What Are Walls?
A wall is a structure and a surface that defines an area, carries a load, provides security, shelter, or soundproofing, or, is decorative. Walls, especially interior wall types and types of walls materials, play a crucial role in building design.
There are many kinds of walls, including Walls in buildings that form a fundamental part of the superstructure and separate interior rooms, sometimes for fire safety.
What Is Purpose of Wall?
- Wall is a structure that defines the area.
- It defines the boundaries of an area.
- It carries the load of the roof slab.
- It provides security and privacy.
- It is used as a soundproof material.
- It’s one of the most important superstructures in buildings.
What Is Interior Walls?
Interior walls consist of both load-bearing walls and walls that don’t bear weight, called partition walls. Both types of walls employ similar framing standards, but a load-bearing wall is typically located directly above another load-bearing wall, a beam or a structural column.
- Interior wall provides safety, security, and privacy.
- It creates a partition and transforms a large room into two small rooms.
- Interior walls are nicely decorated, which gives the aesthetic beauty of that room.
- It’s used as the platform for hanging materials, pictures, or other decorative materials.
Types of Interior Wall Materials
There are different types of wall design and materials used to construct a wall, answering the question what are walls made out of Some of them are-
- Brick Wall.
- Stone Wall.
- Glass Wall.
- Wood Wall.
- Plywood Wall.
- Cinder Blocks Wall.
- Metal Sheet Wall.
1. Brick Wall
The brick is mainly used as wall material because it’s very easy to use and economical. A contemporary brick wall is typically made of clay, concrete, or calcium-silicate bricks. The most common brick size is 215mm (L) x 102.5mm (W) x 65mm (H).
Bricks are bound together by a cementitious or lime mortar, usually 10mm thick for the horizontal (bedding) joints and 10mm wide for the vertical (perpend) joints.
2. Stone Wall
In ancient times stone is used as a wall material. Stone walls are usually made of local materials varying from limestone and flint to granite and sandstone.
However, the quality of building stone varies greatly, both in its endurance to weathering, resistance to water penetration and in its ability to be worked into regular shapes before construction.
3. Glass Wall
Now a day glass is very useful material. Architectural glass is used as a building material. It is most typically used as transparent glazing material in the building envelope, including windows in the external walls.
4. Wooden Wall
Hardwoods are commonly used in the construction of walls, ceilings and floors, while softwoods are often used to make doors, furniture, and window frames.
Some examples of the most popular hardwoods include oak, maple, mahogany, cherry, walnut, and teak. Wood is used as a wall material, and it’s quite a bit expensive, but the durability & longevity of wood is extremely good.
5. Plywood Wall
It is not as durable or easy to work with as drywall. These thin sheets of wood are bonded together with an adhesive. Plywood is not visually appealing which is another one of its drawbacks as a wall material, however, it can still be used as one. It’s used in Interior wall materials.
6. Cinder Blocks Wall
It’s used to the soundproof barrier, and it’s economical. Concrete blocks are a prefabricated material mainly used to build walls. Like bricks, the blocks are stacked together and joined with a mortar, usually consisting of cement, sand, and water. The blocks are hollow inside to allow for steel bars and mortar filling
7. Setal Sheet Wall
It’s quite expensive but the durability of this type of Sheet is high. Steel has a notable immense strength that offers a great advantage to houses. Another vital feature of sheets is in its flexibility.
Yes, it bends easily without cracking even if subjected to an external force. They come in a wide range of finishes and gauges so fashioning its walls is easy.
It has been the ideal material for along time in industrial buildings but lately, it is also a popular choice for many contemporary and modern houses. The series of significant advantages against the other materials makes projects look more exciting and exceptional.
Types of Wall Construction
There are various types of walls interior used in civil construction, each with its unique wall building materials.
Here are some examples of those walls
- Load Bearing Wall.
- Non Load Bearing Wall or Drop Wall.
- Shear Wall.
- Retaining Wall.
- Brick Masonry Wall.
- Rubble Stone Masonry Wall.
- Core Wall.
- Precast Wall.
- Parapet Wall.
- Boundary Wall.
- Reinforced Brick Wall.
- Cavity Wall.
1. Load Bearing Wall-
In that type of wall, there are no beams and columns are present in the building. So the wall carries all the dead and lives load of the roof slab. That’s why it’s called the load-bearing wall. Which will be discussed below in this article
2. Non-Load Bearing Wall or Drop Wall-
Here, the wall does not carry the load of slabs, but it only provides for partition, security, and privacy purposes. Here all the slab loads are carried by beams and columns.
On the other hand, non load bearing walls are placed inside the house and do not support any structural weight of the building. They don’t bear any additional weight of the house’s structure other than their own. If the joists and rafters run parallel to the wall, they are often considered as non load bearing walls.
3. Shear Wall-
This type of wall is constructed near the lift pit, staircase, water sump, etc. It resists two pressure like wind pressure and soil pressure or wind pressure and water pressure. It also resists external lateral forces like earthquakes, wind, etc.
4. Retaining Wall-
This type of wall is made to maintain the unequal level of the ground surface. It retains the soils after artwork to prevent landslides. The retaining wall is made of RCC OR CRS.
There are different types of retaining walls present, they are-
- Gravity Retaining Wall
- Reinforced Retaining Wall
- Brick Masonry Retaining Wall
- Stone Masonry Retaining Wall
5. Brick Masonry Wall-
This type of wall is constructed of bricks. Bricks are joined by the help of cement or like mortar. The thickness of the brick masonry wall is 10 inch for the outside and 5 inch for the inside wall.
Brick masonry is a highly durable form of construction. It is built by placing bricks in mortar in a systematic manner to construct solid mass that withstands exerted loads. There are several types of bricks and number of mortars which can be used to construct brick masonry.
6. Rubble Stone Masonry Wall-
This type of wall is constructed by regular types of stone blocks or irregular or random size stone blocks. This is used in the abutment wall of the bridge, boundary wall, compound wall, etc.
7. Core Wall-
This wall is constructed from the foundation of the building and height up to the building. This type of wall is acts as a column and shear wall.
It resists external lateral forces like wind, earthquakes, etc. It is constructed exactly in the centre of the building to resist the torsion effect also.
8. Precast Wall-
The precast wall is a ready-made product is made in the factory, and you just install it on the site. Now it’s very popular, but it requires more experienced labour than the regular one.
9. Parapet Wall-
It’s also a boundary wall which is constructed in the roof for safety purposes. The height of this type of wall is 3m.
10. Boundary Wall-
This type of wall is constructed around the building to show the boundary of that plot or area.
11. Reinforced Brick Wall-
This type of wall is constructed where tensile force is acted. The reinforcement is required in horizontal and vertical. Horizontal reinforcement is provided in every third or fourth course. Sometimes hoop iron reinforcement is provided. It’s dipped in tar to increase its resistance against rusting.
12. Cavity Wall-
This wall is constructed into two parts inner and outer, with a cavity of 50-100mm. The thicker wall is inside the room, and the thinner one is outside of the building.
A thick wall carries all the load of the slab, and the outer wall resists external moisture and other effects. It’s necessary to tie the two parts at a distance of 900mm apart vertically and 450mm horizontally.
Types of Load Bearing Wall
Load-bearing walls are the types of walls that carry the roof slab load and upper loads of floors.
There are mainly six types of Load-bearing walls, they are-
- Precast Concrete Wall.
- Retaining Wall.
- Masonry Wall.
- Pre Panelized Load Bearing Metal Wall.
- Engineering Brick Wall.
- Stone Wall.
1. Precast Concrete Wall-
This type of wall is used for its durability and huge strength. This type of wall is easy to install it provides huge safety. This is a precast concrete which is manufactured in a factory and then cured & transported to the site.
Some characteristics of this type of wall are-
- Protection
- Durability
- Thermal Resistance
- Moisture Resistance
- Fire Safety
2. Retaining Wall-
Retaining walls are relatively rigid walls used for supporting soil laterally so that it can be retained at different levels on the two sides. Retaining walls are structures designed to restrain soil to a slope that it would not naturally keep to (typically a steep, near-vertical or vertical slope).
This type of wall is made to maintain the unequal level of the ground surface. It retains the soils after artwork to prevent landslides. The Retaining wall is made of RCC OR CRS.
The Retaining wall is constructed to retain the lateral pressure of soil and holds the materials. Retaining wall provides support thus, it is also called a breast wall or resentment wall.
There are different types of retaining wall are present, they are-
- Gravity Retaining Wall
- Reinforced Retaining Wall
- Brick Masonry Retaining Wall
- Stone Masonry Retaining Wall
3. Masonry Wall-
Masonry wall has great architectural beauty, and it provides the required strength. It’s good for fire resistance and controls the inner and outer temperature of rooms properly.
Masonry walls are the most durable part of any building or structure. Masonry is the word utilized for development with mortar as a coupling material with singular units of blocks, stones, marbles, rocks, solid squares, tiles, and so forth. Mortar is a blend of restricting material with sand.
4. Pre Panelized Load Bearing Metal Wall-
It is used for building exterior wall cladding. The metal can be stainless steel, copper, aluminium. It supports gravity, seismic and wind loading.
This type of wall is mainly used in the exterior wall and is made of aluminium, steel, copper, etc. It’s good to resist wind and seismic load.
5. Engineering Brick Wall-
Traditionally, Engineering bricks are used where in construction where strength and resistance to water and frost attack are important. Some common application examples are retaining walls, damp proof courses, manholes, sewers and general ground works.
This types of brick are more useful from a practical point of view. It has good architectural beauty as it has a good external finish. This Is extremely good for frost attacks.
6. Stone Wall-
It’s one of the ancient types of a load-bearing wall. It’s a heavy type of structure, and stones are joined by cement mortar or Kime mortar.
Different Types of Brick Bond
In the brick masonry wall, we observe some bonds in the masonry structure. Those bonds are-
- Stretcher Bond
- Header Bond
- English Bond
- Flemish Bond
- Dutch Bond
1. Stretcher Bond
Stretcher bond is one of the most common bonds. It is easy that lay with little waste and composed of stretchers set in rows, offset by half a brick.
A pattern made up of rows of stretchers with each stretcher centred on the stretcher below it. All joints run vertically down the wall. In this type of bond, all bricks are arranged in a stretcher course. In the break joint, we use ½ brickbats. This type of wall is constructed as a partition wall.
2. Header Bond
In this type, all bricks are arranged in the header arrangement. This type of bond is used where walls are one-brick thick.
3. English Bond
This bond is a mixture of header and stretcher bond. This is the strongest type of wall and used in walls of all thickness.
4. Flemish Bond
The Flemish bond is an alternate of header and stretcher.
This is classified as
- Double Flemish Bond
- Single Flemish Bond
5. Dutch Bond
English and dutch bonds are the particular patterns of laying bricks for constructing a wall. English Bond a bond used in brickwork consisting of alternate courses of stretchers and headers.
Dutch bond is created by laying alternate headers and stretchers in a single course. This is near about the same as the English bond consist of a header and stretcher. The one difference is 3/4th bat in a stretcher course is used.
Frequently Asked Questions about Walls
What are the different types of walls?
Walls can be classified into various types based on their purpose, construction materials, and load-bearing capacity. Common types include load-bearing walls, non-load-bearing walls, shear walls, retaining walls, brick masonry walls, stone masonry walls, precast walls, and more.
What are load-bearing walls?
Load-bearing walls are those that carry the weight of the roof slab and upper floors. They provide structural support to the building and are essential for its stability. Examples include precast concrete walls, masonry walls, and engineered brick walls.
What materials are used for constructing walls?
Walls can be constructed using a variety of materials such as bricks, stones, glass, wood, plywood, cinder blocks, metal sheets, precast concrete, and more. Each material has its own advantages in terms of durability, aesthetics, and cost.
What is the difference between load-bearing and non-load-bearing walls?
Load-bearing walls support the structural weight of the building, including the roof and upper floors, whereas non-load-bearing walls do not carry any structural weight and are mainly used for partition, privacy, and aesthetic purposes.
What are some common types of wall construction techniques?
Wall construction techniques vary depending on the type of wall being built. Some common techniques include brick masonry, stone masonry, precast concrete, reinforced brick walls, cavity walls, and more.
What are the advantages of using precast walls?
Precast walls offer advantages such as durability, ease of installation, thermal resistance, moisture resistance, and fire safety. They are manufactured in factories under controlled conditions and then transported to the construction site for installation.
What are the different types of brick bonds used in masonry walls?
Brick bonds refer to the arrangement of bricks in a masonry structure. Common types of brick bonds include stretcher bond, header bond, English bond, Flemish bond, and Dutch bond. Each bond has its own pattern and structural characteristics.
How do retaining walls differ from other types of walls?
Retaining walls are specifically designed to hold back soil and prevent erosion or landslides. They are often built with reinforced concrete or masonry and are commonly used in landscaping and civil engineering projects to create terraces or level uneven terrain.
What factors should be considered when choosing wall materials for a construction project?
When selecting wall materials, factors such as durability, cost, aesthetics, thermal insulation, moisture resistance, and structural integrity should be taken into account. The choice of materials will depend on the specific requirements and design preferences of the project.
How are walls classified based on their function?
Walls can be classified based on their function as load-bearing walls, non-load-bearing walls, shear walls, retaining walls, parapet walls, boundary walls, and more. Each type serves a specific purpose in building construction and design.
