Prefab houses from the 70s equivalent/better insulation?

I have often been told by architects that prefabricated houses built in the 70s have insulation that is equivalent to or possibly better than that of solidly built houses from the same era. Is that correct?

I want to buy a prefabricated house from that period but do not plan to add new insulation. A new heating system will be installed, and then only the interior finishing will take place. The windows are from 1995 and, according to the architect, can remain.

If I were to buy a solidly built house, I also would not have planned to add new insulation. Is this whole insulation topic possibly overrated?

What are your opinions on this?
Regards, Kai

I have been told several times by architects that prefabricated houses built in the 70s have insulation that is equivalent or possibly better than that of solid masonry houses from the same era. Is that correct?

Yes, absolutely. I can tell you more precisely from around 1982 onward, but in principle, it was already like that in the 70s. Back then, energy was not a major issue yet, and political processes move slowly; if I remember correctly, the oil crisis of 1973 only had its impact on energy-related building regulations in 1980 with an amendment. Most "solid" houses at that time were built with a single layer of masonry, mostly from solid bricks in the 70s, and the wall thickness had just recently increased to 30 cm instead of the previously common 24 cm. "Prefabricated" houses were and still are equipped with exterior walls that basically consist of insulation mats clad on both sides, with the statically required wooden frame in between. This formula has mostly only changed in minor details up to today, as long as we are talking about wood frame panels aka "timber frame construction" (which at the time applied to almost the entire industry except for a few rare exceptions; today alternative wall constructions are only slowly increasing).

Is this whole insulation topic maybe overrated?

If you ask me, yes. The legislator has a different opinion and requires the buyer of a house to adapt it to current standards within a few years. In a "prefabricated" house, you already have the majority of the standard fulfillment "built in" forever (the rest can be done with window and heating technology upgrades), whereas the used "solid" house buyer regularly "has to" invest heavily in this.

I have been told several times by architects that prefabricated houses built in the 70s have insulation that is equivalent or possibly better than that of solid brick houses from the same period. Is that correct?

I want to buy a prefabricated house from that year but will not add new insulation; a new heating system will be installed and then only the interior finishing will take place. The windows are from 1995 and according to the architect, they can remain.

If I were to buy a solid brick house, I also would not plan to add new insulation. Is this whole insulation topic possibly overrated?

What are your opinions on this
Regards, kai

Interesting information can be found when researching "lobbyists" and "insulation."

My subjective opinion: I feel more comfortable in uninsulated apartments/houses because I perceive them as more atmospherically pleasant. However, you will certainly receive many answers from forum members who feel exactly the opposite.

Interesting information can be obtained by researching "Lobbyists" and "Insulation". My subjective opinion: I feel more comfortable in uninsulated apartments/houses because I perceive them as atmospherically more pleasant for me.

Behind funding programs and laws, there are usually lobbyists, and my subjective opinion is similar, but it does not change the legal situation.

Behind funding programs and laws there are usually lobbyists ...

I was not aware of that, in that regard I am probably very naive. That is why I considered the above-mentioned fact worth mentioning.

Is this whole insulation topic possibly overrated?

Financially regarding heating costs, insulation is usually not particularly worthwhile. Neither in new buildings nor in old buildings, which is why there is quite a bit of funding for it, and in rental apartments, one is then allowed to raise the rent.