Our Swedish Ladder (a.ok.a., Stall Bars) Is Put in!

Yesterday, I lastly tackled the factor that I’ve been dreading — putting in the Swedish ladder. That is an train equipment, additionally known as stall bars, that can be utilized to do tons of of various stretches and workout routines. When you’ve by no means heard of it earlier than, jump over to YouTube and search “stall bar workout routines,” and you may get an thought of the way it’s used. This video is a very quick demonstration of about 75 totally different workout routines that may be completed, however even that’s simply the tip of the iceberg.

I had initially deliberate to construct my very own Swedish ladder from scratch, however then I began to really feel a bit insecure about that. This stuff wants to have the ability to maintain full physique weight, and I felt significantly better about shopping for one which had a steel body and 1.5-inch-diameter bars. I ended up buying this one from The Beam Store.

After unpacking it and placing it collectively (with out tightening all the bolts or screwing the bars into place), it appeared like this with the sunshine coloured bars.

I ended up sanding and marking the bars in order that the entire thing would go along with my “walnut and black” plan for the accents within the room. I bought that completed a couple of days in the past, after which the Swedish ladder continued to sit down on the ground as a result of I used to be so dreading the set up.

In my thoughts, the set up was going to be actually tough, however it will take an hour…or 90 minutes on the most. It ended up being a reasonably easy undertaking, but it surely took me 4 hours. 😀 Oh my gosh, this was such a protracted and drawn out course of. Nothing about it was significantly tough, but it surely simply took so lengthy as a result of I used to be figuring it out as I went alongside, and I principally put in it twice.

For apparent causes, the Swedish ladder needs to be secured to studs with lag screws. (I really used one thing totally different, however extra on that under.) So after getting the entire thing put collectively once more (I had taken it aside to stain the bars), I had to determine how you can set up it on a wall the place the brackets on the Swedish ladder didn’t line up with the studs within the wall. The answer I got here up with was to make use of 2″ x 4″ lumber, safe that to the studs, after which connect the brackets on the Swedish ladder to the two″ x 4″ lumber.

As I’m positive you recognize, 2 x 4s aren’t the prettiest lumber. They’re tough, and the sides are rounded. I wished these to look fairly and completed. So earlier than I might even begin on the set up, I took the two x 4 to my desk noticed and minimize off simply sufficient of every edge to take away these rounded corners and provides them good, non-rounded corners. After which I sanded the heck out of them, beginning with 80-grit sanding discs and dealing my method as much as 150-grit. As soon as these have been ready, I proceeded with the set up.

So with the Swedish ladder mendacity on the ground, I screwed the brackets onto the two x 4s, after which stood the entire thing up towards the wall. Whereas holding it in place towards the wall, I moved my ladder over in entrance of the Swedish ladder, bought up onto my ladder, held the Swedish ladder in place with my head, after which had my fingers free to make use of my stud finder after which screw the two x 4 into the studs. It’s a must to get artistic when working by your self. 😀 Right here’s what it appeared like at that time.

I wished to get all the pieces in place, and get no less than two screws in to every 2 x 4 earlier than chopping the two x 4s to dimension and ending them. I used to be uncertain about what to do with these 2 x 4s so far as the end. I had three choices. I might (1) paint them the wall shade, (2) stain them the walnut shade, or (3) paint them black.

So after I bought it put in to the purpose that you just see above, I really eliminated the Swedish ladder from the wall, eliminated the brackets, and eliminated the two x 4s from the wall in order that I might minimize them to the precise width I wanted them to be and end them. At that time, I believed I’d stain them, and I wanted to do this after which allow them to dry earlier than reinstalling them.

However after eager about it extra, I made a decision to color them black in order that they’d seem like a part of the body. That meant that I might reinstall the unfinished 2 x 4s, after which paint them after they have been on the wall.

I didn’t use the lag screws that got here with the Swedish ladder. As an alternative, I used these HeadLOK screws, which I discover a lot simpler to make use of than lag screws. These don’t require pre-drilling, and so they gained’t break up the wooden. And so they go in so simply.

They require a particular driver bit, however every bundle comes with the driving force bit, so it’s not a separate buy. Right here’s what the screw appears to be like like. To safe the two x 4s to the studs, I used 4.5-inch screws.

These work so properly, and so they snugged the two x 4 so securely to the studs, that I had three areas the place the drywall screws (or quite, the drywall mud masking the drywall screws) popped out a bit. So these would require some sanding and contact up.

As soon as the two x 4s have been secured to the studs, I taped them off and gave them two coats of the identical black that I used on the closet partitions.

As soon as that was completed, reinstalling the Swedish ladder was pretty straightforward for the reason that holes had been pre-drilled. I put in the brackets individually this time, and I used to be very happy with the way it appeared with the black 2 x 4s.

After which I put the Swedish ladder again into place, secured all the bolts, and tightened all the pieces very securely.

I’m positive {that a} submit about “how you can set up stall bars” shouldn’t be useful to anybody, however when you can take away something from this submit, keep in mind these HeadLOK screws. Critically, when you ever have a undertaking that requires lag screws, seize the HeadLOK screws as a substitute. They’re a lot simpler to make use of, and they’re each bit as safe as lag screws.

I wasn’t assured in any respect going into this set up, however I’m very assured now that this Swedish ladder isn’t going anyplace. It’s extremely safe on that wall.

And I bought it fairly near completely centered on that broad stripe as doable, simply as deliberate. It’s enjoyable to see a plan come collectively.

And with that, the room is virtually completed. All the huge initiatives are completed, and I’ve a couple of small issues left to do, like set up the sunshine within the entry, and set up the ceiling fan. Additionally, my mother hemmed the curtains for me, so I must get these ironed and hung again up. Then I’ve a couple of paint touchups, and that needs to be it! I’m hoping to point out y’all the ultimate residence gymnasium, together with all the earlier than and afters, early subsequent week.

Addicted 2 Adorning is the place I share my DIY and adorning journey as I transform and adorn the 1948 fixer higher that my husband, Matt, and I purchased in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do bodily work, so I do the vast majority of the work on the home on my own. You may study extra about me right here.

I hope you’ll be a part of me on my DIY and adorning journey! If you wish to comply with my initiatives and progress, you may subscribe under and have every new submit delivered to your e-mail inbox. That method you’ll by no means miss a factor!