Building a Climbing Wall
Rock Climbing used to be an exclusively outdoor activity, enjoyed in natural rocky terrains that landscape the great outdoors. Eventually, developments in technology allowed for Rock Climbing (and wall climbing) to be experienced indoors.
Pre-building Stage
Climbing walls do not come in a one-size-fits-all package. The kind of wall you’ll be building is largely dependent on your training goals. Climbing can be done for either strength training or endurance training. Each objective can be met with an appropriately built climbing wall.
Phase 1: Plan it Out
Do not approach this task haphazardly. As with other major projects, planning is an important stage in the building process. It is in this stage where you determine the shape, size, angle, location, and other specifications of your wall. As mentioned earlier, this is dependent on your training goals. It would be wise to seek input on this from an architect or engineer. Visualize the contours that your wall will take shape in. Will it have inclines, overhangs, angles? Climbing walls can be freestanding (moveable), attached to a structure, and modular (can be reassembled). Build a model at this stage so that you can make realistic projections of the amount of materials you need. Most of all, your plan must work around your available funds. Canvass for prices of your choice materials and equipment so you can set a realistic budget.
Phase 2: Design
Think of this phase as the blueprinting stage. Prior to construction, it is important to finalize your wall’s design. Start by translating your model into a drawing. It is through this sketch that you are able to set the exact dimensions of your wall. Set everything, including angles, inclines, elevations, and other contours, according to proportion. Make sure that you are able to establish everything that you will need for every nook and cranny of your wall. This drawing will enable you to then purchase the right amount and sizes of the construction materials you need. As this phase comes immediately before construction, this is also the time to purchase every material you need from plywood and lumber, to nuts, bolts, construction equipment, and other necessary supplies. The thickness, quality, and overall specs of your required materials should be reflected in your blueprint.
Phase 3: Build and construct
Now the actual heavy lifting finally begins. Assuming you’ve done your homework well and have planned for and designed your wall properly, this phase should run with minimal or no problems. As with all construction projects, you always start with the framework. When measured diagonally across corners, the distance for both diagonals of the framework must be equal. Don’t forget to check that your wall’s joints are at least as strong as the structures they are connecting.
Phase 4: Complete the look
If you’ve survived the first three phases, congratulations! You’re just one step closer to finally having your very own climbing wall. Now that construction is over, you can now add finishing touches to your wall. For starters, you might want to add some paint to it. Before applying paint, remember to coat the surface with a primer. For best results, use latex paint. Be warned though that this is water-based, so it can cause nails (if you’ve used any on your wall) to rust. You can also give your wall an authentic feel with a sand texture. To achieve this, mix the paint and sand with a ratio of 10:1. Apply this using a roller brush. To complete it with rock patterns, get creative and use a towel, sponge, and leftover construction materials.
Completing a climbing wall takes a lot of time, energy, and financial resources. Before taking the plunge, it is important to consider whether it is worth your investment. Don’t forget to do thorough research and consultation from professionals on every phase of this project. There’s nothing more satisfying than the rewards of a job well done.
|
|
|
|
Join our Rock Climbing Community and share your Rock Climbing Knowledge, Experiences and Pictures with the World!
|
|
For a complete list of all discount coupons with our merchants, subscribe to our Discount RSS Feed: 
|
|
Basics & Backgrounds
in Dutch
Home
Print Article
Email Article
Comment on Article
Write New Article
Search Articles
