ᐅ Window replacement, initially without external thermal insulation in an older building
Created on: 18 Aug 2015 21:02
C
Charburner
Charburner18 Aug 2015 21:02Hello,
We have an old three-story building with a basement. So, basement, ground floor, first floor, and second floor. The house was built in the 1950s. The entire building is made of solid masonry. The basement is relatively damp. I am currently not sure if the stone walls are built on a proper foundation. I will need to dig to find out.
An architect who inspected the house said that I need to dry out the building first before considering replacing the windows (drainage, etc.).
That makes sense to me. Unfortunately, the budget does not allow for excavation work this year.
Since only the first floor is currently occupied, my idea was to install new windows only on that floor. Even if the building draws moisture from the ground, it probably doesn’t reach up to the first floor. Or am I mistaken?
If I keep the old windows on the ground floor, there should be enough opportunity for moisture to escape, right? Since they are not completely airtight anyway.
Now to my second question. If I replace the windows on the first floor, can the new windows be installed flush with the exterior wall?
At a later time, I want to add external thermal insulation (ETICS / external wall insulation). I researched heat and cold bridge regulations online. According to the standards in Germany and Austria, airtightness must decrease from inside to outside, and the joint between the window frame and the wall must be sealed from the inside so that no moisture can accumulate in cavities between the window frame and the wall (using sealing tape over the foam insulation).
For me, this means that as long as the external thermal insulation is not applied, moisture that might accumulate inside due to insufficient sealing can still escape to the outside, since there is not yet an external protective layer sealing the house from the outside.
Thanks in advance for any answers!
David
We have an old three-story building with a basement. So, basement, ground floor, first floor, and second floor. The house was built in the 1950s. The entire building is made of solid masonry. The basement is relatively damp. I am currently not sure if the stone walls are built on a proper foundation. I will need to dig to find out.
An architect who inspected the house said that I need to dry out the building first before considering replacing the windows (drainage, etc.).
That makes sense to me. Unfortunately, the budget does not allow for excavation work this year.
Since only the first floor is currently occupied, my idea was to install new windows only on that floor. Even if the building draws moisture from the ground, it probably doesn’t reach up to the first floor. Or am I mistaken?
If I keep the old windows on the ground floor, there should be enough opportunity for moisture to escape, right? Since they are not completely airtight anyway.
Now to my second question. If I replace the windows on the first floor, can the new windows be installed flush with the exterior wall?
At a later time, I want to add external thermal insulation (ETICS / external wall insulation). I researched heat and cold bridge regulations online. According to the standards in Germany and Austria, airtightness must decrease from inside to outside, and the joint between the window frame and the wall must be sealed from the inside so that no moisture can accumulate in cavities between the window frame and the wall (using sealing tape over the foam insulation).
For me, this means that as long as the external thermal insulation is not applied, moisture that might accumulate inside due to insufficient sealing can still escape to the outside, since there is not yet an external protective layer sealing the house from the outside.
Thanks in advance for any answers!
David
I’m not an expert, but these are my concerns: currently, the glass panes are the weakest part in the chain – moisture condenses on the glass and drips down, which can be wiped away. If you install new windows, it could be that the masonry becomes the component with the highest thermal conductivity. This means that in winter, humidity might condense there, potentially causing mold growth.
Even with the front door open on the ground floor, air won’t necessarily circulate to that area if the bedroom door is closed.
I would probably advise against it – unless it’s combined with a (decentralized) ventilation system.
In general, when doing DIY work with external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS or EIFS), you need to be careful not to create thermal bridges. In our renovated old apartment, for example, we had mold in the upper corners of the rooms because the connection to the attic was not done properly. Balconies, railings, and similar elements are also common problem areas.
Why do you want to replace the windows anyway?
But as I said, I’m a layperson – it’s better to ask someone who really knows about this. They will probably advise you for a reasonable hourly rate – which is definitely cheaper than damaging the building fabric.
Even with the front door open on the ground floor, air won’t necessarily circulate to that area if the bedroom door is closed.
I would probably advise against it – unless it’s combined with a (decentralized) ventilation system.
In general, when doing DIY work with external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS or EIFS), you need to be careful not to create thermal bridges. In our renovated old apartment, for example, we had mold in the upper corners of the rooms because the connection to the attic was not done properly. Balconies, railings, and similar elements are also common problem areas.
Why do you want to replace the windows anyway?
But as I said, I’m a layperson – it’s better to ask someone who really knows about this. They will probably advise you for a reasonable hourly rate – which is definitely cheaper than damaging the building fabric.
Charburner23 Aug 2015 12:56Yes, thank you. Next week, the window installer I trust is coming to see me anyway. Let’s see what he thinks. In principle, I really liked the idea of a deep window reveal. A friend of mine said that if I do it as described above, the windows definitely need to be placed in the middle of the wall, otherwise problems are almost guaranteed. I am currently considering this, because I certainly won’t remove the windows again just to have a larger windowsill or reveal. Since with stone walls it is also quite a lot of work to apply the cement plaster, usually a two-day task, because you can’t just spread it on in thick layers.
Charburner23 Aug 2015 21:14Nice. Excavating, waterproofing, and immediately replacing over twenty windows..., I’m not a big fan of loans.
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