ᐅ New Construction: Sand-lime Brick + External Thermal Insulation Composite System = Mold?
Created on: 3 Jan 2014 23:39
E
erl
Hello,
a mortgage advisor discouraged us from buying a newly built semi-detached house because the exterior walls are made of sand-lime brick masonry and the facade is constructed as an external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS) using rigid polystyrene foam boards with synthetic resin render.
His reasoning: This results in an airtight building with zero breathability. Without a ventilation system inside the house, mold growth would be almost inevitable. According to him, this type of construction is only done to meet the 2009 energy saving regulations cheaply and is no longer considered state of the art.
Unfortunately, I have no knowledge about construction or modern energy-efficient building methods.
Is what he says accurate?
I would appreciate your opinions.
Thank you in advance.
a mortgage advisor discouraged us from buying a newly built semi-detached house because the exterior walls are made of sand-lime brick masonry and the facade is constructed as an external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS) using rigid polystyrene foam boards with synthetic resin render.
His reasoning: This results in an airtight building with zero breathability. Without a ventilation system inside the house, mold growth would be almost inevitable. According to him, this type of construction is only done to meet the 2009 energy saving regulations cheaply and is no longer considered state of the art.
Unfortunately, I have no knowledge about construction or modern energy-efficient building methods.
Is what he says accurate?
I would appreciate your opinions.
Thank you in advance.
Hmm, I have a house made of calcium silicate blocks with external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS), and in my opinion, there is nothing more up-to-date at the moment... such houses have been popping up like mushrooms in recent years... and if you can achieve the required standards cost-effectively, why not? As others have already said, it doesn't matter how you build... the same regulations apply to everyone... if there is supposed to be "breathability," then serious construction defects must be present... and I really don’t understand why most prospective homeowners are initially against controlled mechanical ventilation systems.