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

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.