ᐅ Which type of façade is better?

Hello,

We are currently trying to decide which type of facade construction is preferable. The two facade options are as follows. It is assumed that the costs are the same, and any gains or losses in space can be neglected. The focus is solely on the advantages and disadvantages of the facade construction itself.

1.) 17.5 cm (7 inches) Poroton, mineral wool insulation, facing bricks. Total construction depth 44 cm (17 inches)

2.) 36.5 cm (14 inches) Poroton, brick slips. Total construction depth approximately 38.5 cm (15 inches)

In both cases, the result is a KfW 55 standard.
Is it possible to determine which construction is more valuable? Please explain.

Best regards,
Ralf

Veneer brick is high-quality and looks more authentic than thin brick slips. It provides a permanently weather-resistant facade. Proven over centuries. Karsten

The factors that should be disregarded, however, are actually quite significant. The thickness contributes not only to the loss of space but also creates a certain visual effect. Moreover, it is hard to believe that the two structures could be built at the same cost; the version with brick cladding is likely to be more expensive, both in terms of materials and labor (but of course also depending on the specific materials used).

Logically, I would absolutely agree with you, Alex: less material, less effort, less work... It should be cheaper. However, the information I have (whether it’s reliable is another matter) is that both options cost about the same for the same living area. As I said, it doesn’t make much sense logically... But if that’s the policy of an otherwise excellent builder, you just have to accept it.

Since the price is already based on the living area, the argument about loss of space is basically off the table... The extra space the house occupies because of the brick veneer doesn’t really reduce the available space on the plot.

So the question remains about the quality or advantages of the different options. Even if the brick slips are somewhat cheaper, the question is at what point it’s worth it considering their properties. Therefore, I’m trying to gather some arguments that might make it easier for me.

@Nordys
Clay is also not a material with a short history.
And the brick slip is exactly the same material as the facing brick, just a thin slice of it. The external properties, including weather resistance, should be roughly the same, right?

Although not every type of facing brick is necessarily available in both formats on the market, fundamentally, brick slips and thin bricks are two formats of essentially the same brick quality. There are also thin bricks with special corner pieces available, so the corners do not reveal they are thin bricks.

Thin bricks are primarily intended for aesthetics, meaning, in my view, the "retrofit option" for buildings that were not originally designed with a masonry veneer. Being thinner equals lighter, they are easier to install where an upgrade of the appearance of a former plaster facade is desired and the support edge for a full masonry wall is missing.

Currently, thin bricks are gaining some popularity in wall constructions where, due to a structurally weak outer layer, a lightweight aesthetic upgrade is also sought.

If, during planning, you already know you want clinker bricks, I would personally recommend choosing the full brick over its smaller counterpart. By design, the facing brick is meant for use as a full masonry outer wall, thermally separated from the load-bearing inner wall.

In the past, an air cavity was preferred between the layers; today, blowing in loose insulation material is more common. Filling the cavity, where an air space is supposed to be, completely with fiber mats seems nonsense to me (although the younger generation obsessed with insulation probably won’t be convinced otherwise).

I would always plan exterior walls with common sense rather than relying solely on U-value calculators. But currently, it is trendy to replace building physicists with such "apps."

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Facing bricks are more decoupled from the inner wall structure, which provides better sound insulation. Thanks to the mineral wool insulation, you also have fewer issues with thermal bridges. You can even install an electrical outlet in the window reveal. The standard 17.5cm (7 inches) Poroton brick is not as fragile as the highly optimized T9, or whatever it is called. Building with facing bricks also offers somewhat better thermal protection and, to me, definitely feels more high-quality.