Massive occurrence of algae and fungi on insulated facades in the Czech Republic

Most owners of insulated houses older than 10 years are struggling with the problem of green façades, which are gradually becoming their nightmare. Are molds on façades really a serious problem? Why do they occur and how can they be eliminated?

The phenomenon, which is rarely talked about, is revealed by Radek Kubálek from Pragotherm, a façade service company specializing in the removal of algae and molds from façades and their maintenance:

"The cause of massive and rapid algal growth can be traced back to the 90s, when high-quality insulation systems imported from Germany and Austria began to be replaced by cheaper and lower-quality materials from local manufacturers in the Czech Republic. The attempt of these manufacturers to gain as much market share as possible had a fundamental impact on the quality of insulation technologies. Essentially, the quality of some materials was compromised and is still being compromised today. What should have insulated with quality was replaced by quantity and thickness of insulation. What was supposed to be cement-based was sandy, and what was meant to be silicone was nowhere near silicone."


However, poor-quality materials used in façade insulation are not the only cause of algae and mold growth on façades. It is a combination of several factors. Let’s highlight the main ones:

1. Biostrips, greenery, and tall trees in housing estates and near the façades of residential buildings
2. Warm winters with minimal frosty periods
3. Favorable surface temperatures and structural plasters of insulated façades
4. Poorly designed or executed sheet metal elements on the façade
5. Inexperience and low quality of designers when processing project documentation

The increasing problem of green façades can thus be attributed to a combination of natural influences, poor-quality materials, and lack of expertise, leading to negligence. But how can we combat these factors? According to Radek Kubálek, we need to be able to acknowledge the truth and learn from the mistakes we have made in previous years. "It is difficult to fight nature, but if we conduct sensitive pruning in housing estates, if we improve or seek new insulation technologies, if we understand all the connections and needs of residential building façades, we have a chance to change this situation in the future," says Kubálek.

Fortunately, today there are effective technologies that resist the growth of algae and molds on insulated façades. The company Pragotherm, façade service, approached this scientifically and collaborated with the Technical University of Liberec (TUL) and the paint manufacturer Teluria. The result of this cooperation is the unique photoactive coating Balclean, which not only effectively removes algae and molds but also provides long-lasting self-cleaning effects to the façade. A façade treated in this way can withstand not only mold contamination but also outdoor dirt and dust.

Treatment of façades with Balclean coating from Pragotherm, façade service

Before treatment

After treatment

Before treatment

After treatment

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The company Pragotherm, façade service is a specialized company that deals with the issues of the outer envelopes of residential buildings. It primarily focuses on the development and application of technologies aimed at eliminating microorganisms on affected façades. It provides warranties of up to 10 years for completed work. It now offers an attractive support in the form of a subsidy for algae removal from façades.

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