Filling In Pressurized Wall Gap to the Ceiling

Hi everyone,

I'm new to DIY.com (and DIY in general). I wanted to partition a room in my rented NYC apartment, and hired a contractor to build a pressurized wall. Unfortunately for liability reasons, he was unwilling to build the wall to the ceiling, so there is now a 1 foot gap between the wall and the ceiling (see photo link). The ceiling has a beam, so the gap is approximately 6" from the beam. The partitioning wall is L shaped. The contractor suggested we fill in the gap with foamcore panels. I would love to get any advice on the following:
-I assume I would have to cut four panels, wedge them between the top of the wall and the ceiling, glue them together and caulk the cracks. Is this the right method?
-What material should I use for the panels?
-How do I wedge the panels in the corner?
-Is it necessary to glue the panels to the ceiling, or can I just glue them to the pressurized wall frame?

Photo of the wall: https://www.dropbox.com/s/w84ig8cp21rhtdy/DSC00099.JPG

Many thanks in advance!

Best,
Charlene

 

Wouldn't that just be contravening the current building code? The law has been on the books for years even before the deaths in 2005. Looks like you would just be looking for a "heap" of liability and an angry landlord. Then there is the flammability of foamcore. Could that even be addressed in a way that didn't violate the fire code.

 

Thanks for the response. I've seen it done in other apartments in the same building; the building allows for temporary partial walls, with the frame stopping at 1 foot from the ceiling and with plexiglass or other filler material making up the difference. The contractor said that the beam prevented him from filling in the gap with plexiglass, so we're now looking at a DIY job with foamcore.

The alternative we're looking at is to make a false ceiling between the partial wall frame and another horizontal ceiling beam - we'd just cover up the large gap in the picture here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ne8fquvztj62w7e/DSC00114.JPG

Not sure if this would be easier than doing the foamcore filler.

 

Do you have sprinklers?

.

 

No, we don't have sprinklers.

 

Simplest I think and least likely to cause a code violation would be a a heavy curtain. the curtain would be cut out at the beams to go under but hug the bottom of the beam. Between the joists it would be on pressure rods between the joists. At the top of the cut outs that go under the beams a stiffener such as a piece of screen door molding (similar to the piece in the bottom of roll up shades) could be sewn in to prevent sagging. The curtains could be made of stiff heavy fabric .

 

Please excuse my ignorance but what the heck is a pressurized wall?

 

Thanks for the suggestion, ray2047. To my understanding, the law has a grey area right now, so I'm still trying to see if it would be possible for us to put up a more soundproof/private solution.

Furd - a pressurized wall is a temporary wall with no nuts/screws/adhesives to attach it to the ceiling, floor, or existing walls. The pressure comes from metal 2x4s on the floor and at the top of the frame; the metal studs of the temp wall are built flush against the existing walls, and the drywall is screwed into the 2x4s. Helps make a NYC apartment slightly more affordable for recent grads!

 

Okay...I don't see where the pressure is if there are no fasteners in wall, floor or ceiling but if it works I'm cool.

 

Welcome to the forums!

Is there emergency egress from the new room? That is, (is there a fire escape outside the window(s)?

 

Hello Nashkat - there's no emergency egress from the partitioned off room.

 

Then it won't be used as a bedroom? Not sure it's compliant even then.

 

Hey,

I'm about to be in a very similar boat, we will be putting up a wall with the gap at the top. Did you figure out a good way to fill it in? Do you feel like you get enough privacy?

 

I am also in the same boat - thinking about plexi glass but have heard that the noise goes right through it and that insulated foam panels are better.... A little concerned about the flammability though.. Anyone else have any other solutions for filling the gap between the top of the wall and the ceiling?

Thanks!
Stacey