Cory Galloway // Oakville, CA
When did you build your wall? Was it a “COVID baby”?
Absolutely. With 3 kids all actively competing we needed a way to stay climbing. Not only that, but I wanted to work on all our weaknesses… overhand, crimps & pure power.
How long did it take you to build and what did that time look like?
About 6 weeks. Planning took the longest as I created detailed Blueprints via draw.io.
Not including holds and padding, how much did it cost you to build? Any surprises there?
It cost a lot to make it properly. Treated, secure, and weatherproof. Maybe about $4800 CAN. The moonholds were all charged in EUR and for a Canadian that is alot of $$.
What are you doing for padding?
We have 4 crashpads and a mattress from a neighbor.
What was your primary incentive for the wall? Did anything in particular inspire your wall design?
The moonboard is the defacto system wall. The app is a huge draw and as mentioned before it’s something we needed to focus on.
What was the most difficult aspect of the design and build?
Getting started. Having a good blueprint and a good plan to make it happen. Picking a location and working through the measurements was difficult. After the diagram was done it was all easy.
What would you do differently?
1. Make it a bit more square. 2. Dig down 3. Make it bigger. 4. Modify the moonboard building instructions. They are not optimal.
Did you make any mistakes along the way or choose to re-do any aspects?
Ya, there were a few small mistakes that I would do differently next time. Most got fixed or worked around.
What is your favorite aspect?
I love that we took the time to build it along with a pergola. It ended up looking very nice. Also, walking out my door and being able to climb. Using the app along with the wall. Love the ability to see the progress.
How often do you use the wall? Do you think you’ll still use it as much when the gyms fully open back up?
In the summer 5-6x per week. There are 5 of us so we’re on it all the time.
Any words of wisdom to aspiring homewallers?
Plan it, draw it, model it and then start. If you don’t have a construction background, build it with someone that does. Treat all the wood, make sure it will last a long time.
