Re-purposed Ladder Becomes Trellis
by Carl G
$32.00
4 Hours
Medium
We've had an old wooden ladder leaning up against a fence behind a row of trees in our back yard for several years. When we had the trees (diseased) cut down we found it and saw that It had some rot but was otherwise in good condition. My wife thought that it could be made into a unique trellis, sketched it, and appointed me the carpenter.
This is the ladder
This is the trellis. Process follows....
Getting set up - brought everything I would need (mostly) out through the bulkhead (which I rebuilt last year - brag)
The bulkhead - rebuilt last year
The future location of the trellis - view from backyard
The future location of the trellis - view from side yard to backyard
Ladder with hardware - some to be kept - other parts needed to be removed to separate the ladders
Removing bolts
rusted hardware
removing hardware
Drilling out screwheads
Removing rusted nails to remove rungs
Removing rusted nails to remove rungs
Cutting one ladder for the top piece of the trellis. The location of the worst rot was barely outside of the dimensions needed for the top cross piece.
First rough layout. Top piece had to have all rungs removed and shorter and shortened rungs inserted - inner sliding ladder was narrower than outer.
Ready for spindle brackets - other than screws and nails - the only new parts of the trellis.
Voila! View from side yard towards back yard.
Close-up finished trellis
Finished trellis.
Comments
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2 of 29 comments
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Thank you for showing all the steps...I have 2 ladders that I want to separate and am thankful that you showed the steps. The trellis is lovely and looks fantastic.
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what a great idea...ive been wanting to make a treliis and add a gate,,,this is a winner
Frequently asked questions
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Your trellis looks nice so does your rebuilted bulkhead. Did you stray anything on the trellis to prevent termites damage?