Walls are a good way to divide up homes, providing privacy and decreasing noise transfer from one side to the other.
However, when walls are shared between townhouses and apartments, the height, thickness and materials are important.
What exactly is the townhouse separation wall made of? Foundation-to-roof masonry walls and gypsum area separation walls are two common types of wall between townhouses.
Read on to discover more information on townhouse separation walls and other issues around walls.
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Do townhouses have common walls?
Although townhouses are technically not “row” homes, they do share common walls and live in communities that are set up similar to a row home neighborhood.
These homes have the same setbacks and courtyards, they are just grouped together in clusters in a community setting.
Townhouses are typically attached to one another with no space in-between each individual unit.
Instead of side yards, “party walls” are constructed between each unit within the complex.
Townhouses may also share the same roof and foundations, which creates an added sense of cohesion to the neighborhood.
Roof tops stretch the length of the building with larger courtyards in between each cluster of units for privacy and space.
What kind of wall is between townhouses?
An area separation wall runs between townhouses, providing a boundary between two adjoining units and a barrier against undesirable intrusions.
The wall is typically constructed of:
- foundation-to-roof masonry walls
- gypsum area separation walls
The wall can also serve as a fire break or windbreak to alleviate some pressure on neighboring units.
In areas where stone was used in constructing the exterior wall, it may be highly decorated with corner quoins, cornices, pilasters, or even have a stucco finish.
In those cases, the wall visually defines the difference in social status of the inhabitants.
A load-bearing wall holds the buildings together, but is generally a durable material such as brick, masonry stone, concrete or thick wooden beams.
In modern construction, load-bearing walls are reinforced with steel or cement.
