Brick partitions are robust, familiar to Spanish trades and good at taking heavy fixings; they are heavier and slower to build and need plastering. Plasterboard on metal framing is lighter, quicker and makes it easy to run services inside the wall; with mineral wool infill and suitable boards it can perform well acoustically, and moisture-resistant boards exist for wet rooms. The right choice depends on the wall’s purpose, its location and what will hang on it.
How are the two systems built?
A brick partition is built from ceramic bricks laid with mortar, then plastered on both sides. Spanish flats have traditionally used thin hollow bricks for internal walls. A plasterboard partition — known in everyday Spanish as pladur — is a frame of metal studs fixed to floor and ceiling, often filled with mineral wool and closed with one or more layers of board on each side, then taped and finished.
Our gallery shows both: brick partitions going up for a new layout, and metal framing for ceilings and boxing-in.
Which is better for sound between rooms?
It depends more on the build-up than on the material. A single-skin brick partition plastered on both sides offers a moderate level of sound reduction. A plasterboard partition with mineral wool infill and double boards on each side can perform as well or better, because the combination of mass, cavity and absorbent layer works against airborne noise. A badly built partition of either kind, with gaps at the edges or back-to-back sockets, performs poorly. For walls between bedrooms, or next to a noisy party wall, ask what build-up is proposed rather than which material. Our soundproofing guide explains why.
Which takes heavy fixings better?
Brick, generally. Kitchen wall units, heavy shelving, a wall-hung WC or a large television can be fixed into brick with standard anchors. Plasterboard needs planning: timber or metal reinforcement inside the frame where heavy items will go, or specific fixings for hollow walls. That is easy to arrange during construction and awkward afterwards, so decide early what will hang where.
What about bathrooms and kitchens?
Both systems are used in wet rooms. With plasterboard, moisture-resistant boards and a proper waterproofing layer behind tiles in wet zones are essential, and a wall-hung WC needs a dedicated support frame. With brick, the wall is less sensitive to moisture, but it still needs waterproofing in shower areas. In either case, the waterproofing does the critical work, not the wall itself.
Which is faster and cleaner on site?
Plasterboard is usually quicker to build and dries immediately, because there is no mortar or wet plaster. Services can run inside the frame without cutting chases. Brick needs time for mortar and plaster to dry and requires chasing for services, which creates dust and debris. In an occupied building, the lighter, drier and quieter process of plasterboard can be an advantage. On the other hand, brick is what many local tradespeople prefer, and it tolerates rough treatment well.
So which should you choose?
- Brick suits walls that will carry heavy items, walls in rental flats exposed to knocks, and owners who prefer the traditional feel of a solid wall.
- Plasterboard suits walls full of services, curved or complex shapes, built-in storage and niches, and jobs where speed and less wet work matter.
- Either can work for sound, if the build-up is designed for it.
Many renovations mix the two. Neither is suitable for structural walls, which are a matter for an architect or engineer; see our layout guide. Our page on older apartment renovation shows how new partitions fit into the wider job.
Does the choice affect the rest of the renovation?
Yes, in small but real ways. Plasterboard partitions are thinner for the same performance in some build-ups, which can give back a few centimetres of room width. Brick walls need plastering before tiling or painting, which adds a wet stage to the programme. Doors are fixed differently in each system, and the position of sockets and switches is easier to change late in plasterboard. In both cases, the decision should be taken before the electrical and plumbing first fix, because cable and pipe routes depend on it.
What about the finish and future changes?
Both systems end up looking the same once painted. Plasterboard joints must be taped and filled well, or they can show under raking light; brick walls must be plastered flat, or they show waves. Looking further ahead, plasterboard walls are easier to open for a future repair or a new socket and easier to remove if the layout changes again, while brick walls are harder to alter but more forgiving of knocks and heavy use. If you expect to adapt the flat again in future, that flexibility is worth weighing.
Bauman Raymond Attila · Reforma Pisos Málaga · Avenida Antonio Belón 3, Marbella. Last reviewed: 05/11/2026.
