Mortar
Mortar is the material used to hold bricks together. There are a number of variations in mortar that are worth knowing about.
Mortar is used...
Plasterboard
Plasterboard is by far the most common interior wall surface in Australia, thanks to its tremendous versatility and low cost.
What is plasterboard?
Plasterboard is a...
Cob homes
Cob walls are typically quite roughly built, but do offer some advantages over many of the more sophisticated choices.
What is cob?
Like mud brick and...
Mud brick and adobe
Mud brick and adobe are two other types of wall materials that are making a resurgence as alternative building materials.
What is mud brick or...
Plastic cladding/vinyl cladding
Plastic or vinyl cladding is often made to imitate weatherboards, and is a relatively cheap and durable alternative.
What is vinyl cladding?
Vinyl (or plastic, or...
Weatherboard/wood cladding
Weatherboard is very common in older Australian homes. It is easy to maintain, and relatively cost-efficient to buy and install.
What is weatherboard or wood...
Stone cladding
Stone cladding, in addition to the many attractive finishes it offers, is very resilient and durable, and only requires very basic maintenance.
Stone cladding can...
Metal cladding
Metal cladding is strong and weather resistant, and offers a very wide range of decorative and design choices for a home's exterior.
Metal cladding can...
Breeze blocks/besser blocks
Known by many names, these types of bricks are easy to build with and are very commonly used to make building walls in Australia.
Besser...
External wall materials
External walls need to be tough, but they also need to look good. Find out more about what sorts of materials are used on...