Walls are often an ignored design element. We like to focus on the colors that we can paint them or the shelves to mount on them. But less often do we think of the wall itself and of the space that it creates. Building a temporary wall is one way to create new space and privacy in just a few hours and for only a moderate cost.

What Is a Temporary Wall?

Walls in a home are either load-bearing or non-load-bearing. Load-bearing walls are always located on the perimeter of a home and sometimes are found as interior walls. Non-load-bearing walls are always interior walls.

A temporary wall falls within the general category of non-load-bearing walls. It bears, or carries, no weight from loads above it; it only bears its own weight.

• A temporary wall is the same as an interior wall—with modifications:
• It does not have electrical wiring or plumbing pipes.
• It can be removed with only minor, easily repairable damage to walls, floors, or ceiling.
• It is built on the ground, then tipped up into place.
• Its drywall may sometimes be left partially unfinished (no tape, no joint compound).

Uses For a Temporary Wall

• Divide a child’s bedroom to accommodate a second bed
• Screen off an area undergoing long-lasting renovations
• Create a home office by sectioning out a large room
• Around sewage pipes to block them from sight
• In laundry rooms to disguise dryer vents, wires, or pipes
• In finished basements to create temporary rooms

Codes, Regulations, and Permits

Many communities require building permits for any type of wall, even temporary non-load-bearing walls. Contact your local permitting office for information about permits for temporary walls.

Safety Considerations

Due to its weight, a temporary wall should be built only on a solid base. Ceiling or floor joists may not be sufficient to carry the weight of the temporary wall, depending on the size of the wall. A concrete slab foundation can adequately carry a temporary wall.