ᐅ Single-Family Home: Which Type of Masonry Is Right for Us?

Air exchange rate: The DIN 4108-2 standard requires an air exchange rate of 0.5/hour. You can debate whether this figure is reasonable or not, but how to achieve this with manual ventilation under realistic conditions in an airtight building is a mystery to me. I am not saying it is mandatory to build with a mechanical ventilation system, but when I compare the air quality in houses with and without mechanical ventilation... the difference is huge. Of course, as with most things, if you never get used to the better condition, it doesn’t seem that important or relevant.

As previous posters have already mentioned: keeping windows always open is unacceptable to me—think noise insulation, energy efficiency, and security. The comfort argument, however, is stronger for me. Waking up in the morning, even in winter, with fresh air is a real benefit. No discussions with children about airing out, windows are mostly closed due to increased burglary protection, etc.

Regarding hazardous waste issues: This concerns older external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS) that contained a certain fire retardant (HBCD). First, this no longer applies to current systems (as it is banned), and second, it is such a politically important issue that solutions are being found even for the older systems (some federal states have already implemented short-term pragmatic solutions... disposal is therefore possible). If you generally avoid materials derived from oil, you will have to give up quite a lot: a car with plastic parts? Sofa in the living room? Synthetic components in clothing? Yogurt in a cup? Do you use a toothbrush (I hope)? ...

Algae: This is not a phenomenon limited to ETICS, but can also be seen on buildings without it... You also don’t necessarily want biocides in exterior plaster....

Bieber0815 schrieb:
To avoid misunderstandings. I didn’t say anything about aerated concrete. I just wanted to add to the statement: "The more porous the brick, the easier it is to drill," especially considering the increasing porosity of Poroton bricks, since these highly insulating bricks barely have any mass left, making it sometimes difficult to create a clearly defined hole.

Yes, this is my personal opinion – which I have clearly stated 🙂
I have done quite a bit of drilling, and as a skilled woman, I like to approach things from the perspective of a beginner who double-checks everything when starting out.

But the original poster wants to adapt their construction project based on drilling behavior, which in my opinion is not really open for debate, since drilling isn’t done so often that it would affect quality of life.

The topic of controlled mechanical ventilation or tilted windows has been extensively discussed here and can be found by using the search function at the top right.

Edit: I’m clarifying again that this is my personal opinion 🙂
Regards

Tego12 schrieb:
When it comes to single-family houses, it really doesn’t matter what materials you build with

I find that statement too general and incorrect. For example, there is a significant difference between a brick veneer facade and a plastered facade. Brick is simply more durable and easier to maintain, but also more expensive. Depending on the wall construction, the positioning of the windows can vary, wall thicknesses differ, and so on. Naturally, the "mass" of the wall affects indoor climate and sound insulation as well.

I also belong to the group that considers a mechanical ventilation system unnecessary. It’s not like all older buildings are drafty. Even houses that are 30 years old can be "almost airtight." Ventilation is not a problem if you live in a rural area. Additionally, there are trickle vents in window frames, vents for skylights, and other solutions.

I lived in an apartment from 1995 without a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery... it was airtight and quite problematic.

Perhaps size also plays a role. Our old house, built in 1998, is quite airtight but does not have mechanical ventilation with heat recovery. Nevertheless, the indoor climate is very good. However, it is 200 m² (2,150 sq ft) with ceiling heights over 3 m (10 ft) and occupied by three people. I am not generally against mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, but I don’t necessarily see it as a must-have, depending on the situation. At the moment, what annoys me is that our neighbors (a pair of semi-detached houses rented out) have mechanical ventilation with heat recovery that is clearly too loud. It was installed last week, so we’ll see how it develops.

Knallkörper schrieb:
I think that statement is too generalized and incorrect. For example, there is a big difference between having a brick veneer facade and a stucco facade. Brick is simply more durable and low-maintenance, but also more expensive. Depending on the wall construction, the window installation will differ, wall thicknesses vary, and so on. And naturally, the weight of the wall affects indoor climate and sound insulation.

I also belong to the group that considers a ventilation system unnecessary. Not all older buildings are drafty. Even houses that are 30 years old can be nearly airtight. Ventilation is not a problem, especially if you live in a rural area. Additionally, there are trickle vents, vents for roof windows, and so forth.

Of course, a brick veneer has different advantages and disadvantages 😉 You see the advantage in durability, and I agree with you there. For many, however, the downside is the long-term aesthetic limitation (with stucco, you can simply repaint and change the color scheme). The “modern” bricks used today will probably be out of style in 20 years as well (if you look at older brick buildings with what was once trendy brick—sometimes quite awful colors), kind of like 20-year-old tiles 😉 Stucco can just be repainted...

You really have to like brick; many people simply don’t like its appearance. I imagine a modern Bauhaus design with brick... eek, yeah 😉 Aside from that, I like brick myself—it’s something I grew up with in the north 😉 Although not some of the strange color combinations you sometimes see.

If you had read the entire post, you would have seen that I wrote (in essence) “unless there is a special situation.” Of course, near a busy two-lane road, sound insulation matters, and you might want to choose calcium silicate blocks. But for typical residential areas (where single-family homes are built), it basically doesn’t matter with normal wall thickness. Sound insulation is usually sufficient, even with aerated concrete…