Plain Vs. Concrete Wall

Plain Walls

• A plain interior wall is one that has a quasi-finished surface, in that the wall has been built from sheet rock or drywall attached to studs, and then seamed with tape, spackled to produce a smooth surface and to hide dents or imperfections. That’s when you could say the wall becomes “officially plain.” It remains “plain” until it is painted and decorative elements are added, such as chair and crown molding and baseboards. A plain exterior wall is one where only the sheathing materials -- such as panels of plywood -- have been attached. It defines and structures what is referred to as the “envelope” of a home, which includes all of the layers and components that envelop and seal the home from natural elements, such as wind, rain, heat and cold. An exterior wall remains “plain” until the next materials are added, including insulation and the choice of cladding materials, such as brick, vinyl or wood.

Concrete

• Concrete walls can be built from 4-, 8- or 12-inch ready-made blocks, custom-poured blocks or Insulated Concrete Forms, called ICFs. Until recently, concrete walls were primarily used for institutional and industrial applications, such as building schools and warehouses. Basement walls were the primary residential application for concrete walls. However, today, concrete walls are used from the basement to the bedroom. In addition, ICFs are growing in use to create exterior walls to make homes that are airtight and, consequently, more energy efficient. The rise in the use of concrete walls is attributable to growing interests in using green materials versus relying on wood. Concrete walls are fireproof, help deter insects and termites and require less maintenance.

Similarities

• Plain walls and concrete walls are used to create interior and exterior walls. Interior walls define and structure the wall surfaces for various rooms of a home, and exterior walls define and structure the envelope of the home and insulate the home from external climatic conditions. Plain walls and concrete walls are also designed and constructed to become either load-bearing or non-load-bearing walls. A load-bearing wall supports the structural weight of a home or building. All of the exterior walls, whether they are made of plywood or concrete, are load-bearing walls. Load-bearing interior walls are those that are positioned directly above the support beams and floor joists.

Differences

• Concrete walls have innate properties of weight and density, and they are less porous than a plain wall. Concrete is also a self-sustaining material, in that you can use it as a sole material to build a wall. A plain wall, on the other hand, requires many additional materials to create the final wall, such as studs to frame the wall and drywall or sheet rock to form the wall surface. The additional materials are referred to as the “wall assembly.” By itself, a 12-inch block of concrete has an R-value (which measures the insulation value) of 1.28, where a ½-inch sheet of drywall only has an R-value of 0.45, according to the Colorado Energy Commission.