What materials should I choose for the masonry of my house?

To get the best thermal insulation value and to construct a sturdy and long-lasting house, it makes sense to research the best masonry materials to use. Several guidelines will help you figure out the trade-offs that are necessary for you to reduce your energy consumption (and recycling), maintain a high quality of life in your home, and eliminate or at least lessen the impact of any construction limitations.

The primary materials used in masonry, along with their benefits and drawbacks

Bricks and cinder blocks are two prevalent alternates

Because of its durability, affordability, and low carbon footprint, brick is one of the most well-known materials (to fire and frost, among others). On the other hand, it needs to be combined with adequate insulation for the building to meet the stringent thermal requirements that exist in Luxembourg.

Traditional hollow bricks or single wall bricks can also be used. The lack of insulation for the former means that the latter will be insufficient.

According to the authors, "Breeze block is one of the most well-known materials: it is used a lot because of its low price, low carbon footprint, and resilience."

Wood and cellular concrete are more ambitious materials that require less insulation

In the same way that metal buildings need extra insulation, wooden ones do as well, but they can be erected quickly and with little hassle (no lengthy drying times are to be anticipated).

Cellular concrete, however, is still the best option if you want the best possible insulation as soon as the first exterior walls are installed. It's lightweight and has a high reputation for thermal conductivity, but it can only be used for structures with a maximum of two stories (not for residences, for example).

It doesn't matter if you're constructing your home out of wood, concrete, or cinder blocks; you'll always need to insulate it. For instance, the insulation for a wall constructed of wood, which is relatively effective, is placed directly between the supporting posts, resulting in a wall that is only 40 centimeters thick. If you use less efficient materials, you'll need to insulate the building's exterior, which can quickly cause your walls to grow to be 50 centimeters thick.

Which interior walls should I install?

When the outside walls are up, it's time to think about the interior walls. In this case, health is more of a concern than heat retention. Some may opt for non-removable, solid, perforated, or fixed options in order to design spaces that are ideally suited to their needs.

Room dividers for bathrooms with standing water

Partitions with a high moisture threshold are ideal for use in damp locations like the bathroom, where condensation can cause serious problems elsewhere in the house.

Modular, detachable walls

Removable walls are gaining popularity because they allow people to arrange their living space in any way they like, according to their needs and preferences.

“More and more people are showing an interest in removable partitions due to their convenience and the independence they provide”.

Drywall

Drywall, which may be constructed from plaster, brick, or aerated concrete, is used to create a solid wall between two rooms. For example, some citations are created in a way that maximizes their ability to dampen outside noise.

Aesthetically pleasing and functional partitions

In addition to being an ideal choice for water rooms, glass partitions are a clever way to let light into dark corners of the home without sacrificing privacy. Furthermore, plants are used to create genuine plant partitions, or "thematic" partitions, in specialized settings, such as a Japanese-style room or an artist's studio. Everyone has complete leeway to do as they please.

It's plain to see that the exterior walls and the interior walls are constructed from different materials. Seek the guidance of skilled artisans if you want to avoid common pitfalls.