Climbing Wall Texture/Paint

Hi there,

Any recommendations for climbing wall paint/texture. Budget is not an issue. I'm looking for the highest quality I can find.

Little context:
I sit on the Board of our local club here. We run a not-for-profit bouldering wall which has been operating for over 30 years. See picture :

We are looking to replace a few panels and paint them. A few years ago we replaced panels and ordered paint from Delire Holds in Quebec City. The texture was crap.

Fast forward this Summer. We had ordered from Passe Montagne (company in Minnesota)many years ago so I sent them an email. Turns out they have been bought out by Nicros.

We ordered from Nicros and the first batch was garbage. Because they sent us defective paint, they sent us another batch. Same thing happened! So we are getting a refund and are now at a lost on where the find kick ass climbing wall texture. Help!

It could help if you described exactly what you meant by "texture was crap" and "the batch was garbage".

I suppose you've looked through the resources at climbingbusinessjournal.com?

On the "woody" thread here, a person described using blackboard paint, mainly just for looks though, not for texture. I tried it myself on a small wall, and didn't think it had much effect on the friction coefficient compared to bare wood.

Vertical World in the Seattle area also has a spin-off business that involves panels. The panels in their gyms have enough texture that one can use the texture itself for thin holds. If you want that much texture, then you might contact them.

That looks like a great little bouldering spot.

Mix sand?

The Délire texture we used but it didn't adhere well. We were disappointed.

The Nicros texture was garbage, literally. They have changed their formula recently and are still tweaking it.

We are looking for the best quality out there.

I recently read where a company in California used Line-X truck bed liner you might want to try that.

behr premium extra textured deck over 

Dead Head wrote: behr premium extra textured deck over 

This. It is used to make stairs non-slip. Downside is that it is really abrasive, sand paper like. Taking a fall and sliding across the wall with this on it, rip clothes, tear skin, ouch.

Make sure the substrate is really clean. Stinks like hell for a couple of days (unless they changed to low VOC, in which case, all bets are off).

Might also try something like this.
cheers

Might want to talk with these folks

https://www.entre-prises.us/technologies/

Go to a cemetery that carves headstones. They have literally tons of fine granite dust, and almost always give it away for free. Mixed with paint creates a nice friction texture without being abrasive.
Hire a paint contractor and specify an epoxy paint with a primer base.
Test it out first with some cheapo goof paint from Home Depot, you'll see it works. 

I prefer my climbing walls covered in Blood , Sweat, and Bitches! 

Texture is aid.

the texture of AIDS

Muscrat wrote:

This. It is used to make stairs non-slip. Downside is that it is really abrasive, sand paper like. Taking a fall and sliding across the wall with this on it, rip clothes, tear skin, ouch.

Make sure the substrate is really clean. Stinks like hell for a couple of days (unless they changed to low VOC, in which case, all bets are off).

Might also try something like this.
cheers

it is definitely not for un -calloused skin

For what it’s worth, I used the Behr Deckover product extensively and had really bad results. Even after months in a low humidity, heated room it did not completely cure and was still somewhat flexible so when you tighten down a hold it has a tendency to flatten out and stick to the back. When you try to remove the hold, it pulls off the paint and the plywood.

Still looking for a solution…

For what it’s worth, I used the Behr Deckover product extensively and had really bad results. Even after months in a low humidity, heated room it did not completely cure and was still somewhat flexible so when you tighten down a hold it has a tendency to flatten out and stick to the back. When you try to remove the hold, it pulls off the paint and the plywood.

Still looking for a solution…