ᐅ Are prefab houses from the 1970s insulated to equivalent or better standards?

Architects have told me several times that prefabricated houses built in the 1970s have insulation that is equivalent to, or possibly better than, that of solid masonry houses from the same period. Is this correct?

I am planning to buy a prefabricated house from that era, but I do not want to add new insulation. A new heating system will be installed, and then only the interior will be renovated. The windows are from 1995 and, according to the architect, they can remain.

If I were to buy a solid masonry house, I also would not plan to add new insulation. Is the whole insulation topic possibly overrated?

What are your thoughts on this?
Best regards, kai

kailus87 schrieb:

Architects have told me several times that prefabricated houses built in the 1970s have insulation that is just as good or possibly better than solid masonry houses from the same period. Is that correct?

Yes, absolutely. I can give you more precise information from around 1982 onwards, but basically, it was already the case in the 1970s. Back then, energy efficiency was not a major concern yet, and political processes were slow. If I remember correctly, the 1973 oil crisis only led to revisions in energy-related building regulations around 1980. Most solid masonry houses were built with single-layer walls, usually made of solid bricks in the 1970s, with wall thickness increasing from often 24 cm to 30 cm (9.5 inches to 12 inches). Prefabricated houses already had exterior walls made of insulation boards covered on both sides, with the necessary timber frames in between. This basic setup has changed little since then, if we are talking about timber frame panels (also known as “timber stud construction”), which back then applied to nearly the entire industry except for a few rare exceptions. Today, alternative wall constructions are slowly becoming more common.

kailus87 schrieb:

Is the whole insulation topic possibly overrated?

If you ask me, yes. The lawmakers have a different view, requiring homeowners to upgrade to current standards within a few years. In prefabricated houses, most of the standard compliance has already been “built in” for a long time (the rest is addressed through window and heating system upgrades), whereas buyers of used solid masonry homes regularly have to invest significantly in these areas.

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kailus87 schrieb:

Several architects have told me that prefabricated houses built in the 1970s have insulation that is at least equivalent, or possibly better, than solid masonry houses from the same period. Is this correct?

I am considering buying a prefabricated house from that era but do not plan to add new insulation. A new heating system will be installed, and then only the interior finishing will be done. The windows are from 1995 and, according to the architect, can remain.

If I were to buy a solid masonry house, I would not plan to add new insulation either. Is the whole topic of insulation possibly overrated?

What are your thoughts?
Best regards, Kai

You can find interesting information by researching “lobbyists” and “insulation.”

My personal opinion: I feel more comfortable in uninsulated apartments or houses because I find them atmospherically more pleasant. However, you will definitely receive many replies from forum members who feel the opposite.

Pinkiponk schrieb:

You can find interesting information by researching "lobbyists" and "insulation."
My personal opinion: I feel more comfortable in uninsulated apartments/houses because I perceive them as having a more pleasant atmosphere for me.

Lobbyists are usually behind funding programs and laws, and my personal opinion is similar, but that does not change the legal situation.

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https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/

11ant schrieb:

Behind funding programs and laws, there are usually lobbyists ...

I was not aware of that; in this regard, I am probably quite inexperienced. That is why I considered the above-mentioned point worth mentioning.

kailus87 schrieb:

Is the whole insulation topic maybe overrated?

From a financial perspective regarding heating costs, insulation is usually not particularly cost-effective. This applies to both new constructions and renovations, which is why there are various subsidies available, or in rental properties, landlords may increase the rent accordingly.