After the foundations have been completed the external walls are set out
and construction commenced. There are many methods of construction
which have developed over the last century. The following slides feature
some of these.
The development of
wall structures
Stone walls
Traditional walls of dwellings and Industrial buildings were
constructed from stone which were found locally.
If you look carefully at the picture shown above you will see that the
larger stones were built in courses with small stones inter spaced.
The walls were usually very thick at about 400 to 700mm in width.
Most had no damp proof course included.
Lime mortar was used to bind these stones together.
Stone wall
Some of these stone walls were built with lime or more recently
with sand and cement.
Stone wall
with lime
plaster.
One brick walls
• One brick thick walls were commonly
used to build rows of red brick
terrace houses in close proximity to
mills.
• These houses were constructed
cheaply by mill owners from brick
which were usually made locally.
• These bricks were often constructed
in English Bond creating a solid wall.
• The solid wall allowed moisture to
travel from the outside of the wall to
the inside causing damp patches on
the wall inside the house.
• Damp proof courses were included
in some of the one brick walls.
Header course
Stretcher course
Damp proof
course
A section through a one brick wall
in English Bond.
Cavity walls in block
construction
• The first development to prevent
the spread of damp into the inside
of buildings was the cavity wall.
• These walls were constructed from
two skins of brick or block joined
together by twisted galvanized steel
wall ties.
• The twist was constructed into the
wall ties so that any moisture which
tried to move across the cavity
would drop off.
Wall ties
spaced at
450mm
vertically
D.P.C.
Cavity walls in brick
construction with insulation
• This wall is similar in construction to the
first cavity wall, the only exception being
the inclusion of insulation.
• Wall ties are now manufactured from
stainless steel.
• When cavity walls are used as part of a
cellular structure they provide buildings
which are structurally sound.
• Some of their other advantages are
the prevention of damp penetrating to
the inside of the building, fairly good
thermal insulation properties and a cost
efficient method of construction.
60mm thick insulation
Plaster
Walls of the future
• Current cavity wall construction will
be have to be improved over the next
few years if a reduction in heat loss is
to be achieved.
• This reduction is necessary in order
to reduce the energy demands of our
nation which will ultimately reduce
green house gasses.
• The futuristic wall structure shown
here may be one possible way of
achieving a reduction in heat loss.
Insulation
Plaster
stud wall
Timber frame walls
• Timber framed walls differ
from those constructed of
traditional brick and block work
because the structural frame
members are fabricated from
wood. They transmit their
loads onto the foundation
through a common sole or
base plate.
• Timber frame structures must
comply with the building
regulations in every aspect
including resistance to fire.
Curtain wall for Industrial
and commercial structures
• The photograph shows
curtain walling which is
cladding a leisure
centre.
Transom
Mullion
Composite panels
for curtain walling
Glass curtain walling
Curtain wall structures
• Curtain wall structures
are a composite of
mullion, transoms and
infill panels which may
be glass or an opaque
material.
• Curtain walling is often
used with rectangular
framed structures.
• There is often an inner
skin of block work.
Glass infill panels represented in green
Opaque infill panels
represented in blue