Sand-lime brick vs. pumice for masonry?

Hello everyone,

our architects and the structural engineer have planned calcium silicate bricks for the exterior and (load-bearing) interior walls.

Now we have a shell construction offer with pumice (according to structural requirements).

Therefore, I would like to discuss the topic of calcium silicate bricks vs. pumice with you. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each type of brick from your perspective? Who has experience?

Just to explain: the masonry will be covered with an ETICS.

Thank you very much!

Sand-lime brick looked great as 2DF facing brickwork. But you don’t actually want to look at the jumbo formats, and with ETICS the construction stone is further relativized. You know my mantra: use what the processor can handle best. I have lived in pumice forever, without ETICS, unfortunately it stores heat very well. The neighbor doesn’t hear my snoring.

I'll follow along. I also find the topic interesting

If Bims is something like Ytong but volcanic, then that's energetically good.

Where are you building, in a quiet area or next to a country road?

In short.

Ks is one of the best building materials for sound, has a very high density, but the disadvantage that it requires WDVS to be energetically sensible.

Bims, also called Ytong or aerated concrete, has disadvantages when it comes to sound, even screwing into the wall can become a problem. Sure, there are special plugs but it’s still annoying. However, you don’t need WDVS with it.

Personally, I would prefer Ks, as I am a bit sensitive to noise and work shifts.

Others say take what your shell builder can best work with, but I wouldn’t take a shell builder who uses aerated concrete.

How do they compare in price?

Is the offer with [Bims] actually monolithic or a combination of [Bims] and [WDVS]? Only then can the price difference be assessed. Personally, I am in favor of sand-lime brick. Mass, stability, sound insulation, price. You can easily build the entire house from one material. But I have no reservations about [WDVS] either.