The Essential Buyers Guide for Temporary Walls

For many years, “open concept” has become the standard when it comes to architectural design. It can work great when space is limited, and it’s admired for its modern, flowing atmosphere, where you can eat in the kitchen, and watch Netflix in the dining room. Because, well, it's all the same room.

However, sometimes space, and specifically space division, is necessary. It’s hard to separate “work” from “life” when you’re working from home, and sleeping in your office. For others, an extra bedroom is needed for a while, but not forever. Research has shown that families are merging together now more than ever. In order to live comfortably, personal space is needed. But, nothing is forever, including living situations and space needs. 

This is where temporary, modular walls are essential.

Temporary walls, or modular walls, can be easily purchased online and assembled at home. They’re perfect for those who need semi-permanent space or walls, but don’t want to deal with contractors, drywall, studs, mud, debris, permits, etc.

However, while they’re easy to assemble, you’ll still want to do a few things before ordering your brand new wall. 

Measure your space

Size matters. The first thing you want to know is how big your space is currently, and how big you want your space to be after you’ve added your wall. If you’re looking to add a wall between two walls, this step is especially important. 

And not just floor space, how high are your ceilings? With temporary walls, it’s always recommended to leave a minimum of 2 inches between your wall and your ceiling, to allow for proper airflow and circulation.

Check your floor for dips and bulges

Because temporary walls sit directly on top of your floor, you’ll want to make sure your floor is flat. Dips and bulges will undermine the stability of the wall and create issues during assembly. This process just involves sliding a flat object across your floor and seeing if it doesn’t touch the floor at any point. A level is optimal, but anything over 3’ in length will do the trick, such as a broomstick or even a picture frame (yes, really). If there’s a gap at any point, the distance between the object and the floor is important. For a 4’ stretch, under ¼” is acceptable, any more than that may pose a problem. Contact us if you’re unsure.

Wall mounted or freestanding?

While it may seem daunting, mounting to your existing wall is always recommended. Not only is it the most stable option, but for walls with doors, it can reduce the price by as much as $500. Your flooring and ceiling remains intact, all it leaves behind is 4 small holes in your wall, which can be easily spackled and painted over when you’re finished. 

However, freestanding is an option, and is great if you really want avoid any contact with your existing walls.

Check the code

Checking with your HOA, local building code, landlord, and/or building management is never a bad idea. Freestanding walls are considered furniture under most jurisdictions, and if no wiring installed, wall mounted is usually acceptable as well. However, it never hurts to ask to avoid any issues down the road. 

By taking the extra 10-15 minutes to follow these steps, you’ve already ensured that your temporary wall installation goes smoothly from beginning to end.

If you still have questions, contact us!