1. Load-Bearing Walls
- Function: Supports the weight of the roof, floors, and other loads.
- Materials: Brick, stone, concrete, timber, or steel frames
- Characteristics: Thick and sturdy, often with reinforced steel or concrete.
2. Non-Load-Bearing Walls
- Function: Separates rooms and provides privacy.
- Materials: Drywall, plasterboard, or wood panels
- Characteristics: Thin and lightweight, attached to load-bearing frames or studs.
3. Curtain Walls
- Function: Acts as an exterior façade, enclosing the building and protecting it from elements.
- Materials: Glass, metal, or translucent panels
- Characteristics: Non-load-bearing, suspended from the building's framework.
4. Veneer Walls
- Function: Provides an attractive exterior covering to the building.
- Materials: Stone, brick, or other decorative materials
- Characteristics: Thin and attached to the exterior load-bearing walls with a cavity behind.
5. Shear Walls
- Function: Resists lateral forces such as wind and earthquakes.
- Materials: Plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), or reinforced concrete
- Characteristics: Installed perpendicular to the direction of lateral forces, providing added strength and stability.
6. Cavity Walls
- Function: Improves insulation and reduces noise transmission.
- Materials: Two layers of brick, concrete, or other materials separated by a cavity.
- Characteristics: The cavity creates an air gap that acts as an insulator.
7. Insulated Wall Panels (IWPs)
- Function: Provides both load-bearing and insulation properties.
- Materials: Steel or concrete panels with insulation core (e.g., polyurethane, polystyrene).
- Characteristics: Lightweight and quick to install, providing high thermal resistance.
8. Rammed Earth Walls
- Function: Durable and sustainable walls formed from compacted earth.
- Materials: Stabilized soil mixed with water
- Characteristics: Excellent thermal mass, moisture regulation, and acoustic insulation.
9. Dry Stack Walls
- Function: Decorative and structural walls built without the use of mortar.
- Materials: Stone, brick, or other natural or manufactured blocks
- Characteristics: Interlocking blocks create a solid structure that allows for drainage.
10. Wattle and Daub Walls
- Function: Traditional construction method using woven wattle (sticks or reeds) plastered with a clay mixture.
- Materials: Wattle, clay, and other organic materials
- Characteristics: Breathable, moisture-wicking, and provides insulation from heat and cold.