ᐅ EIFS / exterior wall / insulation / energy experts’ experience reports

Hello,

Dudlove schrieb:
The problem is that a prospective homeowner, who spends their valuable time in forums like this to get information, usually has no expertise and can’t do much with such general answers.

Well, forums certainly provide a lot of information, but the question is how reliable it is. Here, alongside honest informants, you will also find anonymous hobby experts, sometimes know-it-alls, competitors, and more. Deliberate or unconscious misinformation can be spread. The prospective homeowner is basically a layperson—how can they verify the truth of even the most convincing statements without any technical knowledge?
I would never base a major investment decision solely on such statements. Forum posts simply cannot replace precise planning or proper sizing. Usually, it’s not as simple as in this case. If it were, all professionals could hang up their tools.

Dudlove schrieb:
… Not to mention that they will never grasp the overall connections between the building envelope, systems, economics, ecology, and who knows what else. Certainly, many answers or forum posts are technically correct, but someone seeking help (without any expertise) rarely gains anything useful from them.

Then they often have a huge problem and have not understood the essentials! Especially due to the complex interrelations, objective and sales-independent advice from a professional is indispensable. Otherwise, the untrained homeowner will fall for the tricks of a skilled and persuasive salesperson.
I see poorly executed installations almost daily. In many cases, the homeowners don’t even realize how they have been taken advantage of. Only a few technically interested people sometimes notice something. Usually, only cosmetic fixes with limited success are possible afterward. The idea that just flipping a few switches will fix everything is completely wrong. Bad luck, despite high investment costs! And now? Costly lawsuits or living with the problem long-term?
Not a promising outlook.
I am always amazed at how little prospective homeowners care about essential matters. The dormer is important, the tile shape and color, the golden door handles, roof tiles, a stylish shower and bathtub, etc. How high the actual demand/consumption for heating, domestic hot water, and possibly ventilation will be later—no idea. Based on this, nearly any rubbish can be sold. But a nicely calculated energy performance certificate / energy efficiency proof as required by regulations like the energy saving ordinance or building funding programs is available as a soothing pill.
What always rings in my ears are the comments from the cheated ones: "If we had only known beforehand, then we would have..."

Best regards

Hello,

Dudlove schrieb:
With this text, you literally spoke to me from the "soul" and dispelled my last doubts regarding my wall construction and building services engineering. Especially your last two paragraphs, in my opinion, provide an honest and objective assessment of the very confusing topic of energy + building services + building envelope.

I am always honest; I am simply too lazy to lie

What I should have added is that – since we are a small but ambitious construction consulting firm – we are fortunate to have very dedicated people as our partners; among them is a building services engineer. We don’t define houses solely according to energy saving regulations or as energy-efficient homes, but as a holistic concept. This includes, for example, considering the location of the plot and its geological characteristics in the planning process.

What €uro rightly points out is that most homebuilders focus mainly on aligning their desired features with their financing budget; these are mostly items that, as a rule, have a replacement cycle of about 5 years. What lasts longer is the building envelope and the installed technical systems. Since these constitute a significant part of the costs in new construction, the primary attention of homebuilders should be on what must be executed solidly and economically for the long term.

Unfortunately, the opposite is often the case; when a skilled salesperson is involved, the worst junk is sold, and the homebuilders are even proud of it. The sad truth is that these supposed "bargains" always turn out to be the most expensive option; consistently in every trade. That is why I am very cautious whenever a "cheated" homebuilder speaks up here in the forum. Professional experience has taught me that every pot finds its lid; this common saying also applies to house building.

Ultimately, this is also the reason why I invest a significant part of my free time in this forum. Education is very important, as is the urgent reminder that it is almost impossible for a layperson to fully understand a project like building a new single-family home. The internet is certainly a good starting point for initial information; however, it must not be seen as a substitute for consulting professionals.

Dudlove schrieb:
Thank you for that!!!

You’re welcome

Best regards