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Construction technique brick villa late 40s
Hello!
We have a brick house from the late 40s.
Since the house was purchased from an estate sale, we have no information on the construction technique.
Above all, it would be very interesting to know if the brick frame is load-bearing.
We recently installed an air heat pump during which we got some information about the wall construction when making a hole.
This is what the wall looked like in the cross-section.
The wall in cross-section from inside to outside.
5 cm strawboard (compressed straw with a paper surface)
3 cm air gap
4 cm stone wool insulation
20 cm brick wall
What worried and surprised me was that the insulation was directly against the wall without an air gap, which was instead placed between the stone wool and the strawboard. In my opinion, this should mean that the wall was built first=load-bearing? Otherwise, you would need an air gap closest to the wall? Is that correct?
The outer wall stands directly on the ground slab, i.e., it doesn't hang on the outside like a traditional cavity wall. It also doesn't have any ventilation holes, you know, when you leave some joints open to ventilate the facade.
What do you think about this construction? Is it likely that the brick frame is load-bearing, or could there be a stud frame or timber frame hidden that we missed during the hole-making?
Also, what do you think about this solution from a moisture perspective?
We hope that the low insulation in the house should ensure that the frame remains dry thanks to waste heat.
But we intend to add insulation with fiberglass panels and plaster.
Is there any obvious risk with that?
Is it worth removing the internal insulation if the brick frame is load-bearing?
The air gap will impair the efficiency of the additional insulation + internal insulation is somewhat questionable from a moisture perspective, right?
Anyone out there who has experience with similar constructions?
Thanks in advance,
Karin
We have a brick house from the late 40s.
Since the house was purchased from an estate sale, we have no information on the construction technique.
Above all, it would be very interesting to know if the brick frame is load-bearing.
We recently installed an air heat pump during which we got some information about the wall construction when making a hole.
This is what the wall looked like in the cross-section.
The wall in cross-section from inside to outside.
5 cm strawboard (compressed straw with a paper surface)
3 cm air gap
4 cm stone wool insulation
20 cm brick wall
What worried and surprised me was that the insulation was directly against the wall without an air gap, which was instead placed between the stone wool and the strawboard. In my opinion, this should mean that the wall was built first=load-bearing? Otherwise, you would need an air gap closest to the wall? Is that correct?
The outer wall stands directly on the ground slab, i.e., it doesn't hang on the outside like a traditional cavity wall. It also doesn't have any ventilation holes, you know, when you leave some joints open to ventilate the facade.
What do you think about this construction? Is it likely that the brick frame is load-bearing, or could there be a stud frame or timber frame hidden that we missed during the hole-making?
Also, what do you think about this solution from a moisture perspective?
We hope that the low insulation in the house should ensure that the frame remains dry thanks to waste heat.
But we intend to add insulation with fiberglass panels and plaster.
Is there any obvious risk with that?
Is it worth removing the internal insulation if the brick frame is load-bearing?
The air gap will impair the efficiency of the additional insulation + internal insulation is somewhat questionable from a moisture perspective, right?
Anyone out there who has experience with similar constructions?
Thanks in advance,
Karin
Hi Karin!
Almost 10 years later I don't really expect a response, but I'll try to reply anyway!
Spontaneously, adding insulation with mineral wool (which is not hygroscopic) feels questionable in that exterior wall, wouldn't something like cellulose be more suitable? Regardless of the material, it would of course be wise to look at how the wall's temperature gradient changes with internal insulation, to avoid the risk of inappropriate condensation.
My wife and I have just bought a house with a very similar exterior wall construction. Our immediate plans are to replace the windows and add internal insulation to certain walls. For us, there will be some wrestling with the existing straw board (Stramit) that overlaps the gap between the window and wall and seems to be nailed in the jamb/casing.
How did it go with your project—did you come up with a suitable solution?
Warm regards,
Johan
Almost 10 years later I don't really expect a response, but I'll try to reply anyway!
Spontaneously, adding insulation with mineral wool (which is not hygroscopic) feels questionable in that exterior wall, wouldn't something like cellulose be more suitable? Regardless of the material, it would of course be wise to look at how the wall's temperature gradient changes with internal insulation, to avoid the risk of inappropriate condensation.
My wife and I have just bought a house with a very similar exterior wall construction. Our immediate plans are to replace the windows and add internal insulation to certain walls. For us, there will be some wrestling with the existing straw board (Stramit) that overlaps the gap between the window and wall and seems to be nailed in the jamb/casing.
How did it go with your project—did you come up with a suitable solution?
Warm regards,
Johan
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