Detached house on hillside site in
Karlsruhe-Durlach

XERAL MINERAL EXTERIOR INSULATION – SUSTAINABLE AND HEALTHY

The Geigersberg in Durlach is considered to be one of the most select addresses in the former capital of Baden. The three storey detached house was extended and modernized in the year 2000. as part of the modernization measures the brick masonry of the existing building and the extension of 30 cm thick vertical coring bricks were equipped with an external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS) with polystyrene insulating boards.

As a result of insect infestation of the polystyrene boards by ants cavities in the insulation were formed which led to flaking of the plaster of the exterior wall in these areas.

For the renovation at hand the property owner opted for a pure mineral insulation solution with XERAL SP 036 high-performance insulating plaster which not only prevents a repeat of the infestation of ants. Above all the choice was influenced by the high insulating performance (WLG 036).

A decision for healthy living and the environment

Equally decisive however were the issues of fire protection and recyclability – contrary to the previous ETICS which had to be disposed of as hazardous waste.

Additional plus points of the insulating plaster system were the high build quality as well as the resistance to mould and algae. These pure mineral insulating solutions complement the brick elements ideally and promote healthy living in this detached house. Infestation by ants in the future can be excluded.

The start of construction for the building was April 2016; completion was made in the summer of 2016. The prefabricated brick elements were pretreated with a silicate primer in order to contain the dust adhered to the surface. On top of the cured primer up to 80 mm insulating plaster was applied in several coats.

A conventional type G4 plastering machine was used which was fitted with the requisite machinery equipment. Finally the insulating plaster was reinforced all-over, provided with a 2 mm silicate fine finish plaster and coated with silicate paint.

With a U-value of 0.20 W/(m²K) the heat insulation is significantly below the limit of U ≤ 0,24 W/(m²K) specified by the EnEV (German Energy Saving Ordinance) for existing buildings.