ᐅ New Construction with Sand-Lime Brick and External Thermal Insulation Composite System (ETICS) – Any Criticism?

Hello Forum,

We are planning a new building using calcium silicate blocks plus an external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS).

I’m sure many of you are familiar with the critical videos about ETICS on YouTube. Yesterday, I watched this one:

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High-level experts and former employees of ETICS companies confirm the issues within the industry here.

This perspective can unsettle a layperson. However, in my opinion, the research and analysis were thorough.

I understand that ETICS has been around for many years. In all these videos, it’s only criticized.

But no one explains how to build properly in this context.

In your opinion, is there some truth to this? Or is ETICS just highly rated because of lobbying?

Regards,
Confused layperson

WDVS is a type of exterior wall insulation system that has its pros and cons. At the end of the day, it provides insulation.

When calculating the payback period, the entire system should be considered, and the assessment should be carried out by an independent expert.
No one can seriously expect me to believe everything that advertising claims—you don’t really believe that Q10 reduces the 10 signs of skin aging by 50% in two weeks...

The film is just as unreliable as the promotional claims made by industry lobby groups—the data basis and system conditions are not discussed; instead, claims are simply made.

From all the calculations I have done regarding insulation, it generally comes down to measures needing between 30 and 50 years to pay off. Within existing buildings, there are certainly more and less sensible measures. For new builds, the recommended approach is standard anyway, so it’s somewhat irrelevant.

As is often the case: no one gets rich from energy-saving measures, but they rarely result in actual losses either.

I’m not having that stuff attached to the house.

By the way, there are also ecological external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS), such as cork... the term has a very negative connotation because it is often just expanded polystyrene (EPS), which is cheap.

I have both – expanded polystyrene (EPS) and mineral wool.

I have a feeling that ETICS (External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems) are not ideal. Yesterday, in a new development area, the neighbor was measuring several parts of the facade with a tape measure, and you could constantly hear that “hollow” sound from the construction. To me, a conventional ETICS does not really have much to do with a “solid construction.”

We lived for a long time in a house built with 360mm (14 inches) Poroton masonry, an air cavity, and then 115mm (4.5 inches) facing brickwork. Even though it didn’t have additional insulation, it was very comfortable there.

If the budget allows, I would now always choose a cavity wall with core insulation.