One of the many benefits of having a home gym is that it can be setup virtually anywhere in your home. It can be setup in a small corner of a room or occupy an entire garage.
The location is usually the first decision on makes followed by the type of equipment they want or need.
The one thing that is not often considered is the flooring.
Whether your gym is situated on concrete or carpet, the appropriate flooring should always be considered.
Not only will it protect your equipment and subfloor but it can also help you with your workouts.
There are a handful of floor materials used for gyms with one or two being most common.
We’ve listed the benefits for each of these materials to help you decide:
RUBBER
One of the most common types of flooring materials used is rubber.
Most, if not all gyms use rubber. It’s extremely durable and can withstand the continuous impact of heavy weights.
There are various types of rubber flooring materials: mats, tiles, and rolls.
Mats
Rubber mats can be used to cover small areas or you can put several of them together for a broader coverage.
They come in varied thickness: ¼ inch to ¾ inches.
They also come in different patterns and some cases, they come in different colors.
There are a number of places you can purchase gym rubber mats but you’ll find most of them are ridiculously expensive.
A great alternative are horse stall mats. They do the same job as gym mats but are used for horse stalls.
Think about that for a moment. If they are used in horse stalls, imagine how they’ll hold up in a gym.
What’s even better? They’re cheaper than gym mats.
Tiles
Gym tiles are another alternative to gym flooring.
They often remind me of those colorful, alphabet tiles you often see in preschool floors.
Known for their fun interlocking pieces, you can put them together like a puzzle and cover as much or as little of the flooring as you need.
Choose between various thickness and size.
Rolls
Rolls are generally used for large areas and virtually, provide a seamless look.
You would probably only want to consider rolls if you have an entire garage you want to cover or an entire room.
Like all other types of rubber flowing, rolls come in various sizes and thickness.
PLYWOOD
Using plywood provides you with a very sturdy ground. That definitely helps with squats and other similar exercises that require a sure footing.You’ll want to use rubber mats to catch any iron weights or dumbbells.
Although, they’re not as hard as concrete, you can still end up damaging your equipment if you drop them frequently.
PVC OR VINYL FLOORING
PVC flooringvinyl flooring are extremely durable and typically used for garage floors.They come in a variety of attractive colors and come in tiles or rolls. You also have the option of laying flexible material or peel and stick tiles.
Whether you decide to park your vehicle in your garage or use it as it as a home gym, vinyl floors will provide you with the durability and flexibility you’ll need for a multi-use garage.
- Greatmats Portable Stall Mats Pebble 10 Pack
- XMark Fitness XMat Ultra Thick Gym Flooring
- Supermat Ultimate
