Media Wall in Birkdale
Birkdale. A full-width media wall, framed, boarded, wired and skimmed, with six alcoves, a television recess, a fire opening and a light in every alcove.
What the customer wanted
A through lounge in Birkdale with a long blank wall at one end and a television standing in front of it on a unit. What they asked for was the wall itself to do the job: the screen recessed in, a fire under it, shelving up both sides and across the top, and the light coming out of the shelves rather than from a lamp. The room is wide, so a small feature panel in the middle of it would have looked like an afterthought. It needed to run the full width.
What was built
Timber frame first, floor to ceiling and wall to wall. Uprights plumbed and fixed back, then the rails set out so the alcoves line through with each other right across the face, because on a wall this wide anything half a centimetre out reads immediately. The television recess was framed around a ply backing board so the bracket has something solid to bite into, and the socket and aerial went in behind it at frame stage.
The fire opening was cut to the manufacturer's figures for the exact model going in, not an approximate hole to be trimmed later. Electric linear fires want a specific opening size and specific clearances, and those numbers come off the paperwork for the model, not off a rule of thumb. The wiring for the recessed lights went in at the same time, one drop per alcove, left terminated and boxed for a qualified electrician to connect and certify.
Then plasterboard, cut to the openings and screwed off to just below the paper so nothing is dished. A bead on every external angle and on every recess return, scrim on every joint, then skimmed.
The finish and how long it took
Six alcoves, three each side, a television recess and a fire opening, all skimmed flat and ready to decorate. The returns are the part people actually look at. A recess return that is not straight is obvious the moment the screen is lit and the room lights are down, and it is obvious again every evening after that.
Most media walls are a few days from framing to finished skim. A full-width one with several alcoves, lighting and a fire opening sits at the longer end of that, and then it wants drying time before anyone puts paint on it.
More on how these are built, and the questions people ask before booking one, is on the bespoke media walls page. This job was in Birkdale.
Setting the beads out
Every external angle and every recess return on a media wall gets a bead. It is the slowest part of boarding one and it is the part that decides whether the finished edges are straight, because a skim coat follows whatever line the bead gives it.
Want one like it?
Send a couple of photographs and a postcode and you will get a written price back, with no obligation and nobody turning up uninvited.
- Prefer to talk? 07923 545449
- Or send the photos on WhatsApp
Get a fast price
Four boxes and a photograph.
Questions people ask about this
Can the television be moved after the wall is built?
Within the recess, yes. The bracket is on a ply backing board so it can be unbolted and repositioned. Moving the recess itself means opening the wall back up, which is why the screen size is settled before the frame goes in.
Who connects the lights and the fire?
A qualified electrician. We run the cable at frame stage and leave it terminated and boxed behind the board, so the connection is a separate short visit rather than a wall that has to be opened again.
Does the fire opening have to be decided before you start?
Yes. Electric linear fires have a stated opening size and stated clearances that vary by model, so the exact fire is chosen first and the opening is framed to those figures.
What customers said
4.7 out of 5 on Google and 5.0 from 35 reviews on MyBuilder, plus 100% recommended from 6 recommendations on Facebook. Every review below is verbatim from those profiles, and each one says which.
Fireplace surround and chimney breast
Reliable, efficient and completed the job to high standard. Will hire again for other jobs when needed.
Rendering to pathway boundary wall
I received a first class service from Birkdale Plastering. Anthony always attended as arranged. He was invariably polite and hard-working and cleared any mess before leaving. I am very pleased with the finished job.
Rendering
Antony did a great job would highly recommend him
Rendering exterior wall
Render of an outside wall. Excellent job and finish Turned up when he said, cleaned up and took the time to protect the areas around the job. Would highly recommend to family and friends.
Pebbledash rendering to 3 bed semi-detached house and adjoining garage
Anthony did an outstanding job pebble-dashing our entire house. It was a challenging project but he handled every aspect with professionalism and care—nothing was ever too much trouble. He worked incredibly hard and maintained a clean and tidy worksite throughout. We couldn’t be happier with the result.
Kitchen ceiling repair after a leak
Anthony has done an excellent plastering job today for us in Formby. Repaired a hole on our kitchen ceiling after a leak whilst on holiday. Very good finish and so tidy too! Would Definitely recommend him!
Areas we cover
Based on Liverpool Road in Southport. We work right along the Sefton coast, down into Liverpool, and inland across West Lancashire as far as Preston. Every town below has a page of its own.
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Read moreGet a free written estimate
Tell us what the walls are doing and we will come and look. You will get an honest assessment and a written price, with no obligation and no pressure.
Southport, the Sefton coast, Liverpool and West Lancashire
Get in touch
Tell us what the walls are doing and we will come and look. Free written estimate, no obligation.
- Phone 07923 545449
- Email anthony9thompson@yahoo.co.uk
- Address
Birkdale Plastering and Rendering
546 Liverpool Road, Southport PR8 3BG - Opening hours Every day, 7am to 9pm