Comparing the materials...
When it comes to insulating a façade, the main question is almost always the same:
which is better – polystyrene or mineral wool, and how do they work together with KORDEKO flexible tiles?
Both materials have been used for façade systems for decades, but each has its own strengths and limitations. Let’s look at them one by one.
1. Expanded polystyrene (EPS): maximum warmth on a minimal budget
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is most often chosen when you care about:
- low price per m²,
- high thermal insulation,
- easy installation.
Advantages of polystyrene
🔹 Affordable cost – the most economical façade insulation option.
🔹 Good thermal performance – at the right thickness (usually 80–100 mm) the house keeps heat well in winter and stays cool in summer.
🔹 Low weight – does not overload the walls and foundation.
🔹 Easy to work with – cuts easily, glues and anchors quickly.
🔹 Good thermal performance – at the right thickness (usually 80–100 mm) the house keeps heat well in winter and stays cool in summer.
🔹 Low weight – does not overload the walls and foundation.
🔹 Easy to work with – cuts easily, glues and anchors quickly.
Disadvantages
🔸 Low vapour permeability – the walls “breathe” less, so good house ventilation is important.
🔸 Fire behaviour – polystyrene is a combustible material and needs a correct façade “cake”: adhesive, reinforced layer, safe mineral finish.
🔸 Sensitive to UV and solvents – must always be protected with plaster or cladding.
🔸 Fire behaviour – polystyrene is a combustible material and needs a correct façade “cake”: adhesive, reinforced layer, safe mineral finish.
🔸 Sensitive to UV and solvents – must always be protected with plaster or cladding.
Polystyrene + KORDEKO flexible tiles
For polystyrene the ideal combination is: reinforced layer with mesh + adhesive + KORDEKO flexible tiles.
Such a system:
- Protects the insulation from sun and mechanical damage.
- Increases fire safety, because the combustible layer is enclosed by mineral layers.
- Gives the façade the look of natural stone or brick without extra weight.
2. Mineral wool: comfort, quiet and fire safety
Mineral wool (stone wool) is chosen by those who focus on:
- fire safety,
- high vapour permeability,
- additional sound insulation.
Advantages of mineral wool
🔹 Non-combustible material – at high temperatures it does not support burning and increases the fire rating of the façade.
🔹 “Breathing” walls – allows water vapour to pass through; moisture leaves the wall, reducing the risk of condensation inside the insulation layer.
🔹 Better sound insulation – the house becomes noticeably quieter.
🔹 Dimensional stability – with correct installation there are fewer deformations over time.
🔹 “Breathing” walls – allows water vapour to pass through; moisture leaves the wall, reducing the risk of condensation inside the insulation layer.
🔹 Better sound insulation – the house becomes noticeably quieter.
🔹 Dimensional stability – with correct installation there are fewer deformations over time.
Disadvantages
🔸 Higher price than polystyrene for the same thickness of insulation.
🔸 More demanding installation – requires proper wind and vapour protection and careful fitting of boards without gaps.
🔸 If not protected correctly, it can absorb water, which reduces thermal performance – this is why the complete façade system is essential.
🔸 More demanding installation – requires proper wind and vapour protection and careful fitting of boards without gaps.
🔸 If not protected correctly, it can absorb water, which reduces thermal performance – this is why the complete façade system is essential.
Mineral wool + KORDEKO flexible tiles
A façade system with mineral wool and KORDEKO offers:
- Maximum fire safety – non-combustible insulation covered with a reinforced mineral layer and flexible tiles.
- Comfortable indoor climate – walls that “breathe”, moisture moves outward.
- Better acoustics – street noise is significantly reduced.
With mineral wool it is crucial to:
- choose the correct adhesives and anchors;
- carefully install the reinforced layer with fiberglass mesh;
- follow the technology to avoid thermal bridges.
3. Comparing the materials: polystyrene vs mineral wool
3.1. Price
- Polystyrene: cheaper, optimal for tight budgets and large façades.
- Mineral wool: more expensive, but offers extra benefits in comfort, safety and sound.
If your main goal is the lowest cost per m², polystyrene is usually chosen.
If you focus on comfort and safety, many people prefer mineral wool.
3.2. Thermal insulation
- Both materials, at properly calculated thickness, provide comparable thermal insulation.
- Here what matters more is:
- the thickness calculation,
- absence of gaps and thermal bridges,
- the quality of the reinforced layer.
3.3. Fire performance
- Polystyrene – combustible, but in façade systems it is protected by mineral layers; following the correct technology is essential.
- Mineral wool – non-combustible, the ideal choice for buildings with strict fire-safety requirements (apartment blocks, public buildings, commercial spaces, etc.).
3.4. Compatibility with KORDEKO flexible tiles
Both polystyrene and mineral wool are fully compatible with KORDEKO flexible stone/tiles, if you follow the wet-façade technology:
- Insulation (EPS or mineral wool).
- Adhesive + fiberglass reinforcing mesh.
- Levelling and primer.
- Final finish – KORDEKO flexible tiles applied with the correct adhesive.
The difference is that:
- polystyrene allows a more economical system with decorative stone façade;
- mineral wool provides a more “premium” system in performance – safer, more comfortable and quieter.
4. Which insulation is right for you?
Choose polystyrene if:
- you need the most affordable insulated façade system;
- your house is in a standard residential area without special requirements;
- you want a quick result with a warm façade + decorative finish with flexible tiles.
Choose mineral wool if:
- fire safety is critical for you;
- you want breathable walls and a comfortable indoor climate;
- your house is next to a busy road and you need better sound insulation;
- you are planning a façade “for decades” and are ready to invest a bit more.
In both cases KORDEKO is the ideal finish:
you get a warm façade with the look of stone, brick or wood, without cracks and frequent repainting.
5. Why insulation + KORDEKO flexible tiles is one complete system
Important to understand:
insulation alone is only half of the solution.
A warm, durable and beautiful façade is always a system:
- Correct choice of insulation (polystyrene or mineral wool).
- Professional installation: adhesive, anchors, reinforcing mesh.
- Careful preparation of the substrate.
- Reliable finish – KORDEKO flexible tiles with PletaFlex technology.
Such a system:
- reduces heating bills;
- protects walls from moisture and temperature changes;
- gives the house the look of natural stone or brick;
- works for many years without major repairs.
Need help choosing insulation and a façade system?
Write to us: send the house type, façade photos and approximate area.
The KORDEKO team will help you choose the optimal option: polystyrene or mineral wool + flexible tiles, calculate an estimated cost and find solutions to match your budget.
KORDEKO Contacts
📱 Phone: +37368140333
🌐 Website: www.kordekoro.md
📧 Email: kordeko.md@gmail.com