Hebel construction feedback

Lurgen · Jan 14, 2013 11:28 am

Hi all,

Does anybody have recent experience with a Hebel build? We're about to start on a Porter Davis Queenstown 33 and are quite attracted to the Hebel option but there seems to be very little information out there about it.

Some of the questions we haven't been able to find answers for include:
- Can a clothesline be mounted on it? (presumably the mount would need to go through to internal structure, but is this even possible given the thickness of the material?)
- What are the longer-term maintenance requirements (cleaning, touchup, etc)
- Does it perform as promised in terms of insulation (particularly sound)
- What does the inside of the garage end up looking like (two walls are typically raw brick in the design, perhaps these end up plastered?)

But overall I'm really interested in hearing feedback from people who have it. Are they happy, would they use it again?

PHunter · Jan 14, 2013 2:29 pm

Lurgen

Hi all,

Does anybody have recent experience with a Hebel build? We're about to start on a Porter Davis Queenstown 33 and are quite attracted to the Hebel option but there seems to be very little information out there about it.

Some of the questions we haven't been able to find answers for include:
- Can a clothesline be mounted on it? (presumably the mount would need to go through to internal structure, but is this even possible given the thickness of the material?)
- What are the longer-term maintenance requirements (cleaning, touchup, etc)
- Does it perform as promised in terms of insulation (particularly sound)
- What does the inside of the garage end up looking like (two walls are typically raw brick in the design, perhaps these end up plastered?)

But overall I'm really interested in hearing feedback from people who have it. Are they happy, would they use it again?

sorry can't really help you on your questions although does look interesting. The only downside for me with this option is that like render I assume you will be forced to paint the outside at least every 10 years or so and as I get later on in my years I know that I would want to avoid that. Otherwise looks like a good option would rather this as apposed to render.

MalinViktoria · Jan 14, 2013 3:13 pm

I know very little about it too, but stellabella has hebel on her house, here is her thread: http://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=59376&start=220

Lurgen · Jan 14, 2013 3:15 pm

Thanks MalinViktoria, I'll take a look through that thread now.

PHunter, those are exactly the sort of questions that the builder has been fairly vague about... 10 year repaint in particular.

ch0p · Jan 14, 2013 3:24 pm

hi, we built with hebel a few years back with M etricon:

Some of the questions we haven't been able to find answers for include:
[i]- Can a clothesline be mounted on it? (presumably the mount would need to go through to internal structure, but is this even possible given the thickness of the material?)[/i]

Yes but it will most likely 'give' after a period of time as hebel is not strong as brick/concrete. Depending on the fixing you use it will start too loosen up... I gave up and put some steel posts in concrete in the ground for the clothes line.

- What are the longer-term maintenance requirements (cleaning, touchup, etc)

Ours was finished with Dulux Acratex ?sp? it stained easily , I had to use high pressure spray to clean it....
When working in the garden I accident hit the wall with a spade, a chunk of it came off.... its very 'soft'. Its kinda like a 'aero chocolate bar'.

- Does it perform as promised in terms of insulation (particularly sound)

Contrary to what I was told 'cooler in summer, warmer in winter'... our home was very hot in summer , we had re-fridge cooling.

- What does the inside of the garage end up looking like (two walls are typically raw brick in the design, perhaps these end up plastered?)

Ours was plastered, so no different to other walls in the house.

For our next house, i went with Brick.

PHunter · Jan 14, 2013 4:18 pm

ch0p

hi, we built with hebel a few years back with M etricon:

Some of the questions we haven't been able to find answers for include:
[i]- Can a clothesline be mounted on it? (presumably the mount would need to go through to internal structure, but is this even possible given the thickness of the material?)[/i]

Yes but it will most likely 'give' after a period of time as hebel is not strong as brick/concrete. Depending on the fixing you use it will start too loosen up... I gave up and put some steel posts in concrete in the ground for the clothes line.

- What are the longer-term maintenance requirements (cleaning, touchup, etc)

Ours was finished with Dulux Acratex ?sp? it stained easily , I had to use high pressure spray to clean it....
When working in the garden I accident hit the wall with a spade, a chunk of it came off.... its very 'soft'. Its kinda like a 'aero chocolate bar'.

- Does it perform as promised in terms of insulation (particularly sound)

Contrary to what I was told 'cooler in summer, warmer in winter'... our home was very hot in summer , we had re-fridge cooling.

- What does the inside of the garage end up looking like (two walls are typically raw brick in the design, perhaps these end up plastered?)

Ours was plastered, so no different to other walls in the house.

For our next house, i went with Brick.

ohh based on that from what you say I'd avoid it, if it was me brick all the way, no render and hence no need to worry to repaint later on.

stellabella · Jan 14, 2013 9:17 pm

Hi! It's my thread that MV posted above

we are currently building a Hebel house, and living in my parents' house, which is also Hebel. The insulation is amazing, cool in summer and warm in winter - sorry to disagree ch0p! We moved here from a brick rendered house and I've definitely noticed a difference (even though the temperatures here are higher than our old town). Mum and Dad live out of town so there's not much noise here to insulate from

With regard to the clothesline, there is something special you have to do, some kind of reinforcement - I'm not sure what, as we are having a rotary clothesline so I didn't find out any more info yet. Your builder should be able to tell you.

I'm not sure on the maintenance either, as this house is only 13 months old and hasn't required any maintenance yet.

Mum and Dad only have a carport and our garage walls will be plastered.

We wanted render anyway so it was just a bonus for us, especially since the Hebel went up in a day, so you cut a few days off your build time! Our house hasn't been rendered yet, hopefully this week or next week.

I don't think I've been overly helpful but if you can think of any other questions, let me know

reaver · Jul 23, 2018 7:02 pm

Resurrecting this old thread.

Those that built with Hebel 5+ years ago, how are your Hebel walls holding up?