An end elevation is the first (and last) wall of a row of houses: the head of the terrace. It stands at right angles to the front elevation — the face carrying the front doors and most of the windows — and closes off the block at the side. It is also commonly called the flank wall or gable end.
Why it matters in urban design
The end elevation sets the face of the whole row. Where mid-terrace houses show only their front, the end elevation is visible from a distance and often faces the through route. Its characteristic features are therefore treated as significant in design guidance.
In the twentieth century end elevations were frequently built very plainly, especially on blocks of flats: a blind, windowless wall. To break up that blankness, many have since been enlivened with murals, geometric patterns, blocks of colour or green wall planting.
Building physics
The end elevation is the most heavily loaded wall of the terrace:
- Greatest heat loss — a mid-terrace house has two external walls, an end-of-terrace house has three, and the end elevation is usually the largest of them. An end-of-terrace house therefore uses structurally more energy than a mid-terrace house with the same plan; insulating that wall gives the biggest return.
- Most weather-exposed — in north-west Europe the driving rain generally comes from the south-west. If the end elevation faces that way, this is where damp, weathering and pointing failure appear first.
- Cold bridges at junctions — the junctions with floors, roof and party wall are where insulation is interrupted. Condensation and mould appear there if the detail is wrong.
- A blind wall means no monitoring — because there are no windows in it, nobody sees how the wall is faring. Loose pointing and cracks are often noticed late.
Practical tips
- Retrofit insulation — with a cavity wall, cavity insulation of the end elevation is usually the cheapest measure with the biggest effect; external wall insulation performs better but changes the appearance and often needs consent.
- Pointing — inspect the end elevation every few years for hollow or crumbling joints, especially on the weather side.
- Boundary — an end elevation often stands on or close to the boundary. Working on or against it quickly involves your neighbour’s rights; check this before building an extension or fixing a fence to it.
Related terms
- Front elevation
- Elevation
- Blind wall
- Urban block
- External wall insulation
- Cold bridge
Want to know more about building terms? Visit our knowledge base at fredsdiyplans.com.