Walls, Ceilings and Floors
Types of Walls
Load Bearing walls support floors above and the roof.
Partition or curtain walls are non-load bearing and do not
support anything. They act as space dividers
Moveable walls: accordion walls and modular panels. If
space needs change often, you should consider using
moveable walls. Conference centers, office spaces, etc.
Partial Walls: walls that are less than ceiling height, offer
visual privacy but not acoustical privacy. Provide ventilation.
Spur/freestanding: walls that do not join adjacent wall at
both ends. IE: fireplaces in the center of rooms, walls behind
reception desks.
Types of Walls
Moveable Walls
Spur or Freestanding wall
Factors to consider when planning walls:
Aesthetics: formal walls have smooth surfaces and are
symmetrical in the window and door placements. They are
also more closed with more of a vertical emphasis. Informal
walls are rough, asymmetrical, and are more open with a
horizontal feel
Function and Flexibility: why use moveable walls? They offer
flexibility for tenants that experience change. Moveable walls
provide electrical and data lines (some even offer plumbing)
built into the wall system. The flooring is installed continuous
so that the walls can be moved and not require the flooring to
be changed.
Factors to consider when planning walls:
Degree of enclosure and privacy: opaque walls mean that
you cant see thru them. Translucent means that you can see
thru the windows.
Light qualities: Psychology of light. White reflects up to 89%
of light and black reflect about 2%. Texture also plays a role.
Smooth surfaces reflect more light that rough textures.
Durability: the amount of time and money needed to
maintain the walls must be considered. This is your
responsibility when specifying a wall treatment to understand
your clients needs.
Acoustics: smooth, hard surfaces reflect sound while soft,
porous surfaces absorb sound. Insulate wall cavities when
sound transmission is an issue.
Thermal qualities: comfort and energy efficiency.
TYPES OF WALL MATERIALS
Plaster:
An old technique in which plaster is applied over the wallboard or concrete
block using a lath. Textures range from smooth to stucco. This technique is
almost a lost trade and is not used in new homes. It often chips and cracks
as a house settles over the years.
Gypsum Wallboard - Drywall
Gypsum wallboard is the most commonly used material to cover walls in interior
projects. It has evolved into a versatile, dependable material that is quick to
install and easy to repair. Made from a natural crystallized mineral, wallboard is
naturally fire resistant and can also act as a sound barrier. Gypsum board of 4
wide sheets x 8, 9, or 10 high is attached directly to the stud walls. The joints
are taped, spackled and sanded so the seams do not show. Texture may be
applied or various other finish techniques. Note: Sheetrock is brand name but
used as a generic term.
Wood
Wood comes in the form of paneling, plank (such as flooring), and veneer, etc. It
provides warmth and is a good insulator but it tends to fade and is flammable.
As a designer, you must verify code compliance before installing it in commercial
applications.
Concrete Block
Also known as Concrete Masonry Unit
(CMU), concrete block is a very common
building material for the load-bearing walls
of buildings, in what is termed "concrete
block structure" (CBS) This type of
construction is very affordable and often
found in commercial and institutional
applications or as part of a residential
foundation.
Tile
Can be installed one tile at a
time or in sheets held
together with a mesh like
backing. Tile provides easy
maintenance, they are water
impervious (required in
public restrooms), but can
create noisy interiors. They
also can crack and chip.
Other wall finishes:
Stone, Brick, glass, and resin
Other wall finishes:
Paint, Wallpaper, Vinyl Wallcoverings
What is the difference?
Wallpaper: Has been used since the Colonial days in the US
and for about 5 centuries in Europe. Known as the poor mans
tapestry because only the wealthy could afford the real thing.
Paper is not easily cleaned, cannot be scrubbed unless vinyl
coated. It is priced by the single roll, although it is sold in a
double roll. It is typically 27 wide.
Vinyl Wallcovering: More durable, usually fabric backed, does
not stretch and tear during installation and is 54 wide. It can
be purchased by the yard on a bolt. Typically used in
commercial use and is more expensive than paper. It is
categorized into two types: Type 1 and Type 11. (there is even
a type III) Type one is lighter in weight (12 -15 ozs per yard)
and Type II is heavier, usually 20 - 24 oz per yard and up. Type
II is used in clinical areas of hospitals.
Three Classifications of Ceilings
Suspended from the structure
Acoustical tiles
tin
Attached directly to the structure
Gypsum board
Plaster
Tongue and groove wood
Structure and ceiling finish are the same thing.
Concrete sub floor
Exposed ducts
Exposed wood beams, joists
Types of Ceilings
Coffered
Barrel Vault
Coved
Tray
Exposed
Suspended
Coffered Ceiling
Roman Coffered ceiling at the
Pantheon (118-125 A.D.) were
originally covered with blue
stucco and glided rosettes.
Barrel Vault
Changing room in the women's
section of the Forum Baths.
Space is covered by a stucco
barrel vault, marked by groves.
Floor is black and white mosaic.
Coved Ceiling
Exposed Ceilings
Haddon Hall, 14th Century
Middle Ages (500-1300 A.D.)
featured structural details of
open beams supporting a
pitched roof. Some ceilings
were flat with exposed
beams. Upper class homes
featured paintings,
checkerboard designs and
heraldic motifs.
Tray Ceilings
Suspended ceilings Advantages
Low cost
Fast installation
Sound control
Flexible
Adaptability of lighting
and mechanical
Easy accessibility to
plenum space
Specialty Tiles
FLOORING
Factors to Consider
Durability and wear factors
Cleaning and maintenance
Acoustics
Static electricity
Moisture in slab
Price
Appearance
Safety
Categories of Flooring
Soft Flooring (warm, quite, difficult to maintain, allergens)
Rugs and Carpets
Resilient Flooring (durable, good acoustics, easy to maintain)
Sheet Vinyl
VCT (vinyl composition tile)- requires waxing which is not easy to maintain
Cork
Rubber
Linoleum
Hard Flooring (durable, noisy, more expensive)
Stone (Slate, marble, flagstone, terazzo, granite)
Brick
Ceramic Tile
Wood and Bamboo (strips, planks, parquet)
Concrete
Laminate
Plush Carpets
Smooth (known as a Saxony) - This style of
cut pile carpet is achieved when the tufts of
yarn are sheared to a low, smooth pile
height for uniform color and a formal look.
Texture - This popular style offers a smooth,
level finish, but the yarns have more twist,
which creates a less formal look.
Twist (known as a Frieze) - The yarns in this
style are even longer, creating a soft,
comfortable, casual appearance.
Shag - The yarns in this style are even
longer, creating a soft, comfortable, casual
appearance.
Loop Carpets
Level Loop (often called a
Berber) - In this style, all the
loops are the same height. The
dense, firm surface of a loop
pile carpet makes it ideal for
high-traffic areas.
Patterned Loop - The yarns in
this style are also looped, but
they are at two or three varying
heights. The various heights can
be arranged to create a wide
range of patterns and textures.
Patterns - Pattern
carpets beautifully
blend loops and
cuts in varying
heights for
dramatic, unique
patterns, ranging
from floral designs
to geometric to
pin-dot.
