Cemix systems give new life to a listed building in the heart of Sopron

Special attention to facade details

The renovation of the old Paprét facade started at the end of 2023, while the insulation of the new wing on Bridge Street started in September 2024 and the clinker cladding started in October. The cladding works were completed in February 2025, with the full works expected to be completed in autumn 2025. Currently the external works are at a completion level of approximately 85%.

The façade design was driven by both technical and aesthetic considerations. Façade flatness was of paramount importance, with a maximum deviation of 5 mm allowed in the 2×2 m grid spaces. This required particular precision in the construction, insulation and cladding.

Aesthetically, the movement gaps had to be positioned to visually match the rhythm of the façade - they were designed to match the eyebrow lines of the windows. The design of the vertical edges was also given special attention: the horizontal meeting of the running rows of clinker elements was essential for both appearance and quality of fit.

System guarantee with Cemix solutions

The Cemix systems were chosen for the facade insulation and cladding work, not only because of the product quality, but also because of the system guarantee provided by the manufacturer. This was particularly important in the case of large, high building facades. The contractor worked closely with Cemix experts to develop the appropriate solutions based on their recommendations regarding layer order and material quality.

The size and weight of the tiles determined the design of the whole insulation system. It was chosen accordingly:

• a dense woven glass fibre mesh of above-average strength,
• the hydraulically bonding, thin-bed, flexible cladding adhesive,
• the frost-resistant, crack-free grout,
• and the dowels that fix the insulation.

The Cemix systems have been used on a variety of surfaces: some on block brick, but mostly on monolithic reinforced concrete structures. Insulation boards applied using point-per-em technology provided stable adhesion and prevented air movement behind the system. The cladding was dilated up to a maximum of 15 m² and the gaps were filled with flexible, weather-resistant material.

Special solutions for listed parts

No thermal insulation system was used on the facades protected as historical monuments, but instead Cemix 2111 Renti Fein fine-grained facade plaster. This product has excellent vapour permeability and adhesion, produces a smooth, even texture and complies with heritage protection regulations.

The ease of application of the render was particularly beneficial on sensitive, detailed parts of the building.

Clinker brick thermal insulation on the facade of a public building

Gergő Grosz, the regional project manager of the Cemix project, also reported on the details of the technical solution. "A special façade insulation system was used for the project, with clinker bricks bonded to the finishing layer instead of the traditional thin concrete facade," he said. He added:

"Given that this is a public institution, it was a prerequisite that a system with a national technical evaluation was chosen, i.e. ÉMI was tested for fire propagation. Our clinker brick façade insulation system has such approval, so the investor and general contractor chose this solution."

As he said, energy regulations now require buildings to be insulated, but these systems can only be used if they are also fire rated. "We were able to provide a complete, certified system of layers that meets these requirements."

Special layering, with own products

„The contractor used our adhesive called 2222 STYROKLEBER Extra, which we recommend for our system,” he continued. "This was used to fix the thermal insulation boards and to embed the glass fibre mesh. In this case, the dowelling was not done in the usual order: first, the adhesive patch and mesh were applied, then dowels were inserted through them so that the crusted surface would hold the layers together and be even more resistant to wind suction and other mechanical effects."

STR U 2G metal screw anchors (https://www.cemix.hu/hu/p/id/80962) were also used to secure the boards as part of the Cemix's own system.

"The clinker bricks are fixed with double smear, S1 rated adhesive and the cladding is grouted - essential for durability and longevity. The necessary grout gaps and expansion joints were created and filled with flexible silicone."

Long-term partnership

According to the contractor, the experience with Cemix products so far has been positive: the high quality, easy-to-handle materials have allowed for a quick and smooth construction. Long-term durability is guaranteed by the professional cooperation with the manufacturer and the professional workmanship. The relationship between the contractor and Cemix was smooth: all questions were answered quickly and professionally by the experts assigned to the project.

The contractors are confident that the jointly implemented technical solutions and well-chosen products will prove their quality in the long term.

„We have been working with Szabó és Társa Kft. for a long time, and our WTA EUROSAN plaster systems on several historic building projects in Sopron. During the current project, we also worked together on several site consultations to determine the final layer order, taking into account the customer's expectations, aesthetic and technical considerations, as well as our system licence.”

- added Gergő Grósz.