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Independent Tool Review
by Peter Brett - September 2007
For more information call Christine
01444 440188
Ready Wall
Deals with Dust
Whenever I “do decorating”, which I have to admit, is as rarely as I can get away with, I always manage to ensure that the adjoining rooms and passages look like they need decorating after I have finished. This is because the dust, mess and general materials involved in decorating are easy to transfer from one place to another. I have tried many ways of isolating the decorating area, but they are usually ad hoc and none too successful. However, READY WALL seems as though it might well be an answer to my problems.
It is a simple idea, some adjustable poles, some magnets and a big sheet of plastic are what it consists of. I am sure that many decorators will have tried using similar ideas, but what sets READY WALL apart is its relatively low cost and its ease of use.
The set I was sent to trial was the basic one and therefore had only two poles, but it was enough to show me how READY WALL would work in practice. The poles look at first to be quite complicated, but they have only three key parts. A thumb release lever allows the pole to be extended easily. A twist mechanism allows the pole to extend further for smaller adjustments, and the head and tail of the poles have rubber-faced pads with removable magnets that hold the plastic sheet in place.
It took me just two minutes to set up one pole in my chosen position, the hardest part being to ensure that the plastic sheet is not torn or damaged in the process and that it is correctly oriented. Using the magnet, a corner of the plastic sheet is attached so that it is over the top of the rubber pad. The release lever is then used to extend the pole to the ceiling and then backed off a bit. With a clockwise twist of the upper pole it is extended to the ceiling and the pole is adjusted to be as perpendicular as possible.
Then it is firmly held in place by cranking the pole advance lever a bit to get a bit of grip on the ceiling. Not too much, otherwise repairing holes in the ceiling might be added to your list of decorating chores.
The next pole is then similarly prepared and placed where needed and then the plastic sheet is secured to the bottom of the poles with the magnets provided. I managed to make a temporary barrier across my L-shaped lounge in a few minutes with the help of a professional decorator friend. He was impressed by the ease of use, but suggested that the plastic sheet provided might be too lightweight. But for the price of £xxx he considered the time and hassle savings would make it money well spent and plastic sheets are easily obtainable.
The clincher for me was that the whole kit (up to four poles) can be fitted into a tall canvas carry bag and slung into the back of the van ready for the next day’s work - easy!
Independent Review by Peter Brett
Airstream Communications