Resthof renovation - on a budget

I have little opinion on internal insulation. Our house has external insulation from the 90s, which is still wonderfully intact. However, we last lived in a renovated old building from the 19th century with internal insulation. A few months after moving in, mold appeared in several places on the inner exterior walls. However, this house was also renovated quickly and rather cheaply, had too little time to dry, etc. And I can't say how the insulation was done. But I do know that you were only allowed to attach anything to the exterior walls with special dowels; this was even stated in the rental agreement.

Yes, that's true. There are more new construction experts in this forum ;) But it's nice that we've found a few fellow enthusiasts/captors of the same fate. To be honest, after the little one was born, we would have liked to subcontract even more to specialist companies, but it's just not possible. On the other hand, we can say that we’ve done a good part of the construction ourselves :)
Oh, tell us about [Sanierputz], we also want to cover an interior wall with it. We initially thought about using a sacrificial plaster, but we don't have the patience/time to chip it off later and replaster.

By the way, I have to correct myself. The offer stated double-layered with an air gap. However, the bricklayer agreed with the energy consultant on cavity insulation with cavity insulation board. That explains the 1-2 cm. I’m taking a deep breath now and trusting the bricklayer/energy consultant.

There isn’t much to tell. Our basement is a bit damp on 2 walls (the ones that are deep in the ground), it’s just an old building. For dehumidification, we have now thought about using [Sanierputz] and are basically doing everything the same way as with the other interior plasters we have worked with so far. We applied a thickness of about 20-25mm (by hand). I think it will definitely last a good 10 years. At some point, we want to dig around the house, waterproof it from the outside, etc., but that’s not planned at the moment.

In terms of processing, I find it comparable to lime-cement plaster. It dries much more slowly down there, of course, which is why we can only trowel it the next day. Then there will be a bit of expansion of the surface electrical work (done by a friend who’s an electrician) and then we want to tile there as well. Oh, and I want to paint the [Sanierputz] with silicate paint. This project is not very spectacular. And because it’s in the basement, we’re not in a hurry and the mess is manageable. It’s definitely a nice winter project^^.

There isn’t much to tell. Our basement is a bit damp on 2 walls (the ones that lie deep in the ground), after all it’s an old building. We have now thought about using [Sanierputz] for dehumidification and are basically doing everything the same way as with the other interior plasters we have used so far. We applied a thickness of about 20-25mm (by hand). I think it will definitely last a good 10 years. Eventually, we want to excavate all around the house, waterproof from the outside, etc., but that is not planned at the moment. In terms of application, I find it comparable to lime-cement plaster. It naturally dries much slower down there, which is why we can only trowel it the next day. Then there will be a slight extension of the surface electrical work (done by a friend who’s an electrician) and then we want to tile there. Oh, and I want to paint the [Sanierputz] with silicate paint afterwards. This project is not very spectacular. And since it’s in the basement, we’re not in a hurry and the dirt is manageable. It’s definitely a nice winter project^^.

Sounds like a nice project where you can really have fun in the basement! Do you really intend to excavate and waterproof from the outside later? For a workshop or storage room, that’s almost overkill, isn’t it? Of course, I don’t know your house...

Sounds like a nice project where you can let loose in the basement!

Do you really plan to excavate and seal the outside later? For a workshop or storage room, that might be a bit over the top, don’t you think? Of course, I don’t know your house...

It’s certainly not really necessary. But it would definitely do the masonry some good. Our house stands "on a slope," so the front basement walls are almost completely underground (those exterior walls are also damp) and the back is almost fully exposed, where everything is dry. We would do that when we redo the paving and driveway and have to open everything around anyway; then we could dig deeper and take care of it at the same time. But it’s not urgent and doesn’t make sense as a standalone measure. It’s a damp basement and was built as such, formerly used to store food with surprisingly constant 10–14°C and higher humidity.

More than a year later, another update o_O

Short and sweet:
1. We have stayed true to ourselves and are once again far, far behind schedule.
2. Additional financing of around 50 K EUR (so far, more is coming :D)
3. Despite everything, we are very happy; it is turning out pretty much exactly as we imagined.
4. ..but we don’t feel like it anymore ;)

Long version:
The interior insulation is finished, so far it looks solid. But there is still no heating downstairs and we don’t live downstairs yet. Therefore, the interior insulation remains on probation until the first inhabited winter regarding moisture problems. But at least we can say after more than two years: No water is coming in from outside. Neither from above, below nor from the side. So far, so good.

The electrical work is finished to the extent that the plasterer could come. The roof is insulated, the windows are installed, the underfloor heating has been laid, and the screed was poured a few days ago. The bases for the oak pillars were renewed and various small jobs were done.

Due to higher construction costs, the uneven outer wall as well as "upgrades" (e.g. technical construction matters like the horizontal barrier of the masonry, but also visual upgrades like real wood floorboards) we had to provide additional financing of 50 K EUR. Unfortunately, this is not the end; we will actually take out a loan from my in-laws.

We thought for a long time whether this is the right step for us, but we would like to have everything "finished" and not always say: in 3 years we’ll do x and in 5 years y. Not nice the additional financing(s), but since our salaries have increased well, it’s not dramatic either. Even if it was clear to us that a one-time payment during renovation/expansion is difficult, especially with a rather tight budget, you still hope for it ;)

In two weeks, the bricklayers will carry out a few remaining jobs/repairs and we will lay dry screed in the office (attic) and then continue with further drywall construction. The plumbers will come again soon to connect the underfloor heating. The painter is supposed to bring the plaster up to Q4 theoretically in September and will also paint the ceilings for us. Afterwards, we will paint the rest ourselves and lay the floorboards. Then the tiler can do his work. Meanwhile, hopefully the chimney and stair builders will stop by.

We hope to be moved in before Christmas. Ideally before our vacation at the beginning of November. With our time management, though, not quite sure.

At the moment I really enjoy the outdoor facilities, specifically our vegetable and fruit beds. Next year three more beds will be added and then I hope we can mostly feed ourselves with fruit and vegetables from our garden during the "summer" half year and won’t have to buy so much.

By the way: Sometimes I wonder if we would have come out cheaper due to the strong construction price increases if we had contracted everything directly and the general contractor had completed it within a year.

And a small question for the construction experts: the plaster on the second picture on the left side is quite cracked. Behind it is an old stone wall; the plaster was/needed to be applied quite thickly to make it even. Does the plasterer need to fix this? I might take a better picture. On the other walls there are significantly fewer, partly no cracks. The plaster was applied in May.