Building elements: Walls Walls may be external or internal External walls They may be loadbearing, non- loadbearing or cavity walls. Internal walls Some are structural or loadbearing, others are just partitions. Cavity wall : a wall consisting of two leaves of masonry, with a space between them, filled with insulating materials; it is used to keep out noise, cold, etc.

Loadbearing walls Support the structure and they have proper foundations They are built of stronger and more resistant materials, such as solid bricks or concrete blocks.

Partition walls Divide the internal space, They support only their own weight, not the house structure They are built of lighter and less resistant materials, such as cored bricks.

Glossary Headers: mattoni messi di testa Stretchers: mattoni messi di piano Leaf/Leaves: metà di un muro ad intercapedine Cavity wall: muro ad intercapedine