Adding a room at home: which 'lightweight partition wall' to choose to fit both budget and function

Getting to know lightweight partition walls, the popular way to add space at home

When your family grows or you start working from home more, adding a room is an idea many people consider, and lightweight drywall partitions are the best solution, because they're light, don't load the existing structure, install quickly and save money. But choosing the right type of board for how each room will be used is key to making the new room last a long time without problems.

3 popular lightweight wall materials in depth: which one suits you

There are many types of lightweight wall materials on the market, each with clearly different strengths:

• Gypsum board: smooth surface with seamless plastered joints, good heat and sound insulation, and a range of special versions such as moisture-resistant boards for kitchens or fire-rated boards; suits bedrooms and living rooms
• Fibre-cement board (SmartBoard): made of cement mixed with natural fibres; strong, water- and moisture-resistant, and termites don't eat it; suits wet areas or places that need extra strength
• Aerated concrete (AAC): although it's laid like brick, it's much lighter than clay brick; suits people who want a wall that feels solid, insulates sound very well and can comfortably take heavy items hung on it

Checklist for choosing a lightweight wall for each room

• Bedroom or home office: we recommend gypsum board 12 mm or thicker, adding acoustic insulation inside the stud cavity for privacy and quiet
• Bathroom or laundry area: use only fibre-cement board or moisture-resistant gypsum board, and always apply waterproofing before tiling over it
• Living room / TV area: if you plan to hang a TV or heavy shelves, use 8-12 mm SmartBoard, or fix dense plywood behind the frame to give extra anchor points

Precautions and work that needs a specialist

Putting up a lightweight partition may look easy to do yourself, but fixing the steel frame to the existing structure and hiding wiring in the wall are very important for safety. Work with an engineer to assess the floor load, and use a qualified electrician for wiring and sockets inside the partition, to prevent short circuits and accidents in the future.