A technical and economic analysis of the thermal modernization of historic buildings using an innovative thermal insulating paint

Abstract

In Poland, after World War II and after the period of devastating post-war communist occupation, the majority of historic buildings had ceased to exist, and currently there are few buildings of historical features. Those which have survived require due preservation, and particularly their facades should be preserved in their original form. This is the heritage that has survived to these days, and the descendants’ duty is to retain, maintain and preserve it (Wysoczarska, 2010). Not always is it possible to preserve the original facades of buildings. Some authors call the thermal modernisation method that has been extremely fashionable in recent years by the term thermal rape of historic buildings by covering their facades with expanded polystyrene. By doing this, the original appearance of, many times, very interesting buildings, such as those with the use of so-called Prussian wall, stone facades, or even red brick tenements, are obscured. And still, very often, it is these facades that tell us the whole story of the buildings, refl ecting the culture of a given region, etc. On the other hand, what we observe currently is a kind of longing for the beauty of the past (Popek & Romik, 2015). All cities worldwide are striving for restoring, e.g. their old towns in their original style and character, where people enjoy meeting, sitting and walking, thus being able to feel better and happier. And it is where the thermal modernisation of these buildings comes in, obscuring our view of their whole history. Some say, though, that the facades of old tenement buildings are chipped and dirty, and thus not worthy of being preserved. This only indicative of the culture of contemporary generation, and especially the current authorities of the city. Obviously, there Scientifi c Review – Engineering and Environmental Sciences (2019), 28 (2), 212–223 Sci. Rev. Eng. Env. Sci. (2019), 28 (2) Przegląd Naukowy – Inżynieria i Kształtowanie Środowiska (2019), 28 (2), 212–223 Prz. Nauk. Inż. Kszt. Środ. (2019), 28 (2) http://iks.pn.sggw.pl DOI 10.22630/PNIKS.2019.28.2.20