Temporary bookshelf walls - outside of NYC?
November 12, 2013 2:37 PM Subscribe
Can I get a temporary bookshelf wall outside of NYC?
I've seen some recent articles about temporary bookshelf walls and pressurized bookshelf walls. They are available from some NYC firms for about $1500. But I live in Vancouver. I am interested in buying a wall that I could put up to split my kids' room into two. But I want something that is temporary and non-damaging, so that I don't have to get the approval of my strata council, who would never approve the room being made into two.
If there is another solution to this, please let me know. It needs to be earthquake safe and kid safe too.
I've seen some recent articles about temporary bookshelf walls and pressurized bookshelf walls. They are available from some NYC firms for about $1500. But I live in Vancouver. I am interested in buying a wall that I could put up to split my kids' room into two. But I want something that is temporary and non-damaging, so that I don't have to get the approval of my strata council, who would never approve the room being made into two.
If there is another solution to this, please let me know. It needs to be earthquake safe and kid safe too.
Seconding Expedit. It's also ridiculously easy to assemble, and you can also get drawers and doors for the sections, or baskets that are sized to fit exactly.
posted by MexicanYenta at 2:57 PM on November 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by MexicanYenta at 2:57 PM on November 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Are you interested in walls for spatial reasons, or for soundproofing reasons? Because an IKEA bookshelf would work perfectly to divide the room, but won't provide any sound isolation between the two rooms.
posted by suedehead at 3:34 PM on November 12, 2013
posted by suedehead at 3:34 PM on November 12, 2013
Response by poster: I am not so interested in sound proofing. But the thing with an Ikea bookshelf, such as Expedit, is that my kids will climb through it. So I'd want something you can't go through. I suppose I should clarify and say that I don't care if it is a bookshelf, but my understanding is that the walls from, say, here are technically furniture and movable and use some sort of pressure. So it doesn't really have to be a bookshelf. I just liked that some of these systems (not just that company) have bookshelves, but may also have doors or transoms.
posted by Chaussette and the Pussy Cats at 5:12 PM on November 12, 2013
posted by Chaussette and the Pussy Cats at 5:12 PM on November 12, 2013
That is why you put an insert in the empty shelves.
posted by saucysault at 6:07 PM on November 12, 2013
posted by saucysault at 6:07 PM on November 12, 2013
Response by poster: Yes, but can't you just pop the inserts out? I'm pretty sure my kids would tear them apart. I was meaning that I am looking for the kinds of bookshelf walls that can have doors and things in them and that you can't go through.
posted by Chaussette and the Pussy Cats at 10:03 PM on November 12, 2013
posted by Chaussette and the Pussy Cats at 10:03 PM on November 12, 2013
I have not used them myself but the instructions appear to indicate the drawer unit is screwed to the bookcase. Which makes sense, the pulling/pushing motion on the drawers would soon knock the insert out if it wasn't secured to the structure.
posted by saucysault at 10:41 PM on November 12, 2013
posted by saucysault at 10:41 PM on November 12, 2013
The inserts are screwed into the side walls of the sections. So your kids wouldn't be able to just pop them out.
posted by MexicanYenta at 10:42 PM on November 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by MexicanYenta at 10:42 PM on November 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
A carpenter should be able to build a pressure wall for you.
Depending on how rough your kids are with things you might not be very happy with it. Since they are not tied in with the ceiling beams or floor, you can unseat one with a good solid kick at the top or bottom. If they are small they probably won't be able to manage it.
Since there aren't dedicated companies, removing it again won't be part of the standard service package, but removing it is very easy if you don't care about using the wall again.
posted by yohko at 5:29 AM on November 13, 2013
Depending on how rough your kids are with things you might not be very happy with it. Since they are not tied in with the ceiling beams or floor, you can unseat one with a good solid kick at the top or bottom. If they are small they probably won't be able to manage it.
Since there aren't dedicated companies, removing it again won't be part of the standard service package, but removing it is very easy if you don't care about using the wall again.
posted by yohko at 5:29 AM on November 13, 2013
Response by poster: Thanks. I was interested in doing something that would fit into the loophole of furniture, as I am certain my strata would never approve me having a wall. I have hot water heat and they come in to inspect stuff sometimes, so it's not like I can hide the wall from them. I will maybe see if there is something I can do around a book case with a door in it....
posted by Chaussette and the Pussy Cats at 2:14 PM on November 13, 2013
posted by Chaussette and the Pussy Cats at 2:14 PM on November 13, 2013
If you want a door as well I would do the expedit and then another bookcase like Billy and put a door on it (I was actually looking for a split door because the children would probably love a smaller door...) and firmly attach the bookcase to the wall.
posted by saucysault at 6:07 AM on November 15, 2013
posted by saucysault at 6:07 AM on November 15, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by saucysault at 2:45 PM on November 12, 2013 [1 favorite]