Home wall: building a bouldering wall at home

Plenty of New Zealand climbers end up with a sheet or three of plywood bolted into a garage or carport. A home wall is the most reliable training tool there is when the weather turns, and building one is a satisfying weekend project if you plan it properly.

It is also a structure that people fall off, and it hangs real loads off a building. This section takes that seriously. We start with planning a home bouldering wall: space, angle, fall zone, padding and the consent question. Later notes cover framing, plywood and T-nuts, paint and finishes, outdoor walls, gear storage and working safely at height while you build.

We write in general terms. We are climbers, not engineers, and every garage is different. Where a wall attaches to an existing building, or where you are unsure about loads or consent, talk to your council or a chartered structural engineer before you start.