School Climbing Traverse Walls
CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ON WHAT TYPE OF WALL TO CHOOSE IF YOUR ARE UNSURE OF WHAT POSSIBILITIES EXIST.
On this page you will find all the necessary information you will need to choose and order a School Playground or Gymnasium Traverse Climbing Wall
STEEL AND PLY PANEL OR DIRECT FITTING ?
Simple - We make two types of traverse wall. Steel and Ply Panel or Direct Fitting.
The two options have pro’s and con’s for each type, but the selection of which is wholly dictated by the exterior or interior of your building. Either type can be fitted in a day and removed in even less time leaving virtually no visible impact or damage to the building. Both types offer awesome variety in hold type, shape and colour and the possibility to ADD more in the future if budget allows. The biggest cost (which isn’t much) is the initial set up. There is no difference in maintenance or supervision and no need for expensive fall surfaces. We also build freestanding walls where wall space is limited, it is better to have activities ‘on’ the playground or the benefits of continuous climbing are preferred.
PLYWOOD PANELLING AND STEEL
For use on uneven, roughcast or rendered surfaces
Pros:
These walls have 84 possible hold combinations per panel giving unlimited hold and climbing route possibilities. You can easily add more frames in the future or indeed remove the wall altogether and transport or erect it elsewhere, on a new school or place in storage with little damage to the original wall. This is ideal if a new school is being built soon. The panels can be fitted inside or outside. Unlimited shapes, chimneys and corners can be added at customer’s choice and budget.
Cons
The panels are a little more expensive due to materials and fabrication, but this is outweighed by pros.
CONSTRUCTION
The Ply panels are double treated with preservative and the T Nuts at the back are glued and screwed to ensure they last and don’t spin. We use the best T Nuts and Bolts to reduce the outside corrosion rate and spray with WD40 on yearly maintenance checks. The Surface is then painted with Industry Standard Grip Paint in a selection of colours available on application. We can arrange for the panels to have painted or sprayed themes or left blank for school projects – we can even organise a special spray paint artist to visit the school as an art project.
We use a steel frame as standard because it last much better than wood, is much more versatile in that the whole wall can easily be removed and moved if necessary and the fixing made into the actual wall are less with greater rigidity in the structure. This is all at virtually no extra additional cost than a wood alternative. We can use wood if specified by the customer and on some special occasions it is necessary anyway – we will advise on site. Each Standard Panel is 1220 x 2440mm in dimension (exact Ply Size) and comes with 20 Standard holds. We recommend a minimum of 4 panels to justify initial investment and usability. Custom made panels are always possible.
COLOURS / PATTERNS
You have a choice of colours for the Panels which can be made on application. If the school wishes to paint the boards themselves then white can be supplied. We can offer an excellent spray option with abstract shapes. We can also offer the services of a specialist spray paint artist who can either spray before delivery or come to the school and run a special session with the kids! Excellent
DIRECT FIXING
This requires the fixing of permanent but unobtrusive holes in the walls of Natural Stonework, block or exposed uncovered brickwork
Pros:
These walls are lower cost and very quickly fitted. They offer permanent fixings and on natural stone walls the chance for kids and adults to use natural stone features, edges and holds on the real rock around the bolted holds making a much more natural climbing experience. Direct Fixing also blends in well with older buildings maintaining the original stone outer. On bland brickwork and Block it totally livens up the exterior adding interest and utilising otherwise wasted space. More holes for holds can be added in the future as money allows.
Cons:
Not so much variety for route setting as Panel Walls with only the original holes available for moving or placing new holds in. However holds can always be spun around to make harder / different climbs or colours moved to give new climbs. The holes drilled will always exist but can be covered over in the future with resin and similar coloured sand to hide the holes if removed in the future restoring the exterior. Drilling listed building may not be possible! The original fixings are permanent and cannot be removed and moved. Sometimes walls are broken by drain pipes and cables that require boxing. We cleverly use climbing panels (at additional cost) to allow holds to be attached to the front face allowing ongoing climbing surface around features!
CONSTRUCTION
We drill holes in suitable locations to make up routes with your chosen number of holds. We use the best bolts, resin and fixings to ensure longevity; we spray and clean all holes with WD40. We recommend a minimum of 10 holds per metre and a minimum of 5metres of wall to justify initial investment and usability.
COLOURS / PATTERNS
You can have suitable block and brick walls sprayed and this can be made on application. We can offer an excellent spray option with abstract shapes – see price list. We can also offer the services of a specialist spray paint artist who can come to the school and run a special session with the kids! Excellent
FREESTANDING WALLS
These walls sit anywhere in a playground with some wall clearance and a flat surface.
Pros:
These walls are great for use where appropriate wall space is not available or due to listed buildings. They are also superb in their own right as an ideal addition to any playground. The beauty of this type of wall is that you can climb continuously around them! We build them as ‘A’ Frames or as in the picture as a slim tower.
Cons:
A suitable tarred or flat site may not exist or a suitable fixing surface may not exist. Simple Concrete foundations can easily be poured onto which the wall can easily be bolted.
These walls have all the benefits of Ply Panel and Steel walls with 84 hold combinations per panel.
COLOURS / PATTERNS
You have a choice of colours for the Panels which can be made on application. If the school wishes to paint the boards themselves then white can be supplied. We can offer an excellent spray option with abstract shapes – see price list. We can also offer the services of a specialist spray paint artist who can either spray before delivery or come to the school and run a special session with the kids! Excellent
SITE VISITS
We will travel anywhere in the country to give you a free site visit especially if you can cluster a few schools together in one day. With modern technology though it is simple to photograph possible walls options and add simple lengths in metres to an email. This is the preferred method for traverse walls especially if you are more than 50 miles away (AA Route Planner used). However we would still be delighted to offer a site visit if this preferred (a small charge may be made for travelling added to the final quotation if you are over 50 miles away (discussion on this topic can be made by email or phone – with rising fuel costs this has unfortunately become more important) Just call to make arrangements – please see Guidance on the Contacts page for email submissions.
COSTS
Whichever product we choose we will give you a very high quality service and product for your money endeavouring to keep costs low (if you can assist through email) in the interests of encouraging more kids and adults into our sport. We can provide on the spot or same day quotes for your project. Just call 01479 812466 0r 07719 309214
FITTING
Our walls can be installed immediately in the case of Direct Fixing and in the selection of Ply Panelling in under 4 weeks from order – immediately if we have stock. We can give an exact date on custom made walls on application but move very quickly!