The Anatomy of a Well-Built Wall
- Zack Riordan
- Jun 16
- 7 min read
It’s More Than Just Wood and Sheetrock
For most people thinking about building a home, a wall is just one step in the process of getting the house built, consisting of wood and sheetrock. That’s that!
At Oak & Stone, it is of the utmost importance that our builders and customers understand the anatomy of a well-built wall. In this article, we’re pulling back the drywall to explore what goes into a high-performance wall — and why it matters for your wallet and long-term satisfaction.
The Purpose of a Wall (Beyond Holding Up the Roof)
Nobody wants their roof to cave in on them, that’s for sure. But there is more to a wall than just holding up the roof.
Keeping moisture out — Water is a builder's worst enemy. When building, there is one question that applies to almost every area of the process: Where is the water going to go? In Arkansas during the springtime, rain and wind are frequent. During a heavy rainstorm, water is constantly being blown up against your house. Have you ever been under a covered gazebo while it was raining heavily, and even though you were under a roof, the wind blew the rain in and you still got wet? A good wall prevents this.
Shelter from the elements — Nobody wants sleet, snow, wind, or debris from outside entering their home.
Thermal regulation — You want your home to be warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Hot air moves to cold areas. You want a wall designed to retain heat (from your air conditioning, stove, or fireplace) during the wintertime but repel hot air during the summertime.
Sound insulation — Whether it's thunderstorms or traffic, you don’t want those sounds invading your home.
Aesthetic surface finish — You want the wall to look good, inside and out.
The Layers of a High-Performance Wall
Exterior
The Studs - Structural Integrity
You can’t have a wall without studs. Studs are the upright boards inside a wall that give it strength and shape. They act like the skeleton of the wall, helping support the roof and upper floors. Most wall studs are made from wood (like 2x4s or 2x6es) or metal, and they are usually placed 16 inches apart. Drywall (more on this later), electrical wires, plumbing pipes, and insulation are run in the studs, and they also help hold doors and windows in place.
The Sheathing (e.g., OSB) — Structural Support, Air + Element Control
The sheathing is nailed to the outside of the wall (usually OSB is used). It provides rigidity to the wall's structure. Because this layer is nailed into each stud, it ties the studs together, making the wall more stable.
It also provides some limited defense against air, wind, and the elements.
House Wrap — Moisture, Air, and Element Control
House wrap is a large roll of fabric woven from synthetic fibers that is nailed to the outside of the sheathing. Think of it like a tarp material.
House wrap is next in our line of defense against air and the elements, but it adds a new layer of protection. If properly put on, house wrap is waterproof.
After this layer is installed (and if there is sheathing and underlayment on the roof — this is a subject for another article), a builder usually considers the house “in the dry.” This is the point where most interior work can start being worked on. Running plumbing, electric, and some drywall work starts at this stage.
THE OAK & STONE WAY —
At Oak & Stone, for the protection provided by the sheathing and the house wrap, we use one product: the ZIP wall sheathing system by Huber Engineered Woods.
This product comes in sheathing sheets like OSB. The difference is the protective coating. On each sheet of ZIP sheathing, there is a green waterproof and airproof barrier coating. Each sheet is installed like OSB, and black ZIP flashing tape covers the seams to ensure the waterproof, airproof, and element-proof abilities of the product.
This process is more efficient than OSB and house wrap. By making two steps into one, you cut down on the time it takes to install two barriers. It is the ultimate two-birds-with-one-stone scenario!
Below is what the exterior of an Oak & Stone wall would look like at this point.
Rainscreen — Water Buildup Protection
A rainscreen is a small gap built behind the siding and over the house wrap (or the ZIP wall sheathing in our case) to help control moisture. Usually, we use a roll of mesh-like material on a normal wall to create this space.
No matter how well siding is installed, water can still find its way behind it — whether it’s from wind-driven rain, pressure washing, or just regular weather over time.
The rainscreen gives that water somewhere to go. Instead of soaking into your wall, it drains down and dries out. The gap lets air flow behind the siding, which helps everything dry much quicker and keeps moisture from getting trapped.
Siding — Moisture, Air, Elements, and Aesthetics
The siding of your home is the last exterior defense layer. It provides all the protection that the other layers provide and adds another: it looks good!
When choosing siding, you want to consider your own personal preferences, style, and how well a siding performs as a barrier.
Siding can be made of wood, Hardie board, vinyl, metal, brick, stucco, or rock.
Interior
Insulation — Thermal Regulation, Sound Regulation
Insulation is what helps keep your home comfortable year-round. In simple terms, it slows down the movement of heat. In the winter, it helps keep the warm air inside, and in the summer, it helps keep the heat outside where it belongs. The better your insulation, the easier it is to maintain a steady, comfortable temperature inside — and the less your heating and cooling system has to work. Insulation also helps keep noise out (or in, depending on if you have rowdy kids, IYKYK).
Insulation is measured by something called R-value. The higher the R-value, the better it is at keeping heat from moving through your walls, ceilings, or floors.
There are different types of insulation, and each has its job:
Fiberglass batts — the fluffy rolls you may have seen, good for open walls.
Blown-in insulation — sprayed into walls or attics to fill gaps.
Spray foam — expands to seal tight spaces and also helps block air leaks.
Mineral wool — great for soundproofing and moisture resistance.
A well-insulated home doesn’t just feel better — it saves you money on energy bills, reduces noise, and helps protect your home from moisture problems. When combined with other parts of your home’s wall system, like air sealing and moisture control, insulation plays a big role in how comfortable, efficient, and durable your home will be for years to come.
Drywall - Thermal Regulation, Sound Regulation, Structural Stiffening
Drywall, sometimes called sheetrock, is the final interior layer of your wall system. It’s what you see and touch inside your home — the smooth, finished surface you paint, hang pictures on, and decorate.
But drywall does more than just make your walls look good. It also adds:
Fire resistance — Most drywall contains gypsum, which is naturally fire-resistant. In some areas of the home (like garages or between living spaces), builders use special fire-rated drywall to slow the spread of fire and give extra protection.
Sound control — Drywall adds another layer that helps dampen sound, keeping your home quieter (or keeping the outside world from hearing you get on to your children).
Structural stiffening — Drywall isn’t structural like studs or sheathing but it does help stiffen the wall, reducing small movements and flexing.
Drywall sheets are usually 4 feet wide and come in different lengths depending on ceiling height. Once installed, the seams between sheets are taped and covered with joint compound (called “mud”), then sanded smooth to create a seamless surface ready for priming, painting, or finishing.
When installed correctly, drywall helps complete the system of thermal, sound, fire, and aesthetic protection that makes your home comfortable and safe.
How These Layers Work Together (The Systems Approach)
The wall of a well-built home is not just individual parts — it’s a system. Each part interlocks with another to work together.
You may have noticed how each layer of the wall offers a level of protection that the previous layer had. Every layer adds another layer of protection for what’s underneath, while also adding new protection or value to the wall as a whole.
Take one of the layers away, and you end up with problems: drafts, mold, energy waste — all of which cost you more money in the long run.
Why It Matters for Homeowners
Durability: Reduces water-related repairs and mold
Comfort: Fewer drafts, more consistent temperatures
Efficiency: Lower energy bills with less HVAC load
Resale value: Smart buyers notice quality construction
Peace of mind: Your home is safer and healthier
Building Walls That Last
At the end of the day, a wall is much more than wood and sheetrock. It’s a carefully designed system of layers, each one working together to protect your home from the elements, moisture, heat, cold, noise, and even fire.
When done right, this system keeps your home comfortable, efficient, durable, and safe for years to come. When shortcuts are taken, you feel it — in your energy bills, repairs, and long-term frustration.
That’s why at Oak & Stone, we believe in doing it right the first time. Because when you invest in a well-built wall, you're really investing in the long-term comfort and value of your home.
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