The High Stakes of DIY & Home Rigging
- Tricia with Altitude
- Oct 24
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 28
From the team at Altitude Frisco — because we love flying, but not falling.
Three Signs You’re Not Ready for a Home Rig
You (or your mini aerialist) are in beginner-level classes or have less than a year of training.
You still need reminders about wraps, drops, or why certain things are not safe.
You’re not emotionally or financially ready to retrofit your house — we’re talking thousands, not hundreds.
The Real Cost of “Doing It Right”
You can’t just screw in a plate from Amazon and call it a day. To safely rig an aerial point, you’re looking at:
Expense | Estimated Cost |
Structural Engineer | $500+ |
Certified Aerial Rigger | $35/hr |
Structural Retrofit | $5,000+ |
Crash Mat | $450+ |
Hardware | $100+ |
Fabric / Lyra | $200+ |
And then there’s insurance — or rather, the lack of it.
Insurance & Liability: The Unfun Fine Print
DIY aerial points can void your homeowner's or renter's insurance. After the pandemic spike in home-rigging accidents, most insurance companies flatly said, “Nope.”
Even if your agent says it’s covered, ask them to show you the exact policy clause. When someone gets injured at your house, “I thought it was fine” doesn’t hold up well in court.
Ask yourself:
Who pays if a guest is hurt?
What if they don’t have health insurance?
What if your rigging fails mid-invert?
What if someone uses it without permission?
💡 Better idea: Come train at a custom-built, OSHA & ETCP-certified aerial studio (like Altitude Frisco). It’s safer, cheaper, and way more fun.
FAQ — “But I Saw It On YouTube...”
Can you help me install my home rig? Nope. Liability. Also — I’ve seen too much.
How did you rig your studio then? We worked with a structural engineer and licensed rigger. Our PSL beams hold 30,000 lbs. Nobody here is hanging from a ceiling joist with a $29 Amazon mount.
What about sensory swings or hanging chairs? They’re for gentle swaying — not flipping, dropping, or inverting. Dynamic loads can multiply your child’s 70-lb weight into over 700 lbs of force. Drywall anchors? They’re not ready for that math.
But we promised “Katie” she could have silks in her room.“Katie” will be disappointed... but alive. No broken ceiling, no ER visit, no copay.
“But What If We Just Rig It From…”
🏠 The House: Your ceiling joists already hold up your roof. Add swinging humans, and you’re asking for a very dramatic physics lesson.
🌲 A Tree: Unless you’re an arborist who can assess species, diameter, health, and working load limit — please don’t. When it breaks (and it will), the branch comes down with the aerialist.
🎠 Playground Equipment: Better than a tree, but not for drops or inversions. The hardware isn’t built for that kind of movement.
🌅 Pergolas / Patios / Arbors: Shade structures, not circus rigs. If you don’t know whether your beams are “tied in” or “supported,” consult someone who does — ideally with a license.
Safer Options (Because We Like You Upright)
If you’re set on training at home, freestanding rigs are the way to go:
Wolfy: Professional-grade, load-tested, $$$, built to last.
X-Pole A-Frame: Portable and convenient, but the load limit isn’t published (which… is not comforting).
Uplift Active: Yoga-only, 300-lb limit — not for aerial drops or spins.
Still want to learn more before you make a move?
Final Thought
Gravity never takes a day off. If you love your little aerialist (or your ceiling), keep them safe, educated, and studio-trained.
✨ Book a Private Lesson or drop into a class at a certified aerial studio— where the ceilings are strong, the mats are plush, and the vibes are sky-high.
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