Exterior walls design

[pkarampoul002]

Hello everyone,



I have been proposed from a potential engineer (not selected yet), an option which would be energy and economy efficient for the exterior walls of the new house I am planning to build, instead of a classic structure with brick or cement walls:

• The house is planned for cottage and will be ground floor (and potential to add 1 additional floor)
• See below attachment of the structure. As it is in Greek, I translate that: both sides with galvanized steel, and inside 20 cm of expanded polysterene, while both sides will be lastly finished with a coating of cement plaster.
• Inside walls (not attached) will be structured with double plaster board and insulated with stone wool (Fibran Geo)

Considering that I want to create something more economically, but at the same time lasting in time and safe (without huge maintenance needs in the future), do you think that this option would be an optimal one?



Thanks a lot in advance,

Panos

 

[Walkers]

You want to create walls out of 2”x2” wire mesh and styrofoam?

 

[pkarampoul002]

You want to create walls out of 2”x2” wire mesh and styrofoam?

The engineer said that he has done this structure to multiple houses. I have also seen that in a lot of North Europe countries they have used these EPS panels for even exterior walls considering their thermal insulation features and light structure.

 

[beemerphile]

Location and climate?

 

[pkarampoul002]

Location and climate?

Small town in South Greece - no major weather phenomena. Summer months around 30-33 Celsium and rest of the year 10-20 degrees. Mild rainfalls during winter months and no strong winds.

 

[Toomanytools?]

I don't see the economy here with the materials being used. Both sides being metal, plus a wire mesh to hold cement, plus cement on both sides. The R value for the polystyrene is approximately 3.6 per inch so a 20cm wall would have an R value of 28. Then you are doing a double plaster interior wall with another layer of insulation. I'm not disputing the design but just seems expensive in both labor and material.

 

[Walkers]

Oh, they are panels. Your drawing leaves a little bit to be desired. I have seen the SIP panels used here with hood success. Nothing is structural though, so you need to have a super structure built, which can be more expensive than building a traditional frame structure.

 

[pkarampoul002]

I don't see the economy here with the materials being used. Both sides being metal, plus a wire mesh to hold cement, plus cement on both sides. The R value for the polystyrene is approximately 3.6 per inch so a 20cm wall would have an R value of 28. Then you are doing a double plaster interior wall with another layer of insulation. I'm not disputing the design but just seems expensive in both labor and material.

You are right on the materials. The economy here should be (as I understood at least) in the labor cost, as we are talking about EPS panels (almost pre-fabricated), so you are saving labor cost vs an alternative of bricks and mortar wall which would require more building time.

 

[pkarampoul002]

Oh, they are panels. Your drawing leaves a little bit to be desired. I have seen the SIP panels used here with hood success. Nothing is structural though, so you need to have a super structure built, which can be more expensive than building a traditional frame structure.

Correct - my bad forgot the most important aspect haha. The idea is to have a cement base & columns, and apply the SIP panels and slight rendering of the panels with plaster.

 

[pkarampoul002]

Correct - my bad forgot the most important aspect haha. The idea is to have a cement base & columns, and apply the SIP panels and slight rendering of the panels with plaster.

 

[pkarampoul002]

 

[Walkers]

It looks like a good plan. A little more slope to the roof might be nice.

 

[pkarampoul002]

It looks like a good plan. A little more slope to the roof might be nice.

thanks a lot !

 

[MushCreek]

You're basically making a SIP panel of sorts. Properly sealed, it should be very energy efficient. If the concrete columns go all the way through the wall to the inside, they will transfer heat, though. Make sure you have sufficient insulation in the roof/attic. In hot climates, that's critical.