Platform fell off wall

[ukspeedbag]

I was busy under the platform, then bang! The 2 upper studs ripped out of the wall. I caught the platform with my hands and heard laughing behind me as the sand bag slid down, landing on my head. It was Joe!
I asked Joe to go and get a 10mm spanner so I could unbolt the remaining lower studs. He ran down the stairs and I heard a right old commotion between Joe and his mum. Joe was frantic looking for the spanner in the tool box under the stairs. Thing's were being thrown into the living room, coats, shoes, boots, washing basket, you name it! I could hear Joe shouting "get me a torch, get me a torch" and Sam shouting 'what for, what are you doing?' He couldn't get his words out, poor sod! He couldn't see what he was doing. We got there eventually.
Anyway I need to replace the studs with something much longer. The wall is brick but has about 15mm plaster. The studs I used are about 30mm in length but obviously not long enough to get a good grip on the bricks. Good job it was me under the platform and not the kids. I wouldn't mind, When I mounted the platform and with the sand bag on, I had pulled and tugged on the platform, checking it was secure.
Lesson learnt.

[paranday]

Like some of the others I overdid it with the fasteners to the wall. An elephant could sit on my platform and not rip it down. Of course, if an elephant shows up and wants to bag, who am I to argue?

Hope you're back in action soon, mate. Bag withdrawal is not something you want to experience, ask anyone.

[Biff]

WOW! Glad to hear you didn't get injured, Vini. Good thing the sand bag hit you in the head!

Did you have any anchors in the wall that the bolts screwed into, or were the 30mm bolts screwed directly into the wall?

The platform I gave my local YMCA was mounted to a concrete-like wall using metal anchors. Pliot holes were drilled into the wall and metal anchors tapped in. The bolts were then screwed through the supports into the anchors. Even with the anchors, the platform become loose. Not sure whether it was caused by the vibrations or some yahoo trying to do pull-ups on the platofrm.

Any problems when the platfrom was mounted outside?

[Speedbag]

JEEZ, where's a video camera when you need one. That could have got you on TOSH.O.

Very Glad you are not hurt, but I would suggest you fire the carpenter.

[ukspeedbag]

Like some of the others I overdid it with the fasteners to the wall. An elephant could sit on my platform and not rip it down. Of course, if an elephant shows up and wants to bag, who am I to argue?

Hope you're back in action soon, mate. Bag withdrawal is not something you want to experience, ask anyone.

I'll be sorting it on Monday. I was gutted when it happened, dust everywhere!

WOW! Glad to hear you didn't get injured, Vini. Good thing the sand bag hit you in the head!

Did you have any anchors in the wall that the bolts screwed into, or were the 30mm bolts screwed directly into the wall?

The platform I gave my local YMCA was mounted to a concrete-like wall using metal anchors. Pliot holes were drilled into the wall and metal anchors tapped in. The bolts were then screwed through the supports into the anchors. Even with the anchors, the platform become loose. Not sure whether it was caused by the vibrations or some yahoo trying to do pull-ups on the platofrm.

Any problems when the platfrom was mounted outside?

Yes they were anchors Biff. The same type I used outside. Thing is outside was straight into the brick, no plaster to contend with. I suspected the plaster may have been to thick to begin with. This just confirmed my suspicions.

[ukspeedbag]

JEEZ, where's a video camera when you need one. That could have got you on TOSH.O.

Very Glad you are not hurt, but I would suggest you fire the carpenter.

Sam ain't seen the state of the wall yet! She refused to look. I'm sure she'll be sacking the carpenter!

[Griffin]

Hi UK,

I think I can chime in here with a bit of help -- having done a TON of construction (as I'm sure many others here have) but also as the owner of a 15,000 SF 1920's era brick building, I've done my share of mounting things to brick walls...

In my opinion, if you can, go THROUGH the wall entirely. Then put a 3" or 4" plate on the far side of the brick wall before tightening down your bolts. You want to essentially sandwich the wall between your platform and the back plates. This makes your platform and the wall one monolith, so to speak, and it can't ever vibrate loose, and you won't damage the wall. Over time, the mortar in brick wall that receives constant vibration can weaken and crack, even though it may not be visible immediately to the naked eye.

Through-bolting is the real solution, and the holes can be filled with colored mortar mix later if that is a concern. 1/2" holes won't weaken or damage your brick wall...

Hope this helps -- sounds like a CLOSE call, but it sure demonstrates just how much vibration is being transmitted through our platforms!

PS -- if you have to anchor it, and can't bolt through, let me know -- there are a WIDE variety of anchors, and not all of them well-suited to masonry.

[Griffin]

JEEZ, where's a video camera when you need one. That could have got you on TOSH.O.

LOL! Tosh.O. is pretty funny stuff... you gotta have a thick skin if you wind up on that show, because the commentary is merciless!

[ukspeedbag]

Hi UK,

I think I can chime in here with a bit of help -- having done a TON of construction (as I'm sure many others here have) but also as the owner of a 15,000 SF 1920's era brick building, I've done my share of mounting things to brick walls...

In my opinion, if you can, go THROUGH the wall entirely. Then put a 3" or 4" plate on the far side of the brick wall before tightening down your bolts. You want to essentially sandwich the wall between your platform and the back plates. This makes your platform and the wall one monolith, so to speak, and it can't ever vibrate loose, and you won't damage the wall. Over time, the mortar in brick wall that receives constant vibration can weaken and crack, even though it may not be visible immediately to the naked eye.

Through-bolting is the real solution, and the holes can be filled with colored mortar mix later if that is a concern. 1/2" holes won't weaken or damage your brick wall...

Hope this helps -- sounds like a CLOSE call, but it sure demonstrates just how much vibration is being transmitted through our platforms!

PS -- if you have to anchor it, and can't bolt through, let me know -- there are a WIDE variety of anchors, and not all of them well-suited to masonry.

Cheers mate. Thing is, the walls are about 150mm thick and the platform is up stairs backing onto a very narrow alley way. I would need to use scaffold to get up there.

I'm sure I'll be able to get my hands on something a bit more durable if I shop around a bit. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[ukspeedbag]

Griffin, which one of these would you go for?

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Screws+Fixings/Shield+Anchors/d90/sd2792

[fingers]

Vini the second one is what i used directly into block work! its never moved in years mate!!

[ukspeedbag]

Vini the second one is what i used directly into block work! its never moved in years mate!!

Fingers, I got the measurements wrong in my original post. I said they were 30mm in length but, they were 50mm. I'm tempted to go for the 80mm here

No way will these come out. I have to take into consideration that the kids will be under the platform too.

[ukspeedbag]

This is what I used originally.

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Screws+Fixings/Shield+Anchors/Shield+Anchor+Projecting+Bolt+M6+x+10mm+x+50mm/d90/sd2792/p45908

[fingers]

they look about the same as mine mate 80mm is just over 3 inches in old money i think!! you could always go to B&Q or Wicks and see before you buy they have a wide range for all types of use (hope i am not stating the obvious here)

[ukspeedbag]

they look about the same as mine mate 80mm is just over 3 inches in old money i think!! you could always go to B&Q or Wicks and see before you buy they have a wide range for all types of use (hope i am not stating the obvious here)

B&Q is where I purchased them from mate. They were the biggest they had. I've just been on their site and checked for something bigger. But no luck I'm afraid.

We have a tool station about 1/2 hrs drive away.

Cheers mate.