Screw ladder bar to concrete+gypsum

[villasuperstar]

I'm going to install a climbing wall in our basement. The wall where it will be installed is a concrete wall with framed drywall on top (metal studs, so it should be okay according to the previous owner). How should I mount the climbing wall in the best way?
Right now, I'm leaning towards drilling holes in the drywall and then into the concrete, trying to insert an anchor and screw it in place, but it feels tricky and I'm not sure if there's a smoother way?

 

[Farstatjej90]

Hmmm..
If you mark where you should attach on the drywall first and then use a 100mm hole saw so you can see what you're doing. Then drill into the concrete and insert a threaded rod with anchor adhesive.
Then you need to cut the drywall you removed and attach with a plank on the backside of the remaining drywall. And then putty. And then attach the ribbed chair to the threaded rods.
An advanced option would be to attach some kind of rubber gasket or something between the rod and drywall/putty to allow for movement and avoid cracks if it shifts a bit when using the ribbed chair.
I haven't done anything like this myself, so these are mostly my thoughts....🤔

 

[roli]

Some type of distance between the concrete and the plaster will likely be needed. Otherwise, there is a high risk of pushing the plaster backward when tightening the nut on the threaded rod.

 

[z_bumbi]

The simplest way is to place a thicker plywood between the studs and then screw into it. This also prevents feet or benches from going through the drywall. For example, 19 mm plywood with a bit of white wood glue in the pre-drilled holes just before the screw is fastened becomes strong.

 

[villasuperstar]

The easiest way is to place a thicker plywood between the studs and then screw into it. That way, you also avoid feet or benches going through the plasterboard. For example, 19 mm plywood with a little white wood glue in the pre-drilled holes just before the screw is tightened becomes strong.

That almost sounds like the simplest solution to avoid messing with and drilling large holes in the plasterboard. As mentioned, I believe there are metal studs under the plasterboard, so I'm guessing I need to attach the plywood with something "self-fixing" (like molly)?

 

[villasuperstar]

I have now acquired a stud detector (Bosch Professional D-tect 120) that indicates the studs look like in the picture. The idea was to screw two crossbars between two studs (included with the ribbed chair) and then attach the ribbed chair there. Now it seems that this won't work because these crossbars need to be at certain heights and, of course, don't match the position of the horizontal studs.

Is there a clever solution I'm missing, or am I forced to try to put in substantial plywood to screw into, or alternatively find another wall?

 

[villasuperstar]

By the way, I think there's double gypsum on the wall according to my test holes (about 25-30mm) and I've bought sturdy mollys but I'm not sure if I dare? The climbing frame is rated for 150 kg?

 

[Farstatjej90]

I have now got a stud detector (Bosch professional d-tect 120) which indicates that the studs look like in the picture. The plan was to screw two cross bars between two studs (included with the climbing frame) and then attach the climbing frame there. Now it seems that won't work since these bars need to be at certain heights and of course don't match the position of the horizontal studs.

Is there any smart solution I'm missing, or do I have to try to attach sturdy plywood to screw into, or find another wall?

Isn't it strange with the studs like that? Shouldn't there be more from top to bottom on that wall?

 

[villasuperstar]

Yes, I agree

Isn't it strange with the studs like that? Shouldn't there be more from top to bottom on that wall?

Yes, I agree, but I'm far from an expert. The stud finder seems to be consistent though, but maybe I'll have to drill a few more test holes and check...

 

[MathiasS]

I would make sure to fix in the ceiling.

 

[z_bumbi]

Screw vertical studs/boards into the horizontal studs, and use Molly where there are no studs behind the drywall. But you should also have a stud up by the ceiling unless the drywall is hanging freely?

 

[villasuperstar]

Screw vertical studs/boards into the horizontal studs and use Molly where you don't have studs behind the drywall. But you should also have a stud up by the ceiling unless the drywall is hanging freely?

Hmm interesting, that might be something. Up by the ceiling, there are a couple of short vertical studs that go down about 10 cm on the wall (according to the stud finder), I just missed drawing them in the picture.

 

[villasuperstar]

Now leaning towards screwing plywood on the wall and attaching it to the studs, then screwing the ribbstol to the board. I'm planning to put up a few more things on the wall so I think it's just as well to have a base so I can attach several things in an easy way.

 

[villasuperstar]

To close the thread, I put up plywood boards on the wall and attached them to the steel studs (well-invested money to buy a good stud finder!). Then I attached the climbing wall to the plywood and so far it seems stable! It will mostly be children climbing on it, but I can hang on it myself without any problems .