When facility managers plan for renovations, containment can easily be treated as an afterthought. Plastic sheeting or drywall may seem like the “easy” or “cheap” option at first, but the real cost shows up later in the form of dust, labor, compliance violations, missed deadlines, and endless cleanup.
The reality is simple: what feels inexpensive in the moment can quickly turn into one of the biggest hidden drains on your renovation budget.
Reusable temporary wall systems have changed that equation. They’re engineered for speed, safety, and compliance, and over time, they deliver serious returns on investment. If your goal is to reduce your temporary wall cost while keeping projects on track and protecting patient safety, modular containment is the smarter choice.
Plastic and drywall don’t only cost you at the point of purchase. The real expenses show up across the entire project in the form of:
On the surface, drywall and plastic sheeting may look less expensive, but once you calculate labor, disposal, and repetition, the numbers tell a different story. A typical drywall barrier can cost around $2,280 per project, which is about 25 labor hours plus materials and disposal. Plastic sheeting may look cheaper at first, but it still runs roughly $884 per project, with 11 labor hours factored in.
Now compare that with modular wall systems. After the initial purchase, each use comes in at only $225, covering about three labor hours and no disposal costs since the panels are reusable.
The math works out quickly. By the third project, modular containment has already outpaced drywall in savings. By the eighth project, it’s more cost-effective than plastic. And every reuse beyond that only drives the cost per job lower, turning a one-time investment into a long-term budget win.
ROI isn’t just a number on a spreadsheet. You see it in how smoothly projects run, like fewer delays, fewer complaints, and safer environments across different facility types.
Here are a few real ways that temporary wall barriers like STARC® RealWall systems can support a variety of renovation or construction projects:
Anyone who’s managed construction in a hospital knows how disruptive it can be. With drywall, you can lose a week just getting containment up, and during that time, patient rooms sit empty and workflows are interrupted.
Modular walls flip that script. Crews can install them overnight, tie in negative air machines, and have the space ready the next morning. That means patients stay in rooms, revenue isn’t lost, and staff aren’t forced into workarounds for days on end.
Schools have a different kind of pressure: parents and staff are watching every move. Plastic sheeting might seem like the easy answer, but it never seals properly. Dust still finds its way into classrooms, and complaints start almost immediately.
Modular walls give schools a cleaner option. They seal tight, look professional, and let projects move forward without disrupting class schedules or drawing the wrong kind of attention from families.
In an office, the pain point is productivity. Every hour people can’t use a space is money lost. Drywall takes too long, and plastic barriers don’t hold up.
With modular walls, setup happens in hours, not days, so employees get back to work faster and managers avoid the hidden costs that come with extended downtime.
Renovating in an occupied hospital comes with high stakes. Every hour of downtime affects patient care, budgets, and staff morale.
Modular temporary wall systems install in hours instead of days, cut down labor costs, and minimize disruptions to clinical workflows. Built-in airtight seals and HEPA compatibility mean stronger infection control, fewer delays, and less rework.
Start saving your facility’s budget today.
Traditional methods either take too long (drywall) or fail to seal effectively (plastic sheeting). Modular walls do both better: fast installation, tight seals, and compliance-ready finishes.
They create cleaner job sites, reduce dust, and help projects pass ICRA inspections the first time. That means fewer staff complaints, less HVAC cleanup, and more confidence from inspectors.
Take your facility’s upcoming construction project to the next level.
The cheapest solution on paper often becomes the most expensive in practice. Once you factor in labor, debris, disposal, and inspection delays, drywall and plastic can easily derail your budget.
Modular systems, by contrast, provide reusable, professional-grade containment that lowers costs on every project and keeps inspectors satisfied.
Discover how to maximize your value without sacrifice.
Every facility manager knows that capital dollars have to stretch further each year. With modular containment, you’re buying a repeatable process that pays off project after project.
Compared to single-use methods, the math is clear: modular wall systems deliver measurable returns while improving compliance and patient safety.
Break down your facility’s own ROI and see if modular wall systems are right for you.
With more regulations, tighter budgets, and rising sustainability expectations, drywall and plastic just don’t add up anymore.
Modular temporary wall systems are the future of containment: reusable, efficient, and compliant. They cut downtime, save money, and protect the people who matter most: your patients, staff, and students.
Containment is only half of the equation. Air control is the other. Download our HEPA vs. ULPA Guide to see how the right filtration strategy supports safer, smarter renovations.