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Comparison of materials for the construction of interior partitions

This post examines the properties and advantages of different materials used for interior partitions in construction. It discusses the strengths and weaknesses of wood, plasterboard, glass and steel frames in terms of insulation, fire-resistance, soundproofing, durability, and cost. Each material has its own unique advantages, interms of cost, environmental friendliness, versatility, and its adaptability to any type of interior design. The post provides a comprehensive overview of the merits of each option to help facilitate decision making when undertaking an interior partition building project.

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It has never been so easy to adjust the configuration of non-capital walls in an apartment or house. We will tell you about the types and features of the installation of interior partitions, and most importantly – we will compare the most popular materials that are used for their construction.

Comparison of materials for the construction of interior partitions

Types and functions of partitions

In pursuit of the ideal material for partitions, it is very easy to run into an overpayment, so we warn you in advance: the partition does not always require those excess properties that it is equipped with on the basis of the “to be” principle. The correct approach is to first make an assessment, clarify the type of partitions and the required characteristics, and then choose the most appropriate construction material. Fortunately, the modern market presents quite a lot of alternatives to the usual brick and drywall.

By design, partitions can be divided into frame and folded from piece elements.

There is also a classification according to the purpose of partitions. They may be:

  • Visually masking – these are used to divide rooms into functional zones.
  • Soundproof – the main type of partitions for arranging living rooms.
  • Heat insulating – if you need to divide the room into cold and warm zones. Example – a steam room in a bath or a closet in the basement.
  • With additional load-bearing properties – in cases where it is planned to hang furniture on the wall or fix plasterboard structures.
  • Formal – when you need to divide the room only in the area of ​​the ceiling for visual zoning or optimizing the cost of a stretch canvas.
  • Technological – closing wells with communications, forming walls and slightly adjusting the configuration of existing partitions.

Dismantling of internal partitions

Dismantling and redevelopment of internal partitions is one of the first stages of a major overhaul. This step allows the object to be brought closer to a certain “golden ratio”, when all doors with platbands, plinths, electrical fittings, furniture, lamps and other interior elements are installed correctly. Several types of partitions can be involved in the repair, but often a choice is made in favor of the material from which most of them are assembled. This is justified in cases where the secondary consumption is low, and the properties of the selected system meet all the requirements. In other cases, you should sacrifice the convenience of logistics by purchasing materials specific to your tasks..

Partitions of living quarters

As already mentioned, the main property of bedroom walls is the ability to effectively absorb extraneous sounds. Unfortunately, even in this regard, there is no ideal option, because there are three types of household noise, in addition, noise insulation may be required both in one and in both directions..

The best way to prevent sound propagation is massive materials, which, due to their high density, are able to effectively dissipate mechanical vibrations in themselves. However, any wall is, in fact, a drum membrane, which is capable of transmitting vibrations to the air that have arisen in the building structures themselves..

Soundproofing apartment walls

For these reasons, partitions, for which complex sound insulation is important, are made composite: a massive core absorbs sounds of an acoustic nature, and the sheathing and filler prevent the propagation of shock and structural vibrations. However, such a complex system is not always in demand: in one-story houses and buildings with monolithic floors, you can be content with only one massive partition without cladding.

Technical partitions: for a bathroom, closet or wardrobe

In some cases, there is no need for soundproofing properties, but strength is important with minimal thickness and weight. In such cases, preference is given to materials with the most well-developed assembly technology. This ensures a high speed of construction and the ability to start finishing almost immediately after the completion of the construction of the walls..

Partition for a bathroom made of tongue-and-groove plates

There is, however, an important nuance. The technical purpose of partitions almost always involves the imposition of additional load on them, for example, from furniture or tile cladding. Another feature is related to space saving: the thinner the wall, the worse it resists the opening of cracks. In this regard, materials for seamless or thin-seam masonry are best suited for technical needs, due to which it is possible to create a monolithic structure with sufficient bearing properties..

It is also possible to improve the strength properties of a thin wall by performing special finishing. Plastering with cement mortar with steel reinforcement or coating with gypsum plaster with 1-2 layers of fiberglass mesh allows you to significantly strengthen any masonry, including a quarter brick.

Formal and masking partitions

Imagine that the object has an L-shaped room in which it is planned to install a stretch ceiling, or the dimensions of the room are too large and there is no way to make the canvas seamless. In such cases, formal partitions are used, forming lintels against the walls as a continuation of the imitation of the ceiling beam. Another example is when the working area is separated from the sleeping area by a thin partition with a wide portal.

Decorative plasterboard partition

Partitions of this kind, including those designed to hide communications, are distinguished by a complex configuration. In such cases, the choice of a frame system would be the best solution. Building a frame is the only way to create a structure of a complex shape without worrying about maintaining the geometry and dimensions of the cladding, about the final quality of the finish.

Plasterboard box for pipes in the toilet

Frame systems are indispensable for the reproduction of suspended structures that do not have support on the ceiling, as well as for the construction of technical compartments with revision doors. This is not the simplest and cheapest type of partitions, however, the advantages of such a technological system will be the absence of wet works, high speed of execution and no pause between installation and finishing..

Comparison of materials

Brick. The classic material is good for everyone, except for the price, its own weight, as well as the speed and cost of work. It has one of the best soundproofing characteristics, holds fasteners well. Brickwork requires leveling and holding to build up the strength of the joints, which slows down and increases the cost of the repair process.

Construction of interior partitions made of bricks

Tongue slabs. This is the most cost-effective material installed using the seamless masonry method. The slabs by themselves do not provide comprehensive sound insulation, but at the same time they are sufficiently strong and stable, ideally suited for the construction of double partitions with quite acceptable noise reduction parameters. The installation speed is one of the highest, but it is important to observe the features of the technology for the construction of a strong and even partition. A huge plus of GWP is that they do not require additional preparation and leveling – you can glue the wallpaper immediately.

Installation of a partition made of tongue-and-groove plates

Aerated concrete. A gas block or gas silicate is one of the best multipurpose solutions, optimally suited for internal planning. Fast installation, no wet works, high quality of the wall surface – all this is definitely one of the advantages of the material. Among the disadvantages are not the best sound insulation indicators, relatively high cost, low resistance to shock loads.

Interior partition made of foam blocks

Sheathing frame. Not only drywall on galvanized profiles, but also other sheet materials on a lumber frame. This is a truly universal option for the reason that in the albums of technical solutions from leading manufacturers of materials there are partition schemes of all types and purposes. The frame structure can be given additional strength due to mortgages or noise reduction and thermal insulation can be provided by laying a heater. There are dozens of options for frame partitions, with a different number of sheathing layers and rows of the supporting system, each type is “sharpened” for specific purposes. You have to pay for such variability with an increase in cost, and the installation technology cannot be called simple in any way – there are a lot of subtleties.

Plasterboard frame partition

Each of the presented materials for the construction of partitions is good in its area of ​​application. This is another reason to practice an organized approach to repair and construction, calculating the properties of structures in advance and choosing the best method for their implementation..

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Comments: 1
  1. Avery Foster

    Which material is considered the most efficient and cost-effective option for constructing interior partitions?

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