i was looking into apts in NYU and a lot of the people are talking about splitting a big bedroom or creating a bedroom from a living room using pressurized walls. I would like to know more about how these work. Can you guys give me more info please.
1. how effective are they overall?
2. who installs them?
3. costs?
4. how are the compared to regular walls in terms of being sound proof/ light proof/ etc
and anything else you guys can tell me about these walls would be great.
1) They're completely effective. All of my classmates living near NYU have pressurized walls put in -- It's absolutely necessary to be able to afford the rent here! The living room is actually designed to be broken up.. it would be ridiculously huge if you didn't. I did it at my complex both this year and last year and both times, the split room has been big enough for a full size bed/desk/dresser and the living room big enough for 2 couches, a coffee table, and 2 couches.
2) There are a lot of companies that install them. You can look them up yourself or ask the complex you're living in which companies they recommend.
3) Cost varies by company and what kind of wall you want -- does it have a corner or is it straight? How long is it? My wall last year cost around $2000 (13 ft straight wall but from an expensive company) and this year it cost about $1000 (L-shaped wall with one side being about 3 feet and the other about 11 feet).
4) They are completely light proof. Sound proofing depends on the insulation they use. The company I used this year did a way better job (the cheaper company... go figure) and the wall is just as sound proof as all the other walls in the house. Moreover, nobody even realizes that it's not a permanent wall and some people don't even believe it's a pressurized wall until I prove it to them. Make sure you look at reviews to see what people think of the wall company's workmanship.
I had one more question : Ok so they charge whatever money to come and install it right. But what happens when you are moving out of the apt? do they charge you money again to remove it?
Included in the money they charge will be a deposit of about $500 or so. They remove it for free (Pretty sure they reuse all of the internal materials) and in 6-8 weeks (or 6 months and 10+ phone calls later if you're that first company I went with... ugh) they will refund your deposit.
