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Insulating over exterior brick – Do’s and Dont’s?

user-6901433 | Posted in Energy Efficiency and Durability on

Hello, short time lurker, first time poster.

My wife and I bought a small pre-WWII home last fall. Sadly it was built in an era where the very concept of insulation and efficiency were unheard of.

It’s a 1.5 story house approximately 1250 sqft. Double brick exterior. My goal is to energy retrofit as much as possible over the next 2-3yrs. That will start with insulating the attic this fall but I need a solution for the walls.

Insulating from the inside won’t be an option as it’s plaster / lathe and then brick so… my research has brought me to the idea of insulating the exterior via an EIFS (with drainage) system overtop of the exterior brick, which is in rough shape to begin with although structurally fine.

Am I on the right track? Would this be an exorbitant cost vs. some other alternative? I’m in the Southern Ontario region, quite a bit of rain in the summer and moderately cold winters.

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Replies

  1. GBA Editor
    Martin Holladay | | #1

    User-6901433,
    You are on the right track. With an older brick building like the one you describe, exterior insulation makes much more sense than interior insulation.

    EIFS is the simplest approach. EIFS contractors will handle the tricky details (foam attachment issues and water management issues), and EIFS contractors are well trained and certified these days. So call up an EIFS contractor for a bid.

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