Walls and Windows

WALLS 

Walls are continuous vertical structures of a building which are built primarily to perform several functions, some of these functions include:

To strengthen and stabilize a building structure 

To divide space as in partition and compartment walls

To act as a shield against weather conditions and external danger

To carry load and provide support or other element of the building structure 

It can also be used to control sound in the theatre or studio

TYPES OF WALLS 

Walls may be classified into several groups which they are made of or according to the purpose they serve

Load bearing wall: They carry their own weight and the weight of the elements placed on the roof and floor slab etc. They carry other structures weights aside their own weight. There are several type of load bearing wall: 

Retaining wall: These are walls that provide lateral support to the slope of the soil.

Stone wall: This is a type of brick and mortar wall that provides support, insulates the inside structure from the outside and separates rooms.

Masonry wall: The common masonry wall in use are brick and concrete blocks. They are the most durable of any building structure.

Precast concrete wall: are casted walls that can be recycled or reuse by using a mold.

Non-load bearing wall: carries no load, they carry only their own weight, they provide partition, decoration and protection, eg, fence, partition walls, etc. Examples of non load bearing walls are facade bricks, hollow bricks, brick walls, hollow concrete blacks etc.

WALLING MATERIALS 
Walling materials are materials used in constructing different types of walls 

Examples of walking materials are; grasses, leaves, tree branches, tree trunks, timbre, stone, mud, bricks of clay, metal sheets, sand, concrete blocks, glass, synthetic materials, curtain, plywood, damp roof membranes etc.