When you look at your finished home, you want it to look stylish and have a curb appeal that makes you proud. Furthermore, your choice of material should serve a functional purpose that improves your home’s comfort and adaptability. Hebel panels are an alternative to traditional masonry products, but how do they measure up to these other building materials? In this article, we’re taking a closer look at Hebel facades, their pros and cons and what they bring to the table. With our help, you’ll have the information to decide whether Hebel is the right choice for you.
What is Hebel?
Hebel is an autoclaved aerated concrete made from a mixture of materials including cement, sand and limestone. It’s a versatile building material that is usually available as planks or tiles and can be used for external walls, the interior of a building and various other uses. It’s often considered an affordable option in comparison to brick, with one Hebel powerpanel being equivalent to 75 traditional bricks in terms of area. Hebel can be installed onto a timber or steel frame of a house.
What are the benefits of a hebel facade?
- Strong and durable
- Lighter than brick and stone, which makes it easier to transport and install.
- More affordable than other materials (especially stone, brick and concrete).
- Can be installed quickly and easily, saving you both time and labour costs.
- No weep holes, which could potentially allow vermin to enter your home (this is a potential problem with brick homes).
- Resistant to mould, rot and termites.
- Provides good sound and thermal insulation.
What are the drawbacks of a hebel facade?
- Has a higher level of maintenance than materials like brick.
- Vulnerable to cracking
- Hebel is a relatively new building material (compared to timber and brick) and therefore its durability hasn’t been tested to the same extent.
How much does a hebel facade cost?
The cost of Hebel will vary depending on the size of the panels you’re purchasing and the size of the building you’re working with. Powerpanels can range from between $60-100 each. Installing a hebel facade on a double-storey home will cost around $10,000-$15,000 less than building the same sized house with brick. For single-storey home, expect to make a saving of around $5,000-$8,000.
How does a hebel facade perform?
Weather resistance
Hebel holds up well against a range of weather conditions, including heavy rain, hail and fire. When it comes to both hot and cold climates, Hebel provides excellent thermal insulation to keep your home warm on cold nights and cooler during those scorching summers.
Sound insulation
Along with providing your home with excellent thermal insulation, Hebel provides strong soundproofing to your home. Hebel products contain air pockets that help with providing soundproofing and thermal insulation. Many contractors believe Hebel is potentially superior to brick in this regard, but part of this will come down to the design of your home and how well everything is designed.
Mould resistance
Mould is kind of like the cockroach of plants; it can survive just about anywhere. A hebel home can certainly have mould given the right conditions. Mould thrives most when organic matter or moisture is present, so minimising humidity inside the home is key to reducing your chances of mould. Cleaning the outside of your home will help with outside mould. If you spot any signs of mould, it’s important to address them sooner rather than later.
Durability
One of the main reasons people choose brick over Hebel is because the former is more durable and has more loading strength than the latter. This isn’t to suggest your whole home will collapse if it’s made with Hebel, however, brick may be more reliable should you want to install features that require your wall to support them. If you have something in mind – for example, you may want to install a clothesline that hangs on your wall – have a chat with your builder about it and get their opinion on whether it is feasible with Hebel.
How much maintenance and cleaning is required for a hebel facade?
Like weatherboards, Hebel can look dirty quickly if you don’t regularly clean it, especially if you decide to go with a lighter colour. The best way to combat this is to regularly wash and clean your home, particularly after a heavy storm, dirt storm or anything that may cover your home in gunk.
Are Hebel facades sustainable options?
Hebel facades do have some eco-friendly benefits including:
- Shorter installation times.
- Strong insulation qualities that will lower energy needs.
- The manufacturing process has a relatively low environmental impact.
What are the key differences between Hebel facade vs other material options?
There are a lot of building materials out there, so you may be wondering how Hebel stacks up against its competition. The truth is there isn’t one material that’s “the best”, rather there are materials that are better for your specific project than others. Let’s take a look at how hebel compares to some of the most popular building materials on the market.
Brick
- Hebel products are easier to install than brick
- Hebel is also more affordable.
- Brick has a classic, traditional look many people adore.
- Brick has a durability Hebel hasn’t yet proven to have.
- While brick has been a proven building product for centuries, Hebel is relatively new and while it has performed well, it just doesn’t have the same history backing it up.
Stone
- Stone is arguably the most durable material available, with some of the oldest man-made structures being built through masonry.
- However, stone is also one of – if not the – most expensive building material. It is simply way out of a lot of homeowners’ budgets, especially as an option for an entire façade.
- Hebel is much more affordable than stone.
- Hebel is also lighter, and easier to transport and install. This means lower labour costs for you.
Timber
- Timber is one of the most readily available building materials. This can save you money on delivery and transport costs.
- It is also vulnerable to rot and termites, something Hebel isn’t.
- Timber can be one of the most affordable materials on the market.
Our tips for choosing a facade for your new home
- Consider if there’s a material that reflects your personality or the character you want your home to reflect.
- Remember, your house is about the sum of its parts. The exterior of your home needs to compliment the inside and everything needs to work as one.
- Think about the environment. Facades have functional purposes beyond aesthetics. For example, in hot environments, you’ll want material that will assist in cooling your home down on those scorching days.
Buildi is here to help
Looking for help with your next build? Anyone who has built a home before will tell you how overwhelming it can be and that they learnt a lot from their mistakes. But what if there was a way you could have the inside knowledge that comes from experience without having to actually make the mistakes yourself? Buildi is a building broker and client advocate, and our job is to make your building journey an easier, smoother and more productive experience. We’re here to give power back to the consumer!
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