Q-Con Inside Or Outside Existing Wall?

[IsaanDaddy]

Hi. I live in the Korat area. We have a small store with non load bearing cinderblock walls. We will be installing air-con inside the store next month so I want to get Q-Con walls up to improve thermal efficiency. We will use the 7cm Q-Con blocks.

My question is this. For the best thermal effeciency, do I want to 1. tear down cinderblock wall and replace with Q-Con wall. Or 2. Install Q-Con wall inside cinderblock wall and leave old wall up. Or 3. Install Q-Con wall outside cinderblock wall and leave old wall up?

If possible a simple explanation of the thermal dynamics would be helpful.

[trogers]

Which direction is existing wall facing (N,S,E or W)? Is the old wall cracking or water leaking in?

Edited October 12, 2010 by trogers

[IsaanDaddy]

Which direction is existing wall facing (N,S,E or W)? Is the old wall cracking or water leaking in?

The existing wall faces south and has some shade from a 1m overhang and an adjacent building. It is in excellent condition. Other than being an excellent thermal conductor and having high thermal mass it is okay.

[katabeachbum]

Which direction is existing wall facing (N,S,E or W)? Is the old wall cracking or water leaking in?

The existing wall faces south and has some shade from a 1m overhang and an adjacent building. It is in excellent condition. Other than being an excellent thermal conductor and having high thermal mass it is okay.

best thermal insulation you get from insulation, 5 mm foam on roll. Cover up with interior gypsum sheets. save internal sqm with a thinner wall. paint exterior wall with heat reflecting paint (nanocoat)

Q Con is lousy quality, if you want aereated concrete block, use Superblock or C lite.

[IsaanDaddy]

Yeah, I think we were going to order something called D-lite. It has a groove around the block so you can use ordinary mortar.

That is a good option since the existing wall is only a few years old, is painted, and my wife really doesn't like the idea of tearing down the existing wall down. Although....I've seen plenty of gypsum walls back home, but never here in the jungle. Would dampness be a problem?

Edited October 12, 2010 by IsaanDaddy

[trogers]

Yeah, I think we were going to order something called D-lite. It has a groove around the block so you can use ordinary mortar.

That is a good option since the existing wall is only a few years old, is painted, and my wife really doesn't like the idea of tearing down the existing wall down. Although....I've seen plenty of gypsum walls back home, but never here in the jungle. Would dampness be a problem?

Gypsum is made from paper and white cement mix, and not suitable for damp conditions. Use Viva board instead, which is from compressed cement and wood fibre.

[trogers]

Which direction is existing wall facing (N,S,E or W)? Is the old wall cracking or water leaking in?

The existing wall faces south and has some shade from a 1m overhang and an adjacent building. It is in excellent condition. Other than being an excellent thermal conductor and having high thermal mass it is okay.

best thermal insulation you get from insulation, 5 mm foam on roll. Cover up with interior gypsum sheets. save internal sqm with a thinner wall. paint exterior wall with heat reflecting paint (nanocoat)

Q Con is lousy quality, if you want aereated concrete block, use Superblock or C lite.

I think that is a typo error. Should be 5 cm or 2 inches thick.

[Crossy]

I'm with those suggesting a drywall solution. Gypsum or Viva board on 2" metal or treated wood laths with fibre insulation will take up less of your room and give at least as good insulation as the QCON solution. Additionally it will be far quicker to install and possibly cheaper.

[bankruatsteve]

I'd go with Superblock on the inside of the cinder only b/c it's probably the least expensive option for the best insulation.. But, don't use regular mortar with that - you need the special mortar/glue (and very little is needed). Same for the plaster.

[Khun Jean]

I would think you need to keep the heat out and the cold in.

Best for that is to put some insulation on the outside and use the existing wall as a thermal mass to even out the cooling needs. And you keep all your interior space available, no need to make a mess in the store.

like this:

new outer wall, reflective foil, foam/fiber air barrier , existing wall.

Some extra shade to prevent direct sunlight on the walls would be great.

Edited October 12, 2010 by Khun Jean

[katabeachbum]

Yeah, I think we were going to order something called D-lite. It has a groove around the block so you can use ordinary mortar.

That is a good option since the existing wall is only a few years old, is painted, and my wife really doesn't like the idea of tearing down the existing wall down. Although....I've seen plenty of gypsum walls back home, but never here in the jungle. Would dampness be a problem?

Gypsum is made from paper and white cement mix, and not suitable for damp conditions. Use Viva board instead, which is from compressed cement and wood fibre.

Viva is good

gypsum is still most commonly used in ceilings

for bathrooms it should be "ganzum", a damp proof quality

Edited October 13, 2010 by katabeachbum

[katabeachbum]

Which direction is existing wall facing (N,S,E or W)? Is the old wall cracking or water leaking in?

The existing wall faces south and has some shade from a 1m overhang and an adjacent building. It is in excellent condition. Other than being an excellent thermal conductor and having high thermal mass it is okay.

best thermal insulation you get from insulation, 5 mm foam on roll. Cover up with interior gypsum sheets. save internal sqm with a thinner wall. paint exterior wall with heat reflecting paint (nanocoat)

Q Con is lousy quality, if you want aereated concrete block, use Superblock or C lite.

I think that is a typo error. Should be 5 cm or 2 inches thick.

5mm has the same thermal insulation as 75mm/3 inches of fiberwool

I use it in all ceilings, substantial saving on energy for aircon

check it out in homepro. several different products and makers

[Trex52]

Definitely leave the existing wall in place. Place the Q-con block leaving a dead air space between both. Think Thermos bottle or ice chest. If you need the space, build it outside....if you don't, build it inside the existing wall. You will have to think of anchoring it to the existing wall though to help support it vertically. Perhaps drill into mortar joints and place small rebar to hold AAC block steady. Use at least two courses of red brick or equivalent on the bottom before AAC block. I used this on a newly completed house and can really tell the difference. The real test will come in May, though. Good luck with it. trex

[trogers]

The existing wall faces south and has some shade from a 1m overhang and an adjacent building. It is in excellent condition. Other than being an excellent thermal conductor and having high thermal mass it is okay.

best thermal insulation you get from insulation, 5 mm foam on roll. Cover up with interior gypsum sheets. save internal sqm with a thinner wall. paint exterior wall with heat reflecting paint (nanocoat)

Q Con is lousy quality, if you want aereated concrete block, use Superblock or C lite.

I think that is a typo error. Should be 5 cm or 2 inches thick.

5mm has the same thermal insulation as 75mm/3 inches of fiberwool

I use it in all ceilings, substantial saving on energy for aircon

check it out in homepro. several different products and makers

True. But fibrewool has an additional property - sound insulation.

Edited October 13, 2010 by trogers

[katabeachbum]

True. But fibrewool has an additional property - sound insulation.

True, and flame resistant, but sucks and hold water. Choises, choises;)

[katabeachbum]

Definitely leave the existing wall in place. Place the Q-con block leaving a dead air space between both. Think Thermos bottle or ice chest. If you need the space, build it outside....if you don't, build it inside the existing wall. You will have to think of anchoring it to the existing wall though to help support it vertically. Perhaps drill into mortar joints and place small rebar to hold AAC block steady. Use at least two courses of red brick or equivalent on the bottom before AAC block. I used this on a newly completed house and can really tell the difference. The real test will come in May, though. Good luck with it. trex

AAC wall must be build on a beam, so the choise of inside/outside depends on where/if there is any beam to be found.

in addition, consider the extra weight double walls ad to buildings foundation. AAC blocks are lighter, but rendered still heavy

5mm foam on roll has thermal compared to 20 cm AAC, and weight with Viva or Gypsum boards is a fraction. So is buildingtime

[Trex52]

Definitely leave the existing wall in place. Place the Q-con block leaving a dead air space between both. Think Thermos bottle or ice chest. If you need the space, build it outside....if you don't, build it inside the existing wall. You will have to think of anchoring it to the existing wall though to help support it vertically. Perhaps drill into mortar joints and place small rebar to hold AAC block steady. Use at least two courses of red brick or equivalent on the bottom before AAC block. I used this on a newly completed house and can really tell the difference. The real test will come in May, though. Good luck with it. trex

AAC wall must be build on a beam, so the choise of inside/outside depends on where/if there is any beam to be found.

in addition, consider the extra weight double walls ad to buildings foundation. AAC blocks are lighter, but rendered still heavy

5mm foam on roll has thermal compared to 20 cm AAC, and weight with Viva or Gypsum boards is a fraction. So is buildingtime

If a wall is already in place, then there is probably a beam there as well. Putting AAC next to it would be plenty of support even with rendering. AAC blocks are incredibly light but would take additional time to construct. Choices....eh?