Various methods of facade insulation
The exterior walls play a central role in the energetic renovation of buildings. Their share of the total loss of an average single-family home is around 30 percent. This share, incidentally, increases with the size of the building.
In principle there are three possibilities for facade insulation. Subsequent heat insulation can be carried out from the outside, inside or in the wall. The decisive factor for the applied method is the type of building. In most cases, this is an insulation applied externally to the wall through a thermal insulation composite system. A similar result can be achieved by a suspended facade which, however, is considerably more expensive. If these options are not applicable, for example by maintaining a complex facade, wall insulation can also be carried out from the inside. Relatively rare, on the other hand, a subsequent insulation is embedded in the masonry.
Exterior insulation finishing system
Since the 1960s exterior insulation finishing systems (EIFS) have been used and have developed significantly over the years. Today, insulation panels are glued and / or dowelled to the outer wall. The load-bearing capacity of the substrate as well as the insulation material determine the method of installation. In the case of particularly uneven subsoils, a rail system can also be used for fastening the insulation boards. Particular attention has to be paid to the design details of the detail connections (windows, doors, balconies etc.) at the EIFS. No heat bridges can be formed at these points, which can lead to a later mold formation by condensation. An under-surface plaster is then applied to the insulation layer. Since this plastering contains a fabric, it is also called reinforcing mortar. Finally, the EIFS insulated building receives a completely normal exterior plaster.
Curtain facade insulation
A suspended façade consists of a substructure on the outer wall which carries both the insulation and a panel. With this design, air can circulate behind the cladding, thus reducing the risk of mold formation. Instead of a plaster like the EIFS, a variety of materials can be used for the paneling. For example, a clinker, wood or slate façade can be realized with this heat insulation.
Indoor insulation
Insulation of the exterior wall from the inside is normally only used in historical or listed buildings, since it is very complex and is at the expense of the available living space. A supporting structure is attached to the inner wall and the intermediate space is insulated. The insulation is then followed by a foil, the so-called steam brake, and finally the inner lining.
Core insulation (cavity insulation)
Relatively favorable but also less effective is the subsequent insulation of the masonry by the injection of insulating materials in existing cavities. This so-called core insulation is actually used only in the renovation of buildings with a double-walled exterior wall.
