Hello everyone,
We are currently planning a city villa and discussing wall construction with our architect. Our architect tends to take a pragmatic and cost-conscious approach. However, we have specific aesthetic preferences and sufficient budget.
The wall structure is currently planned as follows:
Calcium silicate brick 17.50 cm (7 inches)
Insulation 16.00 cm (6 inches)
Air gap ???
Basement concrete
Ground floor facing brick, dimensions 490x90x40 mm (19x3.5x1.6 inches)
Upper floor aerated concrete/plaster
For the upper floor, we would prefer plaster. Our architect initially suggested an external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS / external wall insulation). However, we want a cavity wall construction.
In addition, we do not want an aluminum drip edge.
The ground floor facing bricks have a special dimension with a depth (thickness) of only 9 cm (3.5 inches). Our idea was to place a sample aerated concrete block on top of this and then plaster over it. However, aerated concrete blocks are available only in 7.5 cm (3 inches) or 10 cm (4 inches) thickness. Would a 7.5 cm block plus 2.5 cm (1 inch) plaster be sufficient, or could this cause issues with frost resistance? Or would it be better to use calcium silicate bricks to keep the same system? What do you think?
To avoid using an aluminum profile, one could use an invisible plastic profile with a drip edge, which is available from several manufacturers. Of course, the transition between the facing brick and the plaster would need to be properly sealed to prevent water ingress.
Finally, there is the question of whether an air gap of 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 inches) should be installed between the insulation and the facing brick/plaster.
At the moment, our architect has not found a solution, so we turn to the community for advice.
I look forward to hearing your assessments and experiences.
We are currently planning a city villa and discussing wall construction with our architect. Our architect tends to take a pragmatic and cost-conscious approach. However, we have specific aesthetic preferences and sufficient budget.
The wall structure is currently planned as follows:
Calcium silicate brick 17.50 cm (7 inches)
Insulation 16.00 cm (6 inches)
Air gap ???
Basement concrete
Ground floor facing brick, dimensions 490x90x40 mm (19x3.5x1.6 inches)
Upper floor aerated concrete/plaster
For the upper floor, we would prefer plaster. Our architect initially suggested an external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS / external wall insulation). However, we want a cavity wall construction.
In addition, we do not want an aluminum drip edge.
The ground floor facing bricks have a special dimension with a depth (thickness) of only 9 cm (3.5 inches). Our idea was to place a sample aerated concrete block on top of this and then plaster over it. However, aerated concrete blocks are available only in 7.5 cm (3 inches) or 10 cm (4 inches) thickness. Would a 7.5 cm block plus 2.5 cm (1 inch) plaster be sufficient, or could this cause issues with frost resistance? Or would it be better to use calcium silicate bricks to keep the same system? What do you think?
To avoid using an aluminum profile, one could use an invisible plastic profile with a drip edge, which is available from several manufacturers. Of course, the transition between the facing brick and the plaster would need to be properly sealed to prevent water ingress.
Finally, there is the question of whether an air gap of 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 inches) should be installed between the insulation and the facing brick/plaster.
At the moment, our architect has not found a solution, so we turn to the community for advice.
I look forward to hearing your assessments and experiences.
K
KarstenausNRW18 Aug 2023 10:28Serena_Neubau schrieb:
That could also be a solution. The question is whether it can be built without thermal bridges. No, that question does not apply. It is a) part of the standard daily process and b) exactly like the other ideas as well.
Serena_Neubau schrieb:
We have looked at this at Gertudisvilla in Euskirchen. Just search for it. Yes, thanks, it worked out by now. A worthwhile construction blog to read.
Serena_Neubau schrieb:
Unfortunately, I still can’t send a private message to @Golfi90 because we don’t have enough posts yet. Then he might be able to help us with how Schmiedhaus handled the structure. Their facade looks just like the one we want. We have now both tagged him in our posts so he will get a notification to check this out. Keep in mind my stone mantra as mentioned, that it’s usually better not to try to retrain the contractor on wall construction, but rather to choose often-practiced building methods from their portfolio for the sake of lasting build quality.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
S
Serena_Neubau18 Aug 2023 17:0211ant schrieb:
Keep in mind my stone mantra: it’s usually better not to try to retrain the contractor when building the walls, but instead to choose construction methods from their usual portfolio to ensure long-lasting build quality. You’re right. We will only proceed if the structural builder, architect, and bricklayers have no reservations about it.
We also spoke again with the brick manufacturer. They could even increase the brick size to 490x115x40 millimeters (19.3x4.5x1.6 inches) or offer us affordable masonry bricks with a width/depth of 9 centimeters (3.5 inches). Now we have all options on the table, and we will see if the team can accommodate our wish for a mixed façade. We will report back once we have a result.
Serena_Neubau schrieb:
You’re right. We will only proceed if the shell contractor, architect, and bricklayer team have no concerns about it. “Bricklayer team” is probably the key point here. In most general contractor projects, this work is done by general laborers. But you have chosen a format that explicitly requires highly experienced masons.
Serena_Neubau schrieb:
We also spoke again with the brick manufacturer. They could even enlarge the brick to 490 x 115 x 40 millimeters (19.3 x 4.5 x 1.6 inches) or offer us affordable masonry bricks with a width/depth of 9 centimeters (3.5 inches). Changing the special format again would be a “violation” of the 11ant brick mantra of “the same but different,” as if you were using a mismatched brick installation team. An “invented” format would be an even bigger mistake. There are really plenty of bricks “for every taste” available within the common formats DF, NF, and 2DF (and if the masons have experience with a monastery format, there is also a wide range of colors there). What made you change your mind about Viebrockhaus?
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
S
Serena_Neubau18 Aug 2023 20:2411ant schrieb:
"Klinkertruppe" is probably the exact keyword here. In most general contractor projects, this work is done by general laborers. However, you have chosen a format that explicitly requires very experienced masons.
Changing the special format again for you would be a "violation" of 11ant’s brick mantra of "the same in green," as if you were using a bricklaying team that doesn’t match. An entirely "made-up" format would be even more nonsense. There really are plenty of different brick types for every taste within the common formats DF, NF, and 2DF (and if the masons have experience with the monastery format, there is also a wide range of colors there). What made you move away from Viebrockhaus again? We had a consultant who tried to push us to finalize the deal with a price increase. However, at each new appointment (twice), he managed to secure the old price extension... Any changes to the original floor plan cost extra. Everything outside the Viebrockhaus standard program is subject to a significant surcharge. In itself, Viebrockhaus made a good impression regarding service and build quality. We also looked at Kern-Haus, but they were about 10% more expensive than Viebrockhaus, and we weren’t convinced by their concrete/EIFS (Exterior Insulation and Finish System) system.
We have now found a local architect/developer who has built many single-family and multi-family homes in our area. She has an excellent network of reliable tradespeople. Her offer was significantly lower (about 10%) than Viebrockhaus’s, and we included extras like a ground source heat pump, larger photovoltaic system, and smooth roof tiles. Furthermore, we can add all our requests, and she does not charge extra for them.
So far, our initial quotes for the shell construction and surveying are well under (about 15%) the planned budget. This is probably because someone else is building a similar house right next to us and has already started...
We also inquired about the shell builder. For bricklaying, they use an experienced external bricklaying team who do things properly and are German-speaking. Additionally, our brick manufacturer knows and recommended this bricklaying crew.
Serena_Neubau schrieb:
Any changes to the original floor plan incur additional costs. All items outside the Viebrockhaus program come with a significant surcharge. Overall, however, Viebrockhaus made a good impression in terms of service and construction quality. [...] We have now found a local architect/developer who has built many single-family and multi-family homes in our area. She has a very good network of reliable tradespeople. Her offer was significantly lower than Viebrockhaus’ offer (by 10%) and we included extras such as a ground source heat pump, a larger photovoltaic system, and smooth roof tiles. Furthermore, we can incorporate all our wishes without any extra charges... With Viebrockhaus, most of their customers probably choose a catalog design (which the competitor Heinz von Heiden calls “system architecture,” and which I also always recommend checking first). Custom designs usually involve a significant price difference. I understand and appreciate this approach: a provider with a clear idea of their target group is more appealing to me than trying to please everyone. I’m uncertain if you are using the term correctly: unlike a general contractor (who builds on commission), a developer sells plots of land that they then build on. The fact that buyers can make requests often blurs these terms.
Serena_Neubau schrieb:
We also looked at Kern-Haus, but they were about 10% more expensive than Viebrockhaus, and we were not convinced by their concrete/external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS). I have not yet understood how Kern manages to be considered in the same income bracket as Viebrockhaus.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
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