Wall materials

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A basic photographic illustration of wall types, materials and finishes found within Britain.

Also see Roof-Types and Brick Bonds

❖ Traditional Materials

Cob

A mixture of clay, sand, straw, earth and water. Used in Europe since the 12th century, and popular within the West Country of Devon and Cornwall in England.

Straw

Straw bales, usually covered in lime render. There are few straw buildings in the UK, but its low cost and high insulating values are giving it a renewed interest.

Wood

Timber frame (Half-timbered)


Timber (un-processed)


Weatherboard
A form of cladding, typically over timber framed structures.

White weatherboard. Traditionally used on domestic buildings.


Black/Stained weatherboard. Traditionally used on farm and utilitarian buildings.

Lime Render & Plaster

Stone

Ragstone


Limestone


Ashlar
Dressed stone work, made into rectangular blocks with sculpted edges, with a smoothed finish.


Flint


Stone & Pebble dashing


Slate tile hanging

Clay products

Brick
Also see Geograph article; Brick Bonds.

Mathematical tile
A cladding designed to give a brick faced appearance. Also called brick slips.

Tile hanging

❖ Modern Materials

Concrete

In-situ concrete


Concrete blocks
A common method of construction often covered in render, or finished to emulate stonework.


Concrete panels

Render

Rendered concrete block walls


Pebble dash

Wood

Cedar cladding


Gridshell
Not particularly well used method of construction. The whole building structure is constructed from a lattice grid of flexible wood. It allows for more organic and unusual shapes.

Curtain walling

Commonly built around steel and concrete framed structures.

Metal panels


Asbestos panels
Used in many building materials, and widely used from the 1930's to the 1970's. Despite its health risks being known before the 1900s, it wasn't until the late 1980s that it was banned in many countries. It still existing in many buildings and most is safe until disturbed.


Glass
As double and triple glazing technology improves, curtain walling systems are becoming ever more popular.


Concrete panels
see above

Structural Insulated Panels
Structural Insulated Panels (SIPS) are composite panels sandwich of structural panels and insulation. Built in a controlled factory environment and brought to site.

Solar Panels

Though not actually a walling product they are becoming an increasing feature of buildings. Usually seen on roofs they are sometimes fixed to walls.

❖ Further reading

Wikipedia: Gridshell

If you can suggest more suitable geograph images, corrections, or relevant text, please send a message.

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