Exterior application systems for façades for solving hygrothermic functional and formal problems

Abstract

The present state of real solutions to the problems presented by the rehabilitation of façades, recently taken up by Spanish legislation, is examined in this study. Despite the fact that the systems herein examined are valid for the entire country, the study centres upon those which have been implanted, or are in the process of being implanted, in the city of Madrid. This is due to the fact that the authors try to offer a perspective on the subject in question taken from their own experience, thus avoiding any theorizing not backed up by extensive professional practice After an attempt to evaluate the numerical magnitude of the problem —an effort which gives an idea of its economic importance to the construction sector— the study centres on the analysis of the basic conditioning factors which affect rehabilitation, elaborating a systemized classification of possible solutions in terms of two basic parametres: the existence of or lack of a ventilated space (chambre), and the greater or lesser lightness of the finishing materials. This classification incorporates practically all the systems which are present I y being experimented with, thus making it a descriptive and comparative study of existing solutions. Among others, the suitability of systems with the ventilated space to the exterior of the isolation is pointed out; and among these, those using heavy finishing materials capable of withstanding any mechanical, climatic, chemical or other type of aggression which might be suffered by the rehabilitated structure. Nevertheless, the advantages and disadvantages of all systems are noted, and in such a way that the project designer can be assured of the maximum amount of data possible when it comes time to decide on one or the other system for each specific problem.