Solid wall

Solid wall (sometimes a called a massive wall) refers to a construction of a single primary material in one layer, or different layered materials that make up a solid wall thickness. As opposed to a cavity wall which is built in layers with at least a central gap filled with air or an air entrained insulation material, to improve weathering resistance or thermal performance.

Solid wall construction might be described as the simplest type of wall construction, although some layered solid wall constructions may also be relatively complex in their own way. It is usually most common on historic buildings, or agricultural or out buildings that do not have thermal performance requirements.

The most common forms were made with natural stone, as well as processed blocks or fired bricks. In general single skin brick walls have bricks laying side by side, whilst thicker two skin walls are intermingled with header bricks used as ties, though these may or may not contain a cavity.

Other construction methods, often found on very early vernacular buildings that are made up of a single consistent layer throughout their thickness are cob, adobe, rammed earth as well as straw (bale), reed and grass, these may also referred to as solid construction.

In 2015 the UK Government reported that of the 26 million existing homes in the United Kingdom, over 8 million had solid walls or around 30%, in 2020 the UK Governments "Household Energy Efficiency detailed release" reported that 9% of all properties with solid walls were insulated.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Accredited construction details ACDs.
• Barrier wall system.
• Brick.
• Bricklayer.
• Building damp-free cavity walls.
• Bullseye window.
• Cavity wall insulation.
• Cavity tray.
• Cold bridge.
• Coping and capping
• Crosswall construction.
• Damp proof course.
• Defects in brickwork.
• Defects in stonework.
• Dew point.
• How to lay bricks.
• Insulation.
• Interstitial condensation.
• Masonry.
• Parapet.
• Pistol brick.
• Preventing wall collapse.
• Rainscreen.
• Solid walls to cavity walls, a brief history.
• Solid wall insulation.
• The cavity wall real performance question.
• Treating brickwork with sealant or water repellent.
• Types of brick.
• Types of brick bonding.
• Vapour barrier.
• Wall plate.
• Wall ties.
• Wall tie failure.
• Wall types.