In internal thermal insulation, thermal insulation plates are placed inside the walls or ceiling of a house or business premises. This has the result that this space quickly acquires the desired level of heating or cooling, but does not maintain it as effectively as in the case of the thermal facade application.

The reason for this difference between the two systems is the heat capacity of a building’s shell. By the term heat capacity we refer to the property of the shell to absorb radiation and to dissipate its heat in the space it encloses. The thermal facade takes advantage of this property, due to the fact that it is applied to the external walls of a building.

In any case, before deciding whether you need external or internal thermal insulation, you should consult a wall insulation professional. After taking into account the special needs of your own space, he will be able to guide you so that you can make the most advantageous choice.

Let’s analyze the main disadvantages:

1. Not applicable to all buildings.
Unfortunately, one of the disadvantages of the thermal facade is that it cannot be applied to all buildings. For example, in buildings whose facades have a strong external morphological interest, such as a neoclassical house or a church, the thermal facade will significantly alter their appearance, which is why it is avoided.

In addition, there are areas where it is not allowed to interfere with the external appearance of the houses at all, because they create an aesthetically unified whole. One such area is the Plaka area in the center of Athens.

2. Scaffolding will be required.
Another of the disadvantages of thermal facades is that it is very likely that scaffolding will need to be placed on the outside of the house to make the external thermal insulation. This can slightly increase the total cost, although in the case of a house where the surface exceeds 100 m2, the cost of the scaffolding can be absorbed into the total cost. However, an important factor to consider is whether it is possible to place scaffolding on the outside of the building. It is necessary for the space to be large to accommodate the scaffolding. Otherwise, external thermal insulation is not feasible and internal thermal insulation is the only solution.

3. It costs more than internal thermal insulation.
It is often heard that the high cost is one of the biggest disadvantages of thermal facades. Nowadays, however, external and internal thermal insulation have approximately the same price. Sometimes, internal thermal insulation may be slightly more economical, as is roof waterproofing.

However, the benefits of thermal facade are of greater value. For this reason, the thermal facade is more advantageous and is mainly preferred as a means of permanent and efficient protection of the walls.