ᐅ Facade insulation on a semi-detached house: what and how approval from neighbors is required

Tego12 schrieb:

1) Increased comfort! Living in a well-insulated house is a huge comfort advantage. Consistent temperatures, no hot or cold spots inside, no cold radiation through the walls... it’s noticeably more pleasant to live there.

I have lived in (non-exterior insulated) houses and apartments built in the ’60s, mid-’80s, and early 2000s. None of them was uncomfortable. As long as there were no drafts and the heating worked, I couldn’t tell the difference even blindfolded... Maybe I’m just not very sensitive to it.

Tego12 schrieb:

2) When calculating economically, you have to consider the value of the house as well, as already mentioned.

Of course, the value of a house increases with renovations. Sometimes by the amount of the renovation costs, sometimes more or less. But why should I consider that “additionally”? And if you’re not planning to sell, you can’t really cash in on that.

Deliverer schrieb:
I have lived in (non-insulated) houses and apartments built in the ’60s, mid ’80s, and early 2000s. None were uncomfortable. As long as there were no drafts and the heating worked, I couldn’t tell the difference… Maybe I’m just not very sensitive.

You get used to everything, I’d say. Stand next to a wall from the 1960s when it’s -10°C (14°F) outside. The room temperature might read 22°C (72°F), but because of cold radiation, it still feels cool near the wall (it’s even more noticeable near windows). With a well-insulated wall, the room temperature may only be 20°C (68°F), yet the perceived temperature feels higher and more comfortable because there is no cold radiation.

Deliverer schrieb:
Of course, a house’s value increases with renovations. Sometimes it matches the cost of the renovation, sometimes it’s more or less. But why should I look at it as "additional"? And if you’re not planning to sell, that’s just useless anyway.

If you personally don’t care about the increase in value, are not interested in what happens to the house after your passing, don’t care about comfort improvements, or simply don’t notice them, then your calculation makes sense. But that is a special case. For a general assessment, you need to consider all factors, even if some don’t apply in your personal situation.

For example, if the house is inherited by your children, they receive a property with increased value. If you want to sell the house during your lifetime, you benefit from the increased value yourself. In these cases, the increase in value must be taken into account (unless, of course, you don’t care about what you leave behind or not).

Deliverer schrieb:
But why should I consider that as "extra"? And if you don’t want to sell, you might as well just bake yourself an ice cream from it.

Because the money isn’t just spent, it’s invested. That’s one reason why the formula "investment versus heating cost savings" is incomplete.

Example(!):
The measure costs 21,000 euros

6,000 euros come from the KFW as a grant
5,000 euros would have been spent anyway on necessary façade renovation
5,000 euros in heating cost savings within 10 years
5,000 euros increase in property value

It’s worth it, and quite significantly.

I consider this to be a typical case of "creative accounting," but I respect the opinion.

By the way, if you also factor in the mold inside and the moss outside, you end up with additional negative aspects.

Oh, and the next facade renovation will cost (based on this example) roughly the same amount again in 35 years, plus significant disposal costs. And we are still talking about only 20% heating cost savings. So, unfortunately, I still have to shake my head...

I’m still not completely convinced. Insulating the facade definitely makes sense, but it also has to be cost-effective.
Maybe it’s more economical to install only 5cm (2 inches) of insulation, so that there’s no need to modify the roof or similar structures?
And why can’t a simple strip be installed between the roof and the insulation to keep rainwater out? That would probably be cheaper.

I would also first gather more information to see if a new heating system or something similar might be more affordable or simply offer a better cost-benefit ratio.
Replacing a 15-year-old oil heating system with a new one is supposed to save around 15 to 20%.
With a total cost of 20,000 (e.g., 20k €), it might be worth investing more into the insulation depth and potentially achieve savings of around 30%.

I think I need to look into new heating options.

You don’t save 15–20% just by replacing a heating system. The way it operates must be adjusted, and the old system already achieves some savings there.

Whether insulating the facade is cost-effective depends on other factors. If the facade needs renovation anyway, it’s probably worth it.

The increase in comfort should not be underestimated.

And no one knows what will happen in 35 years. So this can neither be a basis for speculative price forecasts nor for arguments regarding disposal or the durability of the insulation.