3 ms·

the thermal properties of a wood house with insulation is far better than that of a concrete one

by djohnston 7y ago

the_gipsy 7y ago
what about a stone/brick/concrete house with insulation?
- mturmon 7y ago
  In general, any thermally-conducting path from outside to inside will reduce the insulating value of the wall by a lot. The standard framing method used in American houses is described in basic terms here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Framing_(construction)#Balloon_framing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Framing_(construction)#Balloon... (Platform framing is different from balloon framing in some details, but that's not important for our purposes.) The gaps between the vertical "studs" allow insulation to be put in, covering ~90% of the surface area. I forget the details, but there are code and construction-method developments that are working to raise this figure closer to 100%. The final wall would then be a roughly 7" sandwich. Details vary, but perhaps 1" exterior cladding - stucco, siding, etc., 5.5" of insulation where the frame is, 0.75" of interior wallboard ("drywall"). In older homes, alas, the insulation is thinner than 5.5". The brick, concrete, concrete-block, and stone construction methods I know about do not allow such a thick layer of insulation. I know there are products available to get higher insulating value in less thickness, thus allowing for 3" of brick + 3" of rigid foam, but of course these are applicable to both methods. And, as I've tried to clarify, the concrete-block methods I know about have areas where there is a non-insulating path through the concrete. Perhaps there are other concrete or brick methods that provide significant insulating value, that I'm not aware of, that are realistic for single-family homes?
  - the_gipsy 7y ago
    Reinforced concrete is used mostly in Spain, where I live. Then walls are either traditional bricks, or some plasterboards stuffed with insulation, or an outer layer of thin bricks, insulation, and an inner layer of plaster. I think we're moving away from bricks because everybody has A/C now. But houses are still "solid", with a concrete skeleton and walls that you can't "punch through", at least the outer walls.
distances 7y ago
In general, concrete housing would have insulation. Though depends on the place of course, probably not in the Mediterranean while lots of it and triple glazing in the Nordics.

the thermal properties of a wood house with insulation is far better than that of a concrete one

the_gipsy 7y ago

what about a stone/brick/concrete house with insulation?

mturmon 7y ago
In general, any thermally-conducting path from outside to inside will reduce the insulating value of the wall by a lot. The standard framing method used in American houses is described in basic terms here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Framing_(construction)#Balloon_framing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Framing_(construction)#Balloon... (Platform framing is different from balloon framing in some details, but that's not important for our purposes.) The gaps between the vertical "studs" allow insulation to be put in, covering ~90% of the surface area. I forget the details, but there are code and construction-method developments that are working to raise this figure closer to 100%. The final wall would then be a roughly 7" sandwich. Details vary, but perhaps 1" exterior cladding - stucco, siding, etc., 5.5" of insulation where the frame is, 0.75" of interior wallboard ("drywall"). In older homes, alas, the insulation is thinner than 5.5". The brick, concrete, concrete-block, and stone construction methods I know about do not allow such a thick layer of insulation. I know there are products available to get higher insulating value in less thickness, thus allowing for 3" of brick + 3" of rigid foam, but of course these are applicable to both methods. And, as I've tried to clarify, the concrete-block methods I know about have areas where there is a non-insulating path through the concrete. Perhaps there are other concrete or brick methods that provide significant insulating value, that I'm not aware of, that are realistic for single-family homes?
- the_gipsy 7y ago
  Reinforced concrete is used mostly in Spain, where I live. Then walls are either traditional bricks, or some plasterboards stuffed with insulation, or an outer layer of thin bricks, insulation, and an inner layer of plaster. I think we're moving away from bricks because everybody has A/C now. But houses are still "solid", with a concrete skeleton and walls that you can't "punch through", at least the outer walls.

distances 7y ago

In general, concrete housing would have insulation. Though depends on the place of course, probably not in the Mediterranean while lots of it and triple glazing in the Nordics.