Roof
roof pitch
Drempel
Flat roof
Upper floor slab
Solid ceiling
timber-beamed ceiling
Nail binder
Attic conversion
External wall
Façade
Partition joint in a house
cellar wall
Ground floor
cellar ceiling
Stairway to the cellar
Solid ceiling
Cap ceiling
Timber joist floor/cavity
Special components
Around 70 per cent of houses in Germany have an external wall made of solid, single-shell masonry. This usually consists of solid or vertically perforated bricks, sand-lime bricks, pumice blocks and aerated concrete blocks. As most masonry blocks, such as solid bricks or sand-lime bricks, are very good conductors of heat, the thermal insulation of these walls is very poor. The result: high heating energy losses, reduced living comfort (‘cold walls’) and, in many cases, mould, particularly in the corners of rooms.
To improve the inadequate thermal insulation of such solid existing walls, an energy-efficient refurbishment using a suitable insulating render system is recommended. Aerogel insulation plaster represents a highly efficient solution, particularly for buildings where conventional external insulation (e.g. a composite external insulation system) is not possible for aesthetic, technical or heritage conservation reasons.
- Surface preparation: The external wall must be thoroughly cleaned and free of dust, dirt, loose material and other contaminants. Any cracks or damage should be repaired.
- Priming: A primer is applied to the surface of the external wall. This primer improves the adhesion of the insulating render to the wall.
- Mixing the insulating render: The insulating render is mixed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Insulating render usually consists of mineral components and insulating materials such as polystyrene or mineral wool. High-performance insulating renders containing aerogel components are also available on the market.
- Applying the insulating render: The insulating render is applied to the external wall. This can be done using a trowel or a rendering spatula. The insulating plaster is spread evenly over the surface and applied to the desired thickness. The exact thickness depends on the specific requirements and the type of insulating plaster.
- Embedding insulation boards (optional): If required, insulation boards or mats can be embedded in the fresh insulating plaster to enhance the insulating effect. The boards should be pressed down firmly to ensure even insulation.
- Creating the surface texture: Once the insulating plaster has been applied, the surface texture can be finished as desired. This can be smooth, textured or grooved.
- Drying: The insulating plaster must be allowed to dry thoroughly before any further work is carried out. The drying time varies depending on the thickness and ambient temperature.
- Final coat: Once the insulating render has dried, a final coat – such as façade paint or render – can be applied to achieve the desired aesthetic finish.
Insulating render is usually applied in layers of around 15 to 20 millimetres. However, insulation thicknesses of up to 10 cm are possible (applied in several stages)
Areas of application:
Renovation of older buildings, conservation of listed buildings, internal insulation, external insulation, renovation of half-timbered houses, complex geometries