Ceresit Ceretherm Systems
Choosing the Right Ceresit Ceretherm Insulation System for Your Home
Quick Selection Guide
Use Popular for cost-effective residential projects; Classic for a balanced, high-quality durable finish; Express when you need to reduce installation time by up to 5 days; Impactum for areas prone to physical damage (like schools or high-traffic zones); and Classic Wool for maximum fire safety and breathability in buildings below and above 11m.
Systems Comparison Table
Detailed System Breakdowns
A. Ceretherm Popular (The Economic Standard)
The Popular system is the "go-to" for standard residential renovations where budget and reliability are the main drivers.
- Core Components: Ceresit ZU, CT 81/82 and Adhesives, EPS Insulation, and Acrylic CT 60 or Silicate-Silicone CT 174 renders.
- Best For: Single-family homes where a clean, professional, and moisture-resistant finish is needed without premium costs.
B. Ceretherm Classic (The High-Performance All-Rounder)
The Classic system is an upgrade designed for longevity. It uses Double Dry technology to keep the facade cleaner for longer.
- Core Components: CT 85 Flex Adhesive, EPS Insulation, and CT 74 Silicone render.
- Best For: Homeowners wanting a "fit and forget" solution with superior resistance to algae and dirt.
C. Ceretherm Express (The Time-Saver)
Express is revolutionary for UK contractors. By using CT 84 Express Plus (PU foam adhesive) instead of cement-based mortars, you remove the need for "drying time" between stages.
- Key Advantage: You can apply the basecoat and mechanical fixings just 2 hours after sticking the boards.
- Core Components: CT 87 2-in-1 Adhesive, EPS Insulation, CT 84 Express Plus (PU foam adhesive) and CT 74 Silicone render.
- Best For: Projects with tight deadlines or winter installations where daylight and dry weather windows are limited.
D. Ceretherm Impactum (The Ultimate Protection)
The Impactum system is designed to withstand extreme mechanical stress. It is virtually indestructible under normal conditions.
- Strength: Tested to withstand impacts of 100 Joules (standard systems fail at 10-20J).
- Core Components: CT 100 Impactum dispersion basecoat and CT 79 Elastomeric render.
- Best For: Public buildings, schools, playgrounds, or ground-floor walls adjacent to public footpaths where "wear and tear" is high.
E. Ceretherm Classic Wool (Fire Safety & Breathability)
As per the regulations we discussed, Classic Wool is the premier choice for safety and building health.
- Fire Rating: Achieves an A2-s1, d0 rating (non-combustible).
- Breathability: Because Mineral Wool is vapour-permeable, this system allows the building to "breathe" more than EPS systems.
- Best For: High-rise residential, buildings close to boundaries, or older properties requiring high vapour exchange to prevent damp.
Technical Reference Checklist
Fixing Requirements: 4–8 fixings/m² for EPS; 8–12 fixings/m² for Mineral Wool.
Basecoat: Always use CT 325 Glass Fibre Mesh with at least 100mm overlap.
Temperature: All systems (except Express) generally require +5°C to +25°C during application.
Check our EWI Installation Guide for more details.