EMEKA MG is able to propose the ideal solution for your home needs. Experienced engineers ensure the optimal solution, the correct application and the excellent aesthetic result in order to achieve the energy upgrade of your property. In this way, energy savings are achieved, and problems such as mold and humidity due to the temperature difference and the creation of condensation in indoor spaces are addressed.

Thanks to our excellent quality materials and fully trained crews, EMEKA MG guarantees:

• Elimination of the possibility of mold.
• Savings of up to 40% in heating and cooling costs.
• Feeling of thermal comfort.
• Quick depreciation of the initial expense.
• Excellent aesthetic result.

1. What thermal façade materials are there and what is proposed?

The materials used are three:

• Expanded polystyrene EPS
• Extruded XPS polystyrene
• Stone wool

For thermal façade, basically in Greece, as in most European countries, the graphite expanded polystyrene EPS (gray styrofoam) is used. Extruded XPS polystyrene is mainly applied on roofs, as well as in the bounce zone, while stone wool is an ecological and fireproof material that due to cost is used less.

2. How long do the work last?

The duration of completion of a thermal façade work can take from 3 days or more due to the stages required until its completion.

The stages required are:

• Surface preparation.
• Gluing polystyrene plates with thermal façade glue.
• Mechanical fastening of plates with plugs.
• Encasement of alkalimachos fiberglass mesh (reinforcement) and special pieces-corner capitals with thermal façade glue in two hands.
• Priming of the surface to adjust the absorbency and enhance the adhesion of the final decorative layer.
• Final coating with elastic colored plaster and shaping of the finished surface.

3. Thermal façade internally or externally?

The logic on which the thermal façade is based concerns the protection of structural elements and the optimal exploitation of their thermal capacity. As is logical, therefore, the solution that provides us with this advantage is the external thermal façade. In this way, we take advantage of the heat capacity of the building elements that act as a receiver of thermal energy while heating or cooling the space, but also as a transmitter, releasing the thermal energy they have absorbed.

The thermal façade internally is suitable in areas where heating and cooling we want to be done quickly and for a limited time.

4. What factors contribute to the right energy upgrade?

The thermal transmittance coefficient (U) depends on the thickness of the thermal insulation material (d) and the thermal conductivity coefficient (λ): U=λ/d. The lower this coefficient, the better thermal insulation we have. The coefficient of thermal resistance (R) indicates how difficult heat passes and is the inverse of U. Therefore, the larger the R, the better thermally insulated a structural element is.

As is easy, we conclude that the most important element that contributes to optimal energy efficiency is the thickness of the thermal insulation material, as the difference in the values of the thermal conductivity coefficient does not vary greatly from material to material.

The usual thickness found in Greece due to KENAK is from 7cm to 10cm, R>1,8. In the city of Thessaloniki the thickness of 8cm is mainly used, while the coefficient of thermal conductivity of graphite expanded polystyrene ranges around λ=0.031.

5. Is a small-scale permit required for the external thermal façade?

The external thermal façade occupies some meters that alter the floor plan of our property. These changes are mentioned in the small-scale permit and therefore we are protected in case an engineer needs to issue a certificate of legality for the possible sale or transfer of the property. The use of scaffolding also requires the issuance of a small-scale permit.