The document outlines methods for ensuring energy efficiency in stone structures, focusing on airtightness and proper joint sealing during construction. It highlights specific practices for various connections within the building, including those between walls, roofs, and floors, emphasizing the importance of correct installation of insulation materials and sealing techniques. Additional references are provided for further guidelines on building regulations and energy efficiency standards.

1. Energy efficient connections in stone
houses
The sole responsibility for the content of this publication lies with the authors. It does not necessarily
reflect the opinion of the European Union. Neither the EASME nor the European Commission are
responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.
Reference: Aho Hanna, Korpi Minna (edit)
REALISATION OF AIR PROOF STRUCTURES AND CONNECTIONS IN RESIDENTIAL BUILDING
Tampere University of Technology, Research report 141, 100 p.

2. Energy efficient stone structures NB
• Structures are made airtight.
• Plastic insulations more common in stone houses.
During installation remember:
• At least 10-20 mm jointing margin along edges of the board.
• Tongue and groove joints foamed before attaching.
• Join to clean surfaces; clean insulation with compressed air;
remove paste from concrete surfaces.
• Join at least in two phases allowing airtight film to develop.
• The joints of vertical and horizontal structures are very
important. Heat and moisture deformations and long term
resistance must be considered in stone and timber structures.

3. Connection between concrete slab on ground
and exterior wall – At first exterior wall
1. Footing blocks coated on
both surfaces down to the
footing.
2. Bitumen-polymer membrane
glued to the ashlars and
turned on the floor insulation
and under the slab.
3. 10 mm-wide cellular
polyethylene strip fixed
between slab and wall.
4. Joint sealed with elastic
sealing compound because
of the shrinkage of the slab.
4
2
1
3

4. Ventilated base floor made of stone
1. The bitumen-polymer membrane is
installed under the wall as a capillary
break and to ensure the end joint is
vapour proof.
2. The horizontal joints between concrete
structure and foundation block are air
proof if concreting is made carefully.
3. Connections between elements are sealed
with plaster coat.
4. Air proof foil of timber wall is tightened
between the horizontal battening and the
base plate of wall.
5. The gap between the bottom of the wall
and the floor slab is sealed with
polyurethane foam.
4
2
1
3
5

5. Connection between timber roof and
stone wall eaves
1. A 1 metre-wide vapour
barrier membrane fitted
above the block wall.
2. When making the roof, the
vapour barrier of the wall is
overlapped with the vapour
proofing of the roof.
3. The connection is pressed
tight with the screw
fastening (k300) of the
horizontal battening.
2
1
3

6. Sealing the connection between a timber
roof and stone exterior walls with a
vapour barrier membrane
1. A vapour proof plastic strip is
set over an ashlar wall.
2. The strip is stapled to the
batten from inside until building
the ceiling starts. The batten is
also another compression
batten in the connection.
3. The vapour-proof foil is
overlapped with the vapour
proofing of the roof and is
pressed between battens using
separate screw battens (screw
fastening k300)
3
1
2

7. Connection between an insulated block
wall and a timber roof–levelling under
the head plate
1. The air barrier foil of the roof is
tightened against the header
course by battening (screw
fastening k300).
2. The roof truss is levelled under
the head plate of the wall and
the gap between the head plate
and ashlar is foamed.
2
1

8. Connection between an insulated block
wall and a timber roof–levelling over the
head course
1. The air barrier foil of the roof is
tightened against the header course
by battening (screw fastening k300).
2. When roof truss is levelled over the
head plate of the wall, the
chamfered header course is installed
over the ashlar wall. The gap is
foamed.
2
1

9. Vapour proofing of a roof with a
cellular plastics insulation panel
1. Roof truss is levelled
under the header plate
2. Polyurethane foaming
between the board,
header plate and ashlar.
2
1

10. Sealing and joints between exterior stone
walls and a timber roof - diagonal ceiling
1. A batten, parallel to the roof, is
fastened to the end wall by a
spacer
2. The vapour-proof foil of the
roof is pressed between the
batten fastened to the wall and
the counterforts of the gable
end (screw fastening k300).
3. The gap between the spacers,
the counterfort and the ashlar
is sealed with polyurethane
foam.
2
1
3

11. Connection between concrete sandwich
elements and hollow core slabs:
non-bearing wall
1. Airtightness of the joint
is ensured with welded
or glued bitumen-
polymer membrane.
1

12. Joints between exterior walls of
lightweight concrete house and roof:
eaves.
1. The connection is sealed
with foam.
2. Seal is made sure with
elastic caulking.
3. It is recommended to install
200 mm stick-on bitumen-
polymer membrane strips
over the roof element
junctions.
2
3
1

13. 23
Sealing window frames
1. The window is sealed with
polyurethane foam
2. A ventilation gap should be
left at the outer edge of
window
3. The polyurethane foam
junction should come up to
the gap between the inner
leaf of the element and the
frame
2 3
1

14. Consider: What are the critical work phases
in an apartment building construction site
concerning energy efficiency and quality?
• Caulking and sealing gaps of the heat insulation in the
elements.
• Making concrete element joints airtight
• Fastening and jointing heat insulation that is installed on
site
• Covering the floating works of the base floor and the
external walls
• Taking cross-measures of the windows and doors;
adjusting the entrance and jointing and caulking the
frames
• Sealing joints of vertical and horizontal structures and
considering the transformations

15. Remember
• Thermal insulation tight against the frame and surfaces
• Soft thermal insulation with light pressure
• Hard thermal insulation foamed 1-2 times around. The gap for
foam should be 10 – 25 mm.
• Vapour-proof foil should not break. It should be stalled in such a
way that movement of the frame is allowed.
• The joints of vapour-proof foil should be pressure fastened if
possible.
• In concrete houses, the lower joint is the most critical joint. In
some cases the plaster coat of the floor also seals the joint.
• The structures should be tight for decades. When choosing
materials, consider, for example, vapour-proof tapes.
• Taping alone is not enough because tapes perish and do not
withstand movements due to heat, moisture and snow load.

16. The good practices and principles required for the energy efficient building have been
included in the teaching material. The writers are not responsible for their suitability to
individual building projects as such. The individual building projects have to be made
according to the building design of the targets in question.

17. Literature (in Finnish)
RakMK C2. 1998. Kosteus, määräykset ja ohjeet 1998. Suomen rakentamismääräyskokoelma, Ympäristöministeriö, Asunto- ja rakennusosasto.
RakMK D3. 2007. Ympäristöministeriön asetus rakennusten energiatehokkuudesta. Suomen rakentamismääräyskokoelma, Ympäristöministeriö, Asunto- ja
rakennusosasto.
RIL107 2000 Rakennusten veden- ja kosteudeneristysohjeet. 211 sivua. ISBN 951-758-404-0
Maanvastaisten alapohjarakenteiden kosteustekninen toimivuus. Leivo, V., Rantala, J. TTKK 2003. Tutkimusraportti 120. 106 s. + 13 liites.
Hirsirakennuksen yläpohjan tiiviys - vaikutus lämpöenergiankulutukseen. Leivo, V. TTY 2003. Tutkimusraportti 126. 63 s
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Käkelä, P. TTY 2005. Tutkimusraportti 129. 101 s. + 211 liites.
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Korpi, M., Vinha, J. ja Kurnitski J. Massiivirakenteisten pientalojen ilmanpitävyys.
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