SATE / Insulation

Building preparation. Supports

We will pay special attention to the cohesion, stability, planimetry, resistance and cleanliness of the facade where the SATE thermal insulation system is to be installed. In order to achieve maximum adherence of the facade, any imperfections it may have should be corrected.

Brick, stone, concrete or existing plaster are the different supports where the installation of a thermal insulation SATE can be carried out. For this reason, we carry out an exhaustive analysis of which will be the most suitable system depending on the typology of the building and the existing support.

Start-up profiles

It is recommended to place the starting profile at the lower limit of the area to be covered, anchoring it to the substrate by means of screws, spacers and connectors, with a 3 mm spacing between them, facilitating the starting of the insulation assembly and guaranteeing its horizontality. It includes a dripper that guarantees the vertical drainage of the water avoiding its return.

Installation of insulation boards

There is a wide variety of insulating panels approved for the SATE system. We find from EPS in white or with graphite particles (EPS-G), extruded polystyrene XPS panels and rock wool. In addition to the most ecological ones made of cork or wood chips.

Adhesive material will be applied to the panel in sticks and placed by pressure against the substrate, starting from the starting profile already in place, with a joint breaker. Subsequently, after the adhesive has dried, mechanical fastening is carried out by means of PVC dowels with circular heads.

To ensure a perfect meeting of the plates at the singular points, the use of a hot wire cutting table is recommended.

Mortar application

In this phase, the SATE accessories are installed. This consists of a wide range of solutions such as edge protection with mesh for the edges, drips for lintels, profiles for sales frames or expansion joints, among others, all of which are fastened with a thin film of SATE adhesive mortar. Then another layer of adhesive mortar is applied to the entire surface of the insulation of between 1 and 2 mm. thick to place by pressure the approved mesh for SATE of 160 gr/m2.

Once this layer is dry, a second layer of adhesive mortar will be applied to achieve the 4 mm. thickness approved by the system and regularize the surface for the subsequent placement of the chosen finish. The surface will be worked in fresh to trowel it and leave it homogeneous.

Placement of the decorative finish

To finish the process, the chosen decorative finish will be applied. There is a wide range of possibilities, although the most common is the finish with acrylic or colored mineral mortar, with textures differentiated according to granulometry and with an extensive catalog of colors. A layer of primer is applied as a bonding bridge and the surface is then troweled.

Other finishing options, ranging from fine lime-based stuccos to ceramic tile cladding adhered with highly flexible cementitious adhesives, provide the SATE system with great versatility.

Influence of the SATE on energy efficiency

The facade of a house withstands all weather conditions throughout the year. In winter, heat is lost from the interior of homes, while in summer fresh air is lost. Consequently, a greater effort is made in air conditioning, increasing energy costs.

To balance these losses, minimizing them, and increase both their energy efficiency and insulation capacity, the SATE system is used in facade rehabilitation and in new construction projects. In relation to new construction, in 2019 the new Technical Building Code (CTE) came into force, increasing energy efficiency levels.
In this aspect, the SATE system is the perfect type of insulation to meet all the requirements of the CTE since the type of insulating panel can be adapted, as well as its thickness according to the thermal transmittance of the project and it also offers great possibilities of decorative finishes.