Anybody Have/use Zipwall?

IHI

I've been contemplating getting a couple sets to keep in the truck for large demo or just to isolate areas I'm working in to prevent dust from going all over. They look pretty slick, but would like some real world experience if there is any. Looks like upper "foot" is 2 piece so you sandwich the plastic between the foot and lift it into position on the ceiling-the bottom just gets placed over the remaining plastic draped on the floor. Fiugre 4 would give me my box effect I'm looking for. I've got a big bow wiindow project coming up and with cold temps and fact there will be alot of drywall/wood dust from cutting I'd like to get it within a few weeks to try it. Figure in a months time it would pay for itself over what we've been doing to section off areas and also cut down on clean up when done.

My catalog has a set of 2 for upto 12' ceilings priced at $112 plus shipping. Does that sound about right, or is therer another sister device to be had cheaper that works the same for less?

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mdshunk

One of my guys has 4 on his truck that he made himself for about 20 bucks. A piece of 2" pvc with a piece of 1-1/2" pvc slid inside of it. Plywood square on each end with a sponge glued to the plywood. The aparatus is extended and a hole drilled straight through both tubes and a bolt inserted to hold in place. He's had them and used them for several years now. I provide all the plastic sheeting. Some guys use the plastic to cover up stuff, and others tent off their work area. Just a difference in how you were trained, I guess.

ProWallGuy

I have a couple sets, and use them all the time. They work.
The zippers get a little pricey though, as you can't reuse them from job to job. If I know I will be using them, I add on about $35 to the bid to cover 2-3 of them.

Bonus, set these up, needed or not, and a homeowner WILL NOT come in. Talk about a nice, hassle-free jobsite.

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IHI

I like the sounds of that system and gave a design like that a thought, but I pictured a million holes drilled all over the place and none really having the tension to hold it all in place should a breeze catch the plstic-you know when the plastic walls/and or tarps "breath" with varying air pressures n the house. I like ths spring loaded feature as you'd think it's be better suited to holding itself in position over a comprssed sponge friction fit?? Do the PVC units seem to hold up well? How did he attach the plywood to the sliding part of the PVC?

I was thinking some conduit for the smae idea...but trying to find a spring that would slide inside the big tube that would try to force the smaller tube up-then use a quick pin to completely compress the unit for storing ion my truck. Obviously I'm stsuck on the spring loaded idea for holding it to the ceiling until I hear another method works just as good if not better.

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IHI

That just sold me right there!!! Ordering when I'm done typing this.

They ought to use that as a sales pitch

It's not that I'm not for home brewed devices, but often I have twice $$$ as much in a inferior design over just buying what i'm trying to copy in the first place

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mdshunk

So far, so good. I know of about a dozen times he's had them set up the past few years.

I see screws through the side of the pvc at each end. I suspect that he hole sawed a slug to the I.D. of the pipe for each end, screwed that to the ply, and then through the side of the PVC into the round slugs. I'm just guessing though.

Don't let me talk you into anything. I was just passing along what I observed. They seemed to work well for him, but I never saw him actually setting them up. He might have needed a helper to hold them in tightly out while he drilled the bolt hole, but I'm not sure. I do know that he staple gunned the plastic sheeting the the edge of the top plywood square before the unit was erected, much like the "sandwich" of the real Zip Wall does. It would only cost a few dollars to experiment. The "real thing" does look much more appealing if you're not the tinkering sort.

Mike Finley

This system is on my shopping list. I spent some time on their website about a week ago and am convinced. I see a secondary benefit of marketing the use of this system to my customers to sell them on the fact that we won't just come in and tear up their house.

IHI

Just got off the phone, ordered 2 of the standard sets so I should have 4-12' poles coming my way. standard ground out of IL. so I should have them Monday if all goes well. $217.80 plus shipping

Once I get a set in my hands I'll be able to think of a po boy way to make some extras for larger projects, but these "should" work excellent for 80% of my purposes...and I think it will also go along ways with homies visually since it'll look professional and really help cut down on mess/clean up...and the fact homies wont come in was the straw that broke the camels back

I'll let ya know when they come in how slick they are. We have bisqueen zippers here at the homecenters for $6.99 last time I looked so I'll have to stock up when they have them on sale.

Prowall, do you prefer a certain mill plastic over another? I was thinking just the old standard cheapie 3 mil, but if that does'nt hold up will go thicker.lemme know what you've come up with.

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slickshift

...and they think it's for their protection?
Sign me up

I'm off to search "Zipwall"

ProWallGuy

I use whatever type plastic is handy. I'll use light mil for temporary or one day jobs, and 3 mil + for extended use.
I have set up a small 3-sided box with the wall as a 4th side, and done extensive drywall repair in offices. Tape, mud, sand, prime, paint all within feet of desks/cubicle drones. Not a problem.
I actually won 2 sets as a door prize at a NGPP convention.

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IHI

Slick, go to www.protectiveproducts.com they have an entire catalog of GREAT products for our trade. I got a catalog out of the blue the other day from them and the catalog prices are cheaper than the online prices, so if you get serious order a catalog prior to making a purchase.

Prowall, I know many situations will be different for layout, but a great many of my jobs will require all 4 poles to make a plastic box like you mentioned using the outside wall as the fourth. What about hardwood floors, do they seem to hold tight even on these often slick surfaces? or would purchasing the grip discs be a worth while investment as well? I could understand on a windy day with a medium sized window taken out of a wall the possiblity of it sliding since it'd be a big sail, but for the average run of the mill job do they have enough pressure to hold themselves up without slipping?

Also eyeballing their bathtub protective paint stuff. Anybody use that? Would hate to start globbing it all over the brand new bathtubs and then spend hours trying to peel it off...that's the current situation with the moving blankets in the base then rosin paper or platic and masking tape we've been using. Seems regualr masking tape, 3M blue painters masking tape, the $.25/roll cheap crap all seem to take a real liking the the porcelin surface after being stuck on for a week or two and give me headaches trying to remove it.

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slickshift

Thanks, I'll check it out
Yeah I know what you mean
I'll have to check out those products

Mike Finley

Have you ever seen the premolded bathtub protectors? I get them at HD, for about $4.00 I think. They are shaped like a tub, and made of plastic and have foam on the bottom to protect the tub, I blue tape them on the tub rim and they keep out everything. If I am worried about something heavy knicking the tub I put my home made plywood tub cover over the top of that. Works great for me when demoing a tile surround.

IHI

No but I'll have to check that out next time I'm there. I'd just like to find a masking tape that sticks strong enough to hold the material in place, but peels up in one piece instead of hundreds of shards

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