A wall that supports both its own weight and the vertical load of slabs, beams, other walls, etc. is called a load-bearing wall. It is part of the supporting structure of a building. The original purpose of load-bearing walls is still used today as a partition.
Before the invention of concrete, structural walls made of bricks, stones, etc. they were the most important structural element of a building. Even tall structures are known to have been built with load-bearing walls.
What is the difference between conventional wall and structural wall
| Load-bearing wall | Normal partition |
| A load-bearing wall is a structural element and transfers the weight of the structure to the foundation. | They only support their own weight and no load is transferred from other elements such as beams, slabs, walls, etc. |
| Construction takes place in conjunction with other structural elements. | Construction should occur in the final phase after completion of the main structure or structural frame. |
| Slabs, beams, and other structure loads are applied during construction as they are cast into the wall. | Structure loads are transferred from the main structure to the foundation. The interior and exterior walls will be built later. There will be a gap between the beam and the wall to prevent load transfer from the beam to the wall. |
| The thickness of the wall, the mortar mix, the type of brick, the strength of the brick, etc. are determined by construction and the necessary tests are carried out as quality control and assurance requirements. | No attention is paid to factors like strength etc. as the brick walls are strong as normal walls can only support its weight. However, the resistance and other properties necessary for the intended use are checked. |
| Brick and stone walls are considered old types of load-bearing walls. | Bricks and other lightweight partitions are considered non-load-bearing walls. |
Types of load-bearing walls
The classification is based on the type of material used in construction. In the past and today, little has changed in the use of wills of this type. However, technological developments have brought additional improvements.
Some of the most commonly used wall types are:
- brick
Bricks are one of the best-known materials for structural structures. Brick has always been widely used as a structural element, in addition to being used as a traditional partition material.
Depending on the load on the brick wall, the thickness of the wall and the mortar mixture used in construction are determined.
- Prefabricated parts
Precast concrete is one of the leading and constantly evolving technologies in the construction industry. They offer many advantages for construction.
Prefabricated panels molded as wall elements can be used as vertical load-bearing elements. The use of prefabricated elements as support elements is not as common as the use of bricks. However, compared with other construction methods, we can complete construction faster.
- concrete
Concrete is linked to many types of structural elements and is one of the most widely used composite materials in construction around the world. Even the prefabricated elements are made of concrete.
Compared to other materials such as brick, concrete has a higher load-bearing capacity. However, it is weak. Therefore, if a load-bearing wall is constructed to transfer the compressive load to the foundation, concrete is the most suitable modern construction material.
- Stone
Stone has also been used in the past to construct load-bearing elements. It can be built with or without mortar mixed between the stones. If there are large stones on top of each other, we cannot put mortar there. However, for small walls built with stones of different shapes (irregular), stones are needed to guarantee the stability of the wall.
There are also other types of structural walls made from reclaimed wood.
Sturdy interior walls
Internal and external load-bearing walls can be made from the same material. However, depending on the load on the external walls, additional measures must be taken to prevent damage. As the wall bears the loads, damage will cause structural stability issues.
In general, interior walls support a higher axial load than exterior walls due to the greater tributary area that is covered by an interior wall. The design of the interior wall can be made depending on its height and limits. Particular attention should be paid to openings in interior walls.
Furthermore, the wall or part of the wall cannot be removed after construction. If the supporting wall is removed, it will affect structural stability. This should be done in consultation with the civil engineer and after carrying out a suitable assessment.
External support wall
The construction of external structural walls is very important, as they can be damaged by the action of the external environment. Constant wetting and drying can cause damage over time.
The degradation begins with the exterior plaster of the wall. If cracks appear in the brick wall, they must be treated in a timely and correct manner so that they do not persist for a long time.
If they were stored for a long period of time, the deterioration of the wall could not be avoided. Water can penetrate through cracks in the wall and damage the cement-sand paste and the bricks. Permanent penetration of water into the wall does not contribute to its useful life.
