Walls give the interior of a house character through color, texture, style, and more. They can be built and decorated with many materials and finishes, yet the basic structures remain the same. By understanding how a house’s walls are put together, you can solve many of the most common problems and hazards you might encounter.
Walls can be surfaced with a variety of materials, including gypsum wallboard (or drywall), tile, plaster, and wood paneling. All are durable yet all show signs of wear due to activity within the house or the age of the house itself.
Gypsum wallboard is used as a finished, paintable surface and as a backing for other wall treatments--wallpaper, fabric, tile, and paneling. Standard wallboard is composed of a fire-resistant gypsum core sandwiched between two layers of paper. Some wallboard is water resistant for use in damp areas.
Plaster walls are composed of three layers: a base coat, a thick coat of plaster for strength, and a finish coat for appearance. These may be applied over wood lath, metal mesh, special gypsum wallboard, or masonry.
Wood paneling is made up of 1/4- to 3/4-inch-thick hardwood or softwood boards or plywood strips ranging from 3 to 12 inches wide. Boards may have square edges, but most are milled to overlap or interlock along the edges. Paneling is attached to studs, furring strips, or wallboard.
Wallpaper, applied over plaster or drywall, comes in thousands of patterns, colors, and styles that can create just about any look—and do it affordably. Ceramic tile, also available in hundreds of colors and styles, is a practical, durable surface that is particularly appropriate for bathrooms, kitchens, and other rooms subject to moisture.
