There are a lot of steps to constructing a structurally sound building, particularly a climbing wall where the frame will need to support more than just the weight of the structure and the body weight of a climber. A rock climber pushes down on footholds and pulls on handholds, exerting more force on each point. I needed to build a sturdy frame with hefty supports.

Having created my backyard layout, now I needed the architecture. Given the rain in most of April, there was plenty of time to refine the design. I knew I needed a roof for weather protection and strong support beams, and I would want an angle component to increase the challenge.

I started out with frames for each panel, with a panel being an 8’x4′ sheet of plywood. Using standard 8′ long, 2″x4″ beams I created and then duplicated the frame, leaving an extra in case I found I could add a third panel later on.

Actual wood beams are never the 2×4 or 2×6 or whatever other measures; they are generally 1/2″ short on width and depth. I accounted for this when creating the frame, and tried to find ways to build the structure using minimal cuts since every slice is a chance to have something be a little bit off (which can send a wall crashing down). I added 2×6 beams for additional support at the top and bottom, and 3×4 deck posts on the corners to relieve some of the pressure from the frame. The roof, at least was easy: just another 8×4 sheet of 3/4″ plywood! The duplicate feature on Tinkercad came in handy with all of these beams and panels.

Angling the top panel was a little tougher. The side supports needed to be “cut” using a rectangle turned into a hole and angled at 20 degrees, then again at the top to make sure the roof lay flat. High school trigonometry comes in handy sometimes, after all! Once the side supports were cut, cross beams could be laid and the entire structure grouped and rotated 20 degrees to fit. Then the top could be cut to flatten for the roof. Of course, I still had to ensure inner measurements remained 8’x4′ to support the panels.

 

I had a framework, but before I ordered supplies I wanted to check one more time to make sure it would fit in the space. Back into Tinkercad, I grouped the wall elements. I moved the grill to the far end and pulled out the firepit and benches ahead of the moment of truth…

It fits! And with some room to make adjustments if needed. Perfect.

There was not, as it turned out, room for the third panel, so I nixed the plan and got to ordering wood, metal support brackets, weather-proofing paint, and the rest of the needed supplies for the two panel model. Oh, and handholds and footholds.

If the rain ever stops, construction can begin! But will the model have to change when the wood arrives and real measurements come into play? Did I order enough supports? Will the rain actually stop long enough to build in real life and not only in 3D tools? We will find out!