Pressurized walls are temporary walls built with reams of ​1â„2" (6 mm) to ​5â„8" (16 mm) sheet rock (plasterboard), metal 2 × 3s (approx. 5 × 7 cm) or 2 × 4s, or taped, plastered and compounded. Most installation companies utilize LATTICE strips of wood to cover the joints of the above drywall. After the frame-out process, 1​1â„4" (32 mm) sheet rock screws are used to attach the drywall to the pressurized 2×4s that contact the floor, the ceiling and the sides of the property's walls. In order to prevent structural or architectural damage, only T-nuts and leveling screw pads are used on those studs. No additional fasteners or adhesives are used to add stability to the frame work.
Generally, hollow core doors or French style doors are recommended to prevent weight overload and/or shifting of a pressurized wall. Completed walls are often painted the same color as existing walls. With the development of technologies, pressurized walls and temporary walls in general are getting more and more stable and reliable. Many landlords used to allow tenants to construct pressurized walls as long as they remove the walls before vacating the apartment. As a result, pressurized walls became especially popular in New York City, where the high cost of real estate leads many tenants to use such walls to create extra bedrooms, home offices or walk-in closets.
In mid-2010, New York City authorities started demanding that such walls be removed because they contravene building codes and can pose safety hazards. However, no local law has been passed banning the use/installation/leasing of these pressurized walls aka pressurized partitions as the gray area has not been clearly defined by the 2008 printed/issued NYC Building Code.
In 2016 Pressurized walls are no longer only local New York City phenomenon. Pressurized walls and Temporary walls are spread around California and Pennsylvania. December 2016 The New York Times article focus on the flexibility they provide to young professionals.
References
Temporary Wall Company NYC | Temporary Walls NYC - 1daywall is a temporary wall company specializing in maximizing living and office space by providing temporary walls and bookcase divider that convert one ...
2. Jaclyn Peiser. Roommates Divide and Conquer With Temporary Walls, The New York Times, December 9, 2016
