Many people choose to set up a home gym. It is often more cost-effective to work out at home than to pay high gym membership prices. In addition, people appreciate the convenience of being able to simply roll out of bed and get in an early morning work out without the hassle of having to leave the house. It is relatively easy to renovate a space or room in the home in order to create a home gym experience but there are a few factors to take into account when planning out a home gym.
Safe Construction of a Home Gym
There are a number of aspects worth considering in order to reduce the potential of injury or health hazards in a
home gym space. Understand how to optimize a space and make it suitable for regular work outs.
Flooring
Think carefully about the type of flooring that will be used in the space. It must serve as a practical and durable material. The type of exercises performed will naturally dictate what type of flooring would be best for a home gym. An at-home yoga studio will have different flooring requirements than that for heavy weights.
Hard rubber flooring is often suggested for a home gym. Padded carpets are not recommended as machines can wobble on such a surface. Those using dumbbells will want to avoid wood flooring as it can easily crack if a dumbbell is dropped on it.
Proper Ventilation
Get proper air circulation in a space. A problem with air circulation can make those working out feel sluggish and prematurely exhausted. In addition, odors in the gym may appear to spread to other spaces. Central air conditioning has become a standard but it may also may be practical to install a window air conditioner and use an oscillating fan to promote cool air circulation.
Proper Equipment Placement
Many home gym systems are quite heavy and may cause injury or damage if they topple. Equipment needs to be properly installed to avoid such a problem. Cardio machines and other types of heavy equipment require a hard and level surface to avoid tipping. Weight racks also need such a consideration during their set up. In addition to that, different types of equipment have varying space requirements. Those who want to use an elliptical machine or treadmill will need a higher clearance. For such types of equipment, there should be an 8-foot height clearance and a minimum of a 10-by-10 foot area.
Electrical Systems and Requirements
Certain exercise machines may require a higher wattage than what a space can safely handle. Check the requirements of equipment purchased and the circuit capacity for a space to ensure the equipment is compatible for the electrical capacity of a room. Those in older homes may need to upgrade existing circuits to make changes in wattage. This would necessitate reaching out to a licensed electrician.
Homeowners are advised not to make such changes themselves as electrical changes may be viewed as an unpermitted repair to a home, which
can affect the outcome of a future home sale. Not addressing the different electrical requirements can potentially lead to a fire hazard. Speak to a licensed electrician to learn more about how to safely make changes to electrical systems and understand the options for a specific space.
Consider the types of tasks that may be involved in setting up an area for a home gym and do not overestimate one's personal abilities when choosing to go the DIY route. At times, it may be beneficial to reach out to licensed professionals to avoid mistakes, injuries and potential fire hazards.
Plan for Success
All home gyms are not the same. Available space and a limited budget may make it necessary to become more creative with a space and reduce the amount of equipment in an area. Understand what is necessary before taking on any home renovation project.
