Wall
A wall is a vertical structure that encloses, divides or supports a building. Exterior walls separate the inside from the weather, while interior walls, also called partitions, divide the space into rooms.
Walls in houses are most often framed with wood or steel studs and covered with drywall, though masonry, concrete and log walls are common in some regions. A framed wall usually holds insulation, wiring and plumbing inside its cavity. Some walls carry the weight of the floors and roof above them; others only separate spaces.
Wall thickness varies with the construction. A typical interior partition built from 2x4 studs and drywall on both sides is about 4.5 inches thick, and exterior walls are thicker once sheathing, insulation and siding are added.
On a floor plan, walls are drawn as thick parallel lines. Whether their thickness is included in square footage depends on the method: exterior measurement counts it, interior measurement does not. See does square footage include walls.
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