concrete challenges the basic physical principle “the heavier the component, the better the airborne sound insulation.” Its porous structure provides inherent damping. The DIN 4109 standard reflects this: aerated concrete walls with a surface mass up to 250 kg/m² receive a 2 dB bonus. New component measurements indicate even further improvements. Walls and solid roofs made of aerated concrete can cover all outdoor noise levels from a soundproofing perspective. After suitability testing III according to DIN 4109, double-leaf party walls of aerated concrete with 17.5 cm (7 inches) PP4-0.6 blocks on each side, a 50 mm (2 inches) cavity fully filled with mineral insulation, meet the requirements for increased sound insulation.
Fire Protection:
Aerated concrete ensures safety in case of fire. Being a mineral building material, it is non-combustible and classified as class A1 according to DIN 4102. Depending on the version, it is suitable for all fire resistance classes from 30 minutes up to F180. Even a 7.5 cm (3 inches) thick unplastered, non-load-bearing wall made of aerated concrete meets all requirements of the F90 fire resistance class. Walls starting at 24 cm (9.5 inches) thickness of PP 2-0.4 aerated concrete are considered firewalls. Floors and roofs made of aerated concrete also comply with fire resistance classes ranging from F30 to F180.
Expanded Clay Aggregate or Lightweight Concrete from Liapor
The production of lightweight concrete blocks using expanded clay aggregate mainly follows the technique of regular concrete block manufacturing. Instead of normal aggregates, expanded clay is used to reduce density and thermal conductivity. Expanded clay is artificially produced by shaping ground clay into pellets and firing them at 1100-1200°C (2012-2192°F). Organic components naturally present or added to the clay burn off during firing, causing the pellets to expand and develop fine pores in their cores. A relatively hard outer shell forms on the surface.
Thermal Insulation:
The excellent “natural” insulation combined with an external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS) easily meets legal requirements.
Thermal Storage:
Expanded clay heats up very slowly during the day and stores heat, which is then slowly released at night. This helps keep the house cool during the day and comfortably warm at night.
Vapor Diffusion:
Expanded clay is sintered closed and therefore cannot absorb moisture. The wall elements are breathable and allow for air humidity exchange—a significant advantage for healthy and comfortable indoor climates.
Building Biology:
Expanded clay is natural, resource-efficiently produced without chemical additives. One cubic meter (1.3 cubic yards) of raw clay yields up to 5 cubic meters (6.5 cubic yards) of expanded clay pellets with excellent ecological properties.
Sound Insulation:
Sound seeks the path of least resistance. Through an expanded clay wall, sound has to travel around each pellet, significantly increasing its path and reducing its intensity.
Fire Protection:
When manufacturing the expanded clay pellets at 1100-1200°C (2012-2192°F), all organic components are removed. Exterior walls made of expanded clay belong to the highest fire resistance class F180.
Perforated Clay Brick
Clay bricks have been widely used as natural building materials for thousands of years. Thanks to their capillary structure, bricks naturally regulate moisture, absorbing room humidity, storing it, and releasing it quickly under favorable outdoor conditions. Insulation with brick walls prevents rapid cooling of rooms during heating interruptions. During hot seasons, bricks store the accumulated heat inside rooms due to their thermal mass.
Thermal Insulation:
The heat removed from interiors by massive brick walls is only released back when outside temperatures drop, allowing excess heat to be naturally ventilated. This phase shift and amplitude damping capability of bricks has long been used in southern countries by building massive brick houses without additional air conditioning.
Thermal Protection:
Depending on density and thermal resistance (R-value), bricks provide very good thermal insulation. With lightweight bricks having densities of 0.8 or 0.9 kg/dm³ and lightweight mortar LM 36, standard walls of 36.5 cm (14 inches) thickness easily achieve U-values below 0.40 W/(m²K).
Thermal Conductivity:
Unfilled perforated brick walls exhibit higher vertical thermal conductivity, especially when laid with conventional thin-bed mortar that does not reliably seal the holes (allowing convection).
Vapor Diffusion Resistance:
Monolithic masonry made of thermally insulating perforated bricks can reach thermal conductivity values of about 0.14 W/(mK) and, with a thickness of 36.5 cm (14 inches) and plastered on both sides, a U-value of around 0.35 W/(m²K). This requires lightweight mortars LM 21 and interlocking joints without joint filling. Technically, the section consists of three parts: brick, air-filled vertical joint, and mortar bed joint—each with slightly different moisture protection behavior.
Building Biology:
Perforated clay bricks meet the requirements of ecological building and building biology.
Sound Insulation:
Single-layer exterior walls of lightweight bricks, 30 cm (12 inches) or 36.5 cm (14 inches) thick, built with lightweight mortar and plastered on both sides, generally meet DIN 4109 “Protection from external noise.” Requirements for partition walls in DIN 4109 regarding sound insulation are also easily fulfilled with bricks up to densities of 2.4 kg/dm³.
Fire Protection:
Bricks have been tested by fire (during firing in manufacture) for builders’ safety. Plastered walls made of bricks as thin as 11.5 cm (4.5 inches) already fulfill the requirements of fire resistance class F90 (fire-resistant) according to DIN 4102.
Source: Bauexperte
I’ll take the liberty to share a summary of some types of solid construction from Bauexperte here:
Aerated Concrete (Ytong is a ‘manufacturer’)
Aerated concrete is a solid building material with high thermal insulation properties. Its closed-cell pore structure allows it to fulfill both structural and building physics functions—usually without additional measures or supplementary materials. It is made from local raw materials and has, like other solid materials, an almost unlimited lifespan.
Thermal Insulation:
Aerated concrete is the only solid building material with a thermal conductivity starting at 0.09 W/(mK) in the density classes 0.30, 0.35, and 0.40. This means a single-layer 30 cm (12 inches) thick wall already provides a thermal transmittance U-value of 0.28 W/(m²K). With a wall thickness of 36.5 cm (14 inches), the U-value drops to 0.23. In exterior walls, the requirements of the energy saving ordinance (Energieeinsparverordnung) can thus be met or even exceeded without additional insulation measures. Moreover, the homogeneous wall structure enables constructions with almost no thermal bridging. A plastered single-layer aerated concrete wall is considered airtight within the meaning of the energy saving ordinance without extra measures.
Thermal Storage:
The thermal storage capacity of aerated concrete lies between the extremes of lightweight construction (e.g., timber frame with about 50 kJ/m²K) and solid masonry or reinforced concrete (about 250 kJ/m²K). For an aerated concrete wall, this value is around 90 kJ/m²K.
Thermal Conductivity:
Due to its very low thermal conductivity of 0.09 W/(mK), energy saving requirements can be fulfilled with monolithic aerated concrete construction. A multi-layered structure for exterior walls, as common with other materials, is unnecessary.
Vapor Diffusion Resistance:
Because of its porous structure, aerated concrete has a low water vapor diffusion resistance factor ranging between µ = 5 and µ = 10.
Building Biology:
Aerated concrete is a natural raw material chemically and mineralogically altered during production. This creates a product generally superior to natural raw materials, making it particularly suitable for buildings with high standards for living quality.
Sound Insulation:
Aerated concrete challenges the basic physical principle “the heavier the component, the better the airborne sound insulation.” Its porous structure provides inherent damping. The DIN 4109 standard reflects this: aerated concrete walls with a surface mass up to 250 kg/m² receive a 2 dB bonus. New component measurements indicate even further improvements. Walls and solid roofs made of aerated concrete can cover all outdoor noise levels from a soundproofing perspective. After suitability testing III according to DIN 4109, double-leaf party walls of aerated concrete with 17.5 cm (7 inches) PP4-0.6 blocks on each side, a 50 mm (2 inches) cavity fully filled with mineral insulation, meet the requirements for increased sound insulation.
Fire Protection:
Aerated concrete ensures safety in case of fire. Being a mineral building material, it is non-combustible and classified as class A1 according to DIN 4102. Depending on the version, it is suitable for all fire resistance classes from 30 minutes up to F180. Even a 7.5 cm (3 inches) thick unplastered, non-load-bearing wall made of aerated concrete meets all requirements of the F90 fire resistance class. Walls starting at 24 cm (9.5 inches) thickness of PP 2-0.4 aerated concrete are considered firewalls. Floors and roofs made of aerated concrete also comply with fire resistance classes ranging from F30 to F180.
Expanded Clay Aggregate or Lightweight Concrete from Liapor
The production of lightweight concrete blocks using expanded clay aggregate mainly follows the technique of regular concrete block manufacturing. Instead of normal aggregates, expanded clay is used to reduce density and thermal conductivity. Expanded clay is artificially produced by shaping ground clay into pellets and firing them at 1100-1200°C (2012-2192°F). Organic components naturally present or added to the clay burn off during firing, causing the pellets to expand and develop fine pores in their cores. A relatively hard outer shell forms on the surface.
Thermal Insulation:
The excellent “natural” insulation combined with an external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS) easily meets legal requirements.
Thermal Storage:
Expanded clay heats up very slowly during the day and stores heat, which is then slowly released at night. This helps keep the house cool during the day and comfortably warm at night.
Vapor Diffusion:
Expanded clay is sintered closed and therefore cannot absorb moisture. The wall elements are breathable and allow for air humidity exchange—a significant advantage for healthy and comfortable indoor climates.
Building Biology:
Expanded clay is natural, resource-efficiently produced without chemical additives. One cubic meter (1.3 cubic yards) of raw clay yields up to 5 cubic meters (6.5 cubic yards) of expanded clay pellets with excellent ecological properties.
Sound Insulation:
Sound seeks the path of least resistance. Through an expanded clay wall, sound has to travel around each pellet, significantly increasing its path and reducing its intensity.
Fire Protection:
When manufacturing the expanded clay pellets at 1100-1200°C (2012-2192°F), all organic components are removed. Exterior walls made of expanded clay belong to the highest fire resistance class F180.
Perforated Clay Brick
Clay bricks have been widely used as natural building materials for thousands of years. Thanks to their capillary structure, bricks naturally regulate moisture, absorbing room humidity, storing it, and releasing it quickly under favorable outdoor conditions. Insulation with brick walls prevents rapid cooling of rooms during heating interruptions. During hot seasons, bricks store the accumulated heat inside rooms due to their thermal mass.
Thermal Insulation:
The heat removed from interiors by massive brick walls is only released back when outside temperatures drop, allowing excess heat to be naturally ventilated. This phase shift and amplitude damping capability of bricks has long been used in southern countries by building massive brick houses without additional air conditioning.
Thermal Protection:
Depending on density and thermal resistance (R-value), bricks provide very good thermal insulation. With lightweight bricks having densities of 0.8 or 0.9 kg/dm³ and lightweight mortar LM 36, standard walls of 36.5 cm (14 inches) thickness easily achieve U-values below 0.40 W/(m²K).
Thermal Conductivity:
Unfilled perforated brick walls exhibit higher vertical thermal conductivity, especially when laid with conventional thin-bed mortar that does not reliably seal the holes (allowing convection).
Vapor Diffusion Resistance:
Monolithic masonry made of thermally insulating perforated bricks can reach thermal conductivity values of about 0.14 W/(mK) and, with a thickness of 36.5 cm (14 inches) and plastered on both sides, a U-value of around 0.35 W/(m²K). This requires lightweight mortars LM 21 and interlocking joints without joint filling. Technically, the section consists of three parts: brick, air-filled vertical joint, and mortar bed joint—each with slightly different moisture protection behavior.
Building Biology:
Perforated clay bricks meet the requirements of ecological building and building biology.
Sound Insulation:
Single-layer exterior walls of lightweight bricks, 30 cm (12 inches) or 36.5 cm (14 inches) thick, built with lightweight mortar and plastered on both sides, generally meet DIN 4109 “Protection from external noise.” Requirements for partition walls in DIN 4109 regarding sound insulation are also easily fulfilled with bricks up to densities of 2.4 kg/dm³.
Fire Protection:
Bricks have been tested by fire (during firing in manufacture) for builders’ safety. Plastered walls made of bricks as thin as 11.5 cm (4.5 inches) already fulfill the requirements of fire resistance class F90 (fire-resistant) according to DIN 4102.
Source: Bauexperte
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