The Catwalk
Aug / Sep 2007
THE CATWALK
I WAS going to have a 4 ton A/C unit installed for cooling. But for $4000, I decided to investigate an alternative. I ended up getting 3 large window units. Each one has a 1000sqf capacity. 3 should cool things down nicely. The only problem is they need to be high off the ground to be most effective. So what I need is a Catwalk for easy access to 2 of the 3 units. The other unit will be in the loft area - so it's good to go. I'll have about $1200 into the units+catwalk. Much better than $4000 me thinks.
First I picked up about $200 in steel from a local supplier:
And made 3 of these:
Set in place:
Add some cable supports (like a suspension bridge!)
And then welded on a railing:
Next I installed the floor (about 32" wide) and primered it all black:
It turned out to be solid as a rock! Very sturdy. I like that it has no floor support to get in the way.
SEP 2007
Got the A/C units installed:
There are 3 all together. The volume of the Party Barn is about the same as a 2200sqf house. Each of the 3 units can cool 1000sqf, so three ought to do well. This past summer, with our homes central air off line - we cooled most of our house (1700sqf) with just one of these! I'm quite sure 3 will be sufficient.
The walls were later finished off:
Ah, the meaning of "Cat Walk" at last...
Right after painting:
It's like "where'd it go?" heh heh