Seinämät

Seinämät is a Finnish term referring to interior walls within a building. These structures serve a crucial role in defining spaces, providing privacy, and supporting structural loads. Unlike exterior walls, seinämät are not typically designed to withstand harsh weather conditions but rather to divide living areas, offices, or other functional zones.

The materials used for seinämät can vary widely depending on the building's construction and intended use. Common materials include wood framing with plasterboard or drywall, brick, concrete blocks, or even glass for more open-plan designs. The construction method often involves a framework that is then covered with finishing materials. Insulation can be incorporated within seinämät to improve soundproofing and thermal performance between rooms.

Functionally, seinämät can be load-bearing, meaning they contribute to the overall structural integrity of the building, or non-load-bearing, serving purely as partitions. Load-bearing seinämät are essential for supporting floors and roofs above. Non-load-bearing seinämät offer greater flexibility in interior design and layout, as they can be relocated or removed more easily during renovations. The placement and design of seinämät are key considerations in architectural planning, impacting the flow, acoustics, and aesthetics of interior spaces.