Comparing wall thicknesses

Why it can be narrower

For two structural reasons.

The insulation is inside the structure

In a traditional wall the load-bearing layer and the insulation sit next to each other: masonry plus insulation. In a framed structure the insulation sits between and outside the sections, so the structure does not take up separate space.

The sound insulation works by decoupling

For a party wall the traditional answer is doubled masonry. The light gauge steel answer achieves the same by decoupling and heavy lining — from a far smaller thickness. Party walls.

What it means in numbers

No single figure can be given, because build-ups vary. The order of magnitude, though, is clear: for the same thermal value the whole wall can be roughly half the thickness.

A reference point from the structural side: a wall built from 90 mm profile in 1.0 mm material already counts as load-bearing in a single-storey house — the exact figure depends on the span and on how many walls can be brought into the structure.

Why this is the main argument

Use of space is one of the strongest and most easily measured advantages of the technology — alongside durability.

On a plot with a fixed permitted footprint, wall thickness converts directly into usable floor area. In an apartment building that is several square metres per flat; in a house it can be a whole room’s worth.

That gain, measurable in money, is often worth more than the saving on the material cost of the structure.

What has to be added

The narrower wall is not automatic: it comes out when the build-up is designed properly. Put the insulation only between the sections and the thermal result gets worse and the thickness advantage does not materialise either. Continuous external insulation.

The other side

The service cavity takes 30–40 mm on the inside — that has to be counted in. The balance still comes out clearly positive.

The point

A thinner wall is not an aesthetic detail but floor area. This is the advantage the client still perceives after moving in.