Hello, I need your help. We have a single-family house built in 1976. The exterior plaster looks like eggshell plaster, as my wife calls it. So, it’s not really attractive. This led us to improve the outside appearance by adding a wooden facade with narrow horizontal slats. Insulation was not originally planned. After a conversation with our window installer (we also got new windows), he suggested installing mineral wool insulation in the substructure. The substructure is 30mm (1.2 inches) thick. He said it wouldn’t be much effort and would bring some benefits. I have read a lot but still don’t feel much wiser. Does it make sense to install mineral wool directly in the substructure? It can only be up to 40mm (1.6 inches) thick. Is it useful or better to leave it out as unnecessary?
C
Costruttrice1 Oct 2022 15:42Lennox-69 schrieb:
I’m not sure how this relates to the original topic♂, but the house is located in Vorarlberg…. I think it’s best to end the discussion here because everything is being debated except the main issue. It was worth a try. Thanks for the very interesting discussion.Don’t you think it would have been important (and fair) to share this crucial information right from the start, or at least after the first reference to the German Building Energy Act? Then the further responses might have been different.Lennox-69 schrieb:
...everything is being debated except the main issue. It was worth a try. Thanks for the very interesting discussion.And maybe next time, respond more politely to complete strangers who were trying to help you. Snappy sentences ending with exclamation marks don’t exactly encourage people to continue addressing your question.L
Lennox-691 Oct 2022 15:52But asking if I’ve ever read a newspaper or watched TV. I had asked very politely. And maybe next time, respond more kindly to complete strangers who are looking for help. This is really a great forum. It wasn’t even worth the effort. Have a nice day.
L
Lennox-691 Oct 2022 18:25It can be simple as well. That’s all I wanted to know. Thanks, Steffi33
S
SaniererNRW1231 Oct 2022 18:31Steffi33 schrieb:
Still air is actually a very good insulator... The only question is how to keep the air from moving in an open facade 😉 . With a wooden battens system, air will continue to flow along the wall actively – so there is no insulation effect at all. It is just for the appearance.
You essentially have still air trapped inside typical insulation materials – enclosed (even if they are foamed with other gases).
Steffi33 schrieb:
If moisture gets into the mineral wool through any kind of leak, With the solution the original poster is considering (using mineral wool), the question is not if, but rather whether mold will appear this winter or only in spring. For that reason, a different wall assembly would be chosen.
I would reinforce the substructure and insulate it with at least 10cm (4 inches). Above that, install a membrane that repels water but allows vapor to pass through. The first few centimeters of insulation provide the greatest effect. After that, the additional insulation becomes more cost-effective in relation, since many costs are incurred anyway.