The Construction of Walls, part 3
Typical cladding materials for walls.
Brick Clay is the traditional material that bricks are constructed from, although cement/lime and concrete bricks are also available. Bricks size is usually standardized at 215 millimetres long by 102.5 millimetres wide by 65 millimetres high.
There are various systems of laying and interlocking that revolve around this brick module. The bricks are bound together using a mortar compound.
Concrete Block These are typically approx 190 millimetres square by 390 millimetres long. The size may vary marginally from country to country however the system is essentially the same.
The blocks are hollow and may be laid upon reinforcing rods that stick out from the concrete pad on which they are laid. Concrete is then poured into the holes from above once the wall is in place.
The concrete sets around the steel forming a solid wall. Some blocks are the only 100 millimetres thick. These are used much the same as a brick veneer attached to a timber frame.
Concrete Block
Stone. Stone comes in all forms and shapes. It may be built as a solid mass or as a veneer the same as for a brick or block.
Timber Boards These boards may come in a variety of different profiles. It may be shiplap, weatherboard, board and batten, shakes or shingles.
Composite Sheeting Systems This may be a sheet of vegetable cellulose mixed with cement to form sheets to clad a building with. Sheets are joined by a system of filling compounds between sheets and taping over the top. A flexible paint or compound is then applied over the top of the sheet and joint. It is much like using gypsum plaster sheet to an internal wall externally but with different materials.
Plaster There are many different plastering systems based on cement / lime. They are based on multiple layers on top of a base, that maybe anything from expanded metal lath, chicken wire, concrete block, or plywood. The initial coat is used to stick to the foundation. Subsequent layers are applied on top of each other to produce the desired finish. This may be smooth, sand effect, roughcast, or a particular texture.
Plastic There are various plastic proprietary cladding systems on the market today. These may take a form of weatherboard profile or other.
Metals in the form of corrugated iron, or corrugated colour steel or aluminium boarding may also be used to clad the building. Of course all of these cladding systems can be used internally aswell which gives the interiordesigner additional scope for the textures and finishes in the building.
Interior Linings (including ceilings)
There are many forms of internal lining, however
the most common is the plasterboard system. This
consists of plaster sandwiched between two layers
of paper. The board comes in common sheet sizes
e.g. 1200 millimetres by 2400 millimetres (note
that the sheet size is approximately the same height
as average internal wall construction) and is fixed
to the framing with nails. The thickness varies
from approx 10.0 millimetres through to 16 millimetres.
The joints are filled with compound e.g. plaster
and then taped and plastered over again, then sanded
to create a smooth finish without blemish. There
are various systems using multiple layers of plasterboard
and varying plaster-finishing systems for varying
levels of finish.
Other forms of lining maybe medium density fibreboard,
timber panelling, plastic laminates, fabric panels,
plaster systems or stone, brick, block and metals
for effect and feature walls.
