Tips and Tricks for Creating a Gym Inside Your Existing Garage

Some people choose to get fit as a New Year's resolution. Others just want to make a change in their life regardless of the time of year. What if you could make this simple by creating an accessible home gym located in your garage?

Excuses like not wanting to drive to the gym, the temperature being too low, or not wanting to change into sportswear will no longer cut it when your gym is at home. It's a great option to work out any time you feel like it.

What part of the garage is the best space for your gym?

Many people end up with garages that are filled with all the random items that have no other home.

Install an elliptical trainer in your garage? What a great idea!

Do you need a space to store all these extras? Is there a workbench you need to work around in the garage? Do you use the garage as a place to store a vehicle on occasion?

The best thing you can do is to maximize the space you have available. Wall storage can work well for this. For example, you might add a slatwall for better storage or invest in a vertical bike rack.

You might be excited to buy fitness equipment but consider what pieces you need and how you can arrange it. You want to think about the most minor details since many types of gym equipment are unwieldy and heavy so moving it after installation is challenging.

What about using one of the walls in the garage to create a massive mirror?

One of the biggest trends in gyms today is the wall mirror. It makes sense as it can be used for all sorts of sports, to watch your yoga technique, or view your poses in ballet.

Next, be sure the garage is fully prepared for use

This picture shared by BoxJunkies shows an in-garage gym. The owner decided to install a TV and other conveniences.

This step is all about renovating the space for use. First, begin by planning out the sections of the garage. Then, think about its uses and what work you need to do to make it functional.

Do you want a sound system, television, or extra power outlets for equipment?

If so, you're going to need to have some electrical work done.

A professional should do this since accidents can be made and even small mistakes can lead to disaster. Experts will make sure everything is done correctly.

Some things, like placing storage units and painting, can be done on your own. You could even build training equipment or redo the ceiling yourself if you're into DIY projects.

Do you have a wooden beam ceiling? A drop ceiling is a great change if you want an excellent finish. Make sure you insulate the space since empty ceilings can be hiding spots for rodents.

Those with solid finished ceilings can add light storage to that area. This blog from BLACK+DECKER gives details on secure installation.

It's time to think about your flooring

Have you considered what you want to do with the floor?

An epoxy garage floor. Picture by AllGarageFloors.

Garages have concrete floors, which are made to handle heavy items like vehicles. That means it can easily support your gym equipment, too. However, that doesn't mean a full concrete floor is the most practical option.

Concrete floors don't do well with impacts and can start to deteriorate as time goes on. Even a few months of gym use will create a floor with cracks and scratches.

Plus, concrete is extremely cold during winter. This makes it more challenging to keep temperatures stable in the space. Because of that, you have three floor options:

1. Epoxy or polyurea

A professional can install an epoxy or polyurea coating. Each is waterproof, which is essential when converting a garage into a gym, and resistant to impact. It also offers a shiny and pleasing look to the floor. Adding coating can also help the floor last longer.

A waterproof floor is something essential to consider. Unfortunately, garages can get moldy when they experience excess humidity. Creating a livable space means preventing the possibility of adding humidity to the room. You can do this by installing a waterproof floor or choosing to purchase and install a durable and robust dehumidifier.

2. Rubber training mat

The second choice you have is to cover up the concrete floor using a rubber training mat.

The textured material helps hold equipment steady and reduces potential falls when working out. It can also make working out less noisy if you ever drop dumbbells or other items to the ground.

Plus, a rubber mat has padding to protect your tailbone, elbows, and knees during exercises on the floor. It's far more comfortable than concrete.

Want other mat flooring ideas? The Best Flooring Options for Your Home Gym by Men's Health gives you tons of options for mats that you can use in a home gym.

3. Carpet

The last option is carpeting, but you need to be careful about the type you choose. If carpet is what you want, be sure it's durable and has a tight weave. This helps it better adhere to exercise equipment while providing excellent stability when training.

However, carpets aren't always best since they get dirty fast. It can also deform as it's used. Rugs also do not provide the best adhesion to keep your equipment on the floor.

Carpets and rugs are not waterproof. That means if the space gets damp, the carpet will absorb that. Therefore, it can be challenging to remove all the moisture before mold beings to grow.

A carpet can help with a cold floor in the winter, but you can also simply install a heater. This ensures a pleasant and stable temperature throughout all seasons.

Equipment can weigh a ton. You need to have solid flooring if you don't want to break it after only a month.

Considerations about aeration

Cool and fresh air is helpful while training and after you are done. You should have at least one item that helps with the air quality. This could be a heater, air conditioner, or dehumidifier.

Since the garage will house the gym, a dehumidifier is the best option. Training in the room will increase the humidity. If you prefer a lightweight and straightforward monitor, consider a quiet and small model such as this garage ventilation system from Humidex. It's small but reduces mold, improves air quality, and is impact resistant.

Do winters get rather cold in your location? A portable heater is another excellent addition to the space.

All about insulation

For the purposes of your good health and the length of life of your equipment, you need a garage that is well insulated.

Insulation in your garage will keep you from getting too cold in winter and prevent noise from reaching the rest of the house. In addition, it lets you ensure that you don't wake up other inhabitants when you decide to have a late-night or early morning workout.

Check the walls inside and outside the garage. Search for cracks and holes that should be filled; these can let in mice and cold air. When it comes to rodents, filling your walls with fiberglass or polyurethane foam insulation is recommended. Mice won't chew through them to reach the interior of the garage.

If you have enough insulation to enjoy a comfortable garage temperature in all seasons, but the door isn't so well insulated, you might not get the results you want.

What do you think of this garage door? This is an exclusive design named Vog, 9' x 7', Black, with a window layout: Left-side Harmony.

There are several insulated garage doors on the market today. Select from no insulation, R-12 insulation, or even R-16 insulation. Keep in mind that insulation is calculated using R-value. The higher it is, the better the insulation will work. In many cases, roofs have R-40 insulation, while the walls in a house might be between R-13 and R-21 insulation.

If all the walls in the garage are insulated, you should also add an insulated garage door. If you don't, the effort is wasted since the temperature will still fluctuate inside based on the temperature outside. Air will continue to circulate, and you'll spend more money heating your home since some of the heat will leave through the garage door.

Proper installation has a lot to do with how well insulation works. Of course, the door is essential, but so are the components like the weatherstripping and the gaskets. All of the components should be appropriately installed by a professional to get the best performance. You also want to be sure the door is energy efficient.

If you have a garage attached to your home or the garage has a second floor where someone sleeps, full insulation will have additional advantages. You can be sure you can heat the house without losing any of the heating.

Using only the garage door, there are several ways to reduce your electricity and heating bills. Utilizing the proper weatherstripping is the first step. It's essential when used on a garage door. It can fill in all the spaces between the walls and the door. There are many different types of weatherstripping, each with its own advantages based on your needs.

In addition, some garage doors have weatherstripping in between the panels. This is known as the InterLok™ joint and is used only on Garaga doors. The joint ensures that the door is fully sealed against cold winds and other items you don't want to get into the garage.

Other things that contribute to the insulation of your garage door include the bottom weatherstripping, window seals, and floor seals, such as the Storm Shield threshold. Floor seals are also helpful with uneven or cracked garage entrances or keep water from getting inside when it's heavily raining. Adding a rubber threshold can also help out in winter. It provides additional door protection by preventing ice from sticking to the weatherstripping and holding the door on the floor.

What about windows?

Does your garage get overly dark? If you want a more considerable amount of natural light, you have options. Cutting holes in the wall isn't the best option, but you can select a garage door that has windows installed.

Different types of windows are offered, based on how much privacy you want in the space. Even if you want more sunlight to come in, you might not want to give the whole neighborhood a way to see inside. You can also choose where the windows will be located on the door. You can put them on the sides or the top of the door.

You already have a garage door without windows, but you want to get more light without switching out the door. That's also an option available to you. Changing out some of the panels in your doors can give you the ability to add windows. Look at this article about adding windows to an existing door to learn more.

Are you thinking about a new garage door for an excellent aesthetic?

At Doors & Things, we can give you ideas of colors and styles that meet your needs and fit your personal style. For example, are you planning to paint the inside walls or decorate them with a specific color? You could choose a matching door. If you want to see all the options for colors and models, take a look at our Design Centre tool!

If you have decided which garage door is right for you, get in touch and ask for a free quote by email.

Do you like this the classic elegance of this garage door? This is a Classic CC design, 9' x 7', in Ice White color, with 4 lite Orion windows.

Still not sure what the best option is?

Contact us at 705-322-0136 and our experienced staff will help you choose the perfect garage door for your home.

Then all you have is the final step of installing all the equipment for your home gym so you can enjoy workouts whenever you want.