GAH - TEMPORARY WALL

[Patricia O'Connor]

GAH – TEMPORARY WALL – PARTICULARLY in relation to CORNER FLATS

Hi  I live in a corner flat in GAH and the relevant works for installing the Temporary Walls have been completed.  I was asked to comment in no official capacity but purely on my 'experience' so will do so in point form (this is the shorter version!).

1.            Electrician will move sockets so that they won't be outside the temporary wall ie they will  be inside both the Living Room and Bedroom.

2.            Plumber will come and disconnect the radiators in both rooms (Bathroom and Kitchen radiators remain). The electricity to the Boiler will be turned off for about an hour – so you will not have hot water during this time so plan not to do your washing then.

3.            Workmen organise a clear pathway in order to carry the Temporary Walls into the flat.

4.            The workmen then cover all furniture in the rooms to protect from dirt and damage.

5.            In my flat, they slid the Living Room window open and were able to bring each section of the wall straight from the cradle into the room and navigate very efficiently into the bedroom.

6.            Each wall comprises 3 sections and are extremely heavy.  A window is contained in the middle section and is complete with its own blind.  The blinds are white and allow light in so the rooms don't look gloomy.

7.            The beaded 'rope' to open and close the blind is fixed to the right of the blind as you look at it.  The distance from the 'rope' to the right hand wall is 65cm in the Bedroom and 73cm in the Living Room.  I mention this as you may wish to organise your furniture in order to allow for clear access to them.

8.            For those of us with fitted Carpets.  These will be rolled back so they come within the temporary wall.  In the Bedroom, the roll will run straight along the wall under the window.  However, in the Living Room, the wall is L-shaped in order to accommodate the Window and the Balcony Door.  It's obvious, but I hadn't registered this, the rolled up carpet can only go back as far as the Balcony Door, not back to the Window (unless you are prepared to cut it).  For some people, this leaves a potential trip hazard in the Living Room, especially when moving to adjust the blind. 

9.            From my experience, don't even think about sitting in either room while the works are going on.  There will be nowhere to sit anyway as everything will be covered and taped up. Plus, I had at least 7 men at one time working and they need space to manoeuvre, especially with the wall sections.  

10.          Anything you want to use that day – put in the bathroom the night before!  I was up and dressed before the workmen came in, no problem.  When I went to go out at lunchtime, (I had no qualms about leaving the workmen alone in the flat) I realised I was in my slippers but my shoes were under wrap!  The workmen were brilliant and came to the rescue but it's simple little things that won't  be readily accessible – and that includes the telephone.

11.          I had anticipated where to put the bedding and made sure the bath was free for the purpose! 

12.          It seems the bedroom wall is secured to the ceiling in the afternoon and that's a good time to be out of the flat as it is obviously noisy.  But you'll hear when this happens in the other flats anyway.

13.          All trinkets and Golden Globe Awards, etc. that are on the window ledges must be cleared. All fixed shelving on the sliding wall must be removed.  Again, it's obvious, but you will no longer have that shelving space when the works have been done so need to think about where you want items to be.

14.          You are not allowed to pierce the Temporary Wall with nails or anything as this will comprise the Fire Standard of the wall.  So, I can't put shelving up where I thought I would!

13.          Two electric heaters are left in the flat at the end of the day and are very efficient.

              I can say that the workmen were brilliant.  Some of them are not confident with their English so  will keep their heads down so as not to engage with you – but they do understand 'milk and 2 sugars' OK.  They didn't stop working all day, the different tradesmen co-operated well with each other.  The wraps were taken off everything and furniture put back in its place and they hoovered before they left.  It's inevitable that a film of plaster dust will be left behind and there is no way it can be avoided.  If you're really concerned about something, it might be an idea to either box it up or totally remove it from the flat while the works are going on; or put it under the duvet in the bath!  It was such a flurry of activity all day that it has taken a while to realise what's happened.

Hope something of the above helps someone.

[Patricia O'Connor]

Hooray, Someone has read it.  Thank you.  I would add that, for those of us who are used to hanging their washing on the rails in front of the windows, these are gone (they're stored behind the temporary wall).  Drying clothes does need a rethink! Similarly, for those who used the rail for steadying themselves eg when opening closing blinds, you will have nothing but a flat wall now.  I'm having to rethink where to move the TV to as this would be the first thing that I could grab onto if I had a wobbly (stepping over the rolled up carpet) and, in the event of a fall, I would bring the TV down with me.  Not a good look.

[Chamberpot Bowell & Pond]

I was going to post my own wall/install experiences but Patricia has done such a definitive job that I can't think of anything to add. Only that the workmen were as described, quick and courteous, and the experience was a little like living in the Midwest and having a twister rip through your house, and then waking up like Dorothy to discover it was all a dream. They left no trace, apart from the aforementioned thin layer of dust and the aroma of paint (to get rid of this, you have to lean out of the temporary window to open your old window, which might be tricky for some people... but the Keepmoat team really do seem happy to help with anything).

Now the real bells and whistles begin!

Amazing how quiet the flat is now, I'm hoping this is a taste of the way things will be with double glazing. And so much warmer, I can't tell you how well the heaters they left behind work because I haven't had to use them.

[David Kreikmeier-Watson]

Thanks Patricia - it will be later in the year before this happens to me HOWEVER my neighbour was one of the first people to be "done" the week before last. One experience that we had and is useful to pass on is that it really helps if you can keep the landing clear on the day the work is done.    The guys were struggling with some of the panels at one point because of clutter on the landing.

[Iain Meek]

Good to hear that it is going well.  Sounds as if the building contractors are on the ball.