A hollow wall is a wall that is not solid but has a hollow space or air cavity on the inside. That cavity can be a true cavity between two masonry leaves, or the space within a frame of timber or metal that is closed off on both sides with sheet material. The hollow construction makes the wall lighter and provides room for insulation and services.
Two main forms
- Cavity wall — two masonry leaves (outer and inner leaf) with a cavity between them, usually filled with insulation
- System wall (metal stud or timber frame) — a frame with plasterboard on either side; the cavity provides room for insulation, wiring and services
Application
Hollow walls occur as an external facade (cavity wall) and as a lightweight internal partition wall. The cavity is important for the building physics: it breaks the thermal bridge, provides room for insulation and improves the sound insulation. To fix something heavy to a hollow wall you need a special hollow-wall anchor or a fixing into the frame — an ordinary plug will not hold in the cavity.
Related terms
- Cavity wall
- Metal stud
- Plasterboard
- Hollow-wall anchor
- Insulation
- Sound insulation
Want to learn more about construction terms? Visit our knowledge base at fredsdiyplans.com.