Have the facade plastered - which wall structure?

Hello everyone,

I have a façade question.

We are currently just before the building application and need to agree on the façade. The head says brick veneer because it is so durable. The gut says plaster because both my husband and I find plastered façades much more beautiful. In addition, we haven’t found a brick veneer yet that we both like at least a little.

In my home street, shortly before I moved out, a whole row of semi-detached houses were newly insulated, plastered, and painted. They looked great!
6 years later, the façade is not only dirty, but you can also see the Styrofoam boards through the plaster, or the circular spots where the boards were attached.
All the houses were replastered and repainted by the same company.

Is this kind of deterioration simply because the specific company did a botched job, or can such a rapid, unsightly decay be prevented by a special wall construction?
Is façade plaster on a single-layer exterior wall made of aerated concrete blocks without insulation more durable than on a single-layer exterior wall with insulation?
Or does the wall construction have no influence, and you just have to hope to get a good façade builder?

Thank you very much for your answers

So hoping doesn't help much when building. You just have to choose the plasterer you trust "carefully." I built without ETICS and would do it again (at least considering the current energy saving regulation requirements). There are many reasons for this; the lifespan of the exterior plaster was not necessarily one of them for me. I cannot judge whether it lasts longer and looks better on masonry, but there are many voices claiming exactly that. However, this also applies to roof overhangs, and yet I have none. That means: a matter of taste, everything has advantages and disadvantages. If you don't want ETICS - for whatever reason - there are many ways to avoid it.

Basically, exterior plaster on single-layer masonry without [WDVS] seems to be more demanding in terms of processing, which is why some craftsmen probably do not like to do it that much. However, you will not have the problem of sagging panels and marks from the support props with it.

I have decided against [WDVS] – also for other reasons – and can already see a significant quality difference between my house and the neighboring house (with [WDVS]). So, it is not necessarily just a matter of time, but primarily a matter of processing quality.

Best regards

K1300S

Hello,

We are just about to submit the building application and need to agree on the facade. My head says brick slip, because it is so durable. My gut says plaster, because both my husband and I find plastered facades much more beautiful. In addition, we have not yet found a brick slip that at least somewhat appeals to both of us.

Brick slip also costs a “pretty” sum more; at least with the majority of providers. It should also be noted that – for the extra cost of the cladding – the house can be painted several times. White brick slip has the disadvantage that – when it rains and dirt particles fall from the sky – the facade dries relatively quickly, but the dirt remains on the cladding. That’s why white brick slip facades look quite grimy over time.

For a plaster facade, you can have a fungicide-algicide coating applied for a moderate additional charge. Most manufacturers then offer a 15-year guarantee before repainting is necessary. Personally, I see this as wishful thinking – it depends on the location of the property and the weather exposure – but you should have peace of mind for at least 10 years. Now calculate how often you would have to repaint in your lifetime based on the extra cost of the cladding, and you will have a reliable figure and decision aid for the building application.

What does your contractor say about this topic?

Shortly before I moved out, a whole row of semi-detached houses in my home street were newly insulated, plastered, and painted. They looked great! Six years later, the facade is not just dirty, but you can also see the polystyrene boards through the plaster, or the circular spots where the boards were attached. All houses were plastered and painted by the same company.

Is this kind of decay simply due to the fact that the particular company did shoddy work, or can such rapid, unattractive decay be prevented by a special wall construction?

That sounds like money was saved in the wrong place. Whether it is ETICS + plaster or monolithic wall construction + plaster – the outer plaster layer is always equally thick (2.5 cm). In the former, a synthetic resin plaster is used, and in the latter, a mineral exterior plaster; there should be no other differences in my opinion.

Is plaster on a single-layer exterior wall with aerated concrete blocks without thermal insulation more durable than on a single-layer exterior wall with thermal insulation?

No, there should be no difference if executed carefully.

... and you just have to hope that you get a good facade builder?

If you are thinking about awarding the trades separately, then yes.

If you have decided on a reputable general contractor or awarding through an architect – there must be a reason you signed a work contract – this problem should be secondary. References are the "A" and "O" – talk to them, then you will be wiser and your “gut feelings” should disappear.

Rhenish greetings