Building & renovation
How much material for external wall insulation (ETICS)?
Shopping list for facade insulation: panels, adhesive, anchors, mesh, profiles and finish coats from m², insulation type and grain size.
Quick answer
External wall insulation (ETICS / cappotto) is ordered by system layers — panels, adhesive, anchors, mesh, profiles and finish coats — not by a single product. We start from net facade m² (gross minus windows and doors), add 5% panel waste, and apply typical Italian system consumption: 4 kg/m² glue on EPS, ~6 kg/m² render, mesh ×1.1, anchors 6/m² (8 on mineral wool, +2 in ventilated zones).
Editable consumption rates
Net insulated area
102 m²
- Insulation boards (m²)
- 107.1 m²
- XPS plinth boards (m²)
- 18.5 m²
- Adhesive + base coat
- 1,020 kg → 41 25 kg bags
- Facade anchors
- 612 pz → 7 Boxes (100 pcs)
- Reinforcing mesh
- 112.2 m² → 3 Rolls (50 m²)
- Starter / base profile
- 44 m → 18 Bars (2.5 m)
- Window reveal profiles
- 44 m → 18 Bars (2.5 m)
- Drip profiles
- 9.6 m → 4 Bars (2.5 m)
- Primer / fixative
- 25.5 kg → 2 Buckets (25 kg)
- Decorative finish coat
- 286 kg → 12 Buckets (25 kg)
Planning estimate for ETICS / external wall insulation (cappotto termico). Default rates follow common Italian/EU system specs (Caparol, Mapei, Weber, Cortexa). Always confirm with your system supplier TDS before ordering.
How it works
Worked example — a 120 m² facade with 18 m² of openings, so 102 m² net:
| Item | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Panels, waste included | 107 m² |
| Adhesive + base render | ~10 bags of 25 kg |
| Anchors | ~612 (7 boxes) |
| Reinforcing mesh | 3 rolls of 50 m² |
| Finish, 1.5 mm grain | ~286 kg → 12 buckets of 25 kg |
Adjust every rate in advanced settings to match the technical sheet of the system you are actually buying — Caparol, Mapei and Weber do not consume the same. For custom EPS cuts on site, see buy or rent an EPS hot wire cutter before spending €2,000+ on equipment for one facade.
The mistake that costs most is not miscounting the bags, it is going too thin: an insufficient thickness does not insulate "a bit less", it moves the dew point inside the wall. Condensation then forms within the masonry instead of on the surface, and that never dries — better not to do it than to do it thin. The same applies to sills, balconies and shutter boxes: if you leave them as thermal bridges the mould does not disappear, it moves there, and it looks as though the insulation failed. During installation the fixings must sit flush: if they stand proud, their grid reads across the façade in raking light — the trade calls it telegraphing, and it cannot be corrected afterwards. Work starts in late spring to close before the cold, because adhesive and base coat do not set below 5 °C and the render wants dry days. After the first winter it is worth checking joints and the base course: if anything has moved, that is when it shows.
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Frequently asked questions
How many anchors per m² on EPS?+
Typical ETICS specs: 6 anchors/m² on EPS/XPS in normal wind zones, 8/m² on mineral wool. Ventilated or coastal facades often add +2/m². The calculator applies your zone selection — verify on the system approval document for your building height.
Glue and render — same product or separate?+
Many systems use one powder for bonding and base coat (toggle “same product” to avoid double-counting kg). Others specify separate adhesive and render — leave the box unchecked and edit kg/m² in advanced settings.
What is XPS plinth at the base?+
A waterproof XPS strip (~40 cm high) around the perimeter protects the main EPS from ground splash and rising damp. Enter building perimeter in meters; we add plinth m² separately from the main facade panels.
How does finish grain affect consumption?+
Coarser grains need more material: about 2.5 kg/m² at 1.2 mm, 2.8 at 1.5 mm, 3.5 at 2.0 mm. Match the grain to your desired texture — suppliers quote per mm thickness on the TDS.
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