| Building a rock climbing wall can be a great way to | | | | The fun part of building your wall. If you enjoy |
| get a workout and prepare yourself for climbing | | | | building this will be the best part of building your |
| before going out to do the real thing. Many climbers | | | | home rock-climbing wall. The reality of your wall will |
| use their home rock-climbing wall to build strength | | | | slowly come to life through this process. |
| and practice new moves. Home walls are also great | | | | Fourth step |
| for power training because you can go back and | | | | Is the finishing of the wall. We're not quite cranking |
| climb some more after you have recovered. There | | | | the holds on just yet, but we're getting close. This |
| are four steps to building a rock-climbing wall. | | | | phase involves the finishing of the wall surface, paint, |
| First step | | | | and applying texture. You will also need to consider |
| Planning your rock climbing wall. During this step you | | | | what your fallzone is going to be. Are you going to |
| will decide exactly what you want out of your rock | | | | have padding such as mattresses or gym pads? Or |
| climbing wall. Do you want the wall inside or outside? | | | | would you like to go more natural such as soft wood |
| What shapes, features and size do you want your | | | | chips that are used on playgrounds. |
| wall to be? You will also want to begin drawing out | | | | After your wall has been finished, you can begin to |
| the type of wall you want and begin to develop an | | | | crank your holds on and build your routes. If the wall |
| estimate of how much your wall is going to cost. | | | | is outside, be prepared for your bolts to rust over. If |
| Second step | | | | you don't plan on rearranging holds very often, you |
| Designing your wall. During the design you will begin | | | | will typically not have much to worry about. If you |
| to calculate exactly how much the wall will cost and | | | | do want to move holds around, it may be difficult |
| exactly what supplies you will need. The technicalities | | | | unscrew them once they have become rusted. You |
| will also be worked out here. You will begin to figure | | | | can also find holds pretty cheap if you hit your local |
| your specific cut angles, your framework, joints and | | | | wall climbing gyms. Many times they replace their old |
| other important features of your wall. You will also | | | | holds and will give you or sell you their old holds at a |
| need to clear any technical problems that may arise. | | | | pretty low price. You may also be able to find holds |
| Here you will need to decide what kind of effects | | | | from manufacturers that are clearing out old styles. |
| the elements will have on your wall if it is outside. Will | | | | Once you get your wall up, you will be excited and |
| your wall suffer from being rained or snowed on? | | | | climb everyday. There will come a time when you |
| One way to sustain the life of your wall is to use | | | | get used to the wall and it's not as thrilling as it was |
| marine board. This is more expensive but if you live in | | | | once before. Keep yourself motivated by adding to |
| a rainy area, you will find the board to be well worth | | | | the wall and developing new routes. The more |
| it. | | | | challenges you can give yourself the more apt you |
| Third step | | | | are to continue training on your wall. |