A home gym is seen as one of those luxuries you can only have if you’re rich and famous, but that isn’t the case at all. Make an end to monthly memberships, changing room blushes and the excuses not to go to the gym, by converting your concrete garage in to a home gym.
If you don’t have a concrete garage to convert, give the guys at Dencroft Garages a call and they will tend to all your needs and ease you through the process.
Clean-out
The first thing that needs to be done in the process of any conversion is the initial clear-out of your concrete garage. Effective organisation and clearing is key to the process, you need to decide whether the whole of the garage will be dedicated to the gym, or whether part of it will be left for household appliances such as a freezer and other tools like lawnmowers, drills etc.
Power
If you are powering heavy machinery such as treadmills and cross trainers in your gym, then you need to make sure you have the correct amount of sockets. Ring an electrician and see if your current sockets are working properly, and if required, fit more sockets – don’t be lazy and simply use an extension lead from your house. Once the correct number of sockets have been sorted, make sure all wires and leads are tucked away or taped up out of the way.
Ventilation
Gym sessions can leave you hot, sweaty and uncomfortable, so they right ventilation is key to a good home gym. Do your research and install the correct air conditioning system or ceiling fan that is within your budget, as a hot, stuffy gym is far from what you want. Not only could it make you even more uncomfortable, but it could lead to health issues.
The floors and walls
The floor in your concrete garage will most likely be concrete. No gyms have concrete floors, they are all fitted with special floor tiles that leave the weight sand equipment with no damage, they are also a great insulator and give you extra grip. Find the correct tiles in a shop or online and get them fitted.
If your garage has no windows or any natural light source, windows are a great idea to brighten up your concrete garage. They also allow you to watch yourself when lifting weights, which means you can make sure you’re doing the correct technique, which will prevent injury.
Gym equipment
Once the boring things are out of the way, it’s time to get on to the exciting part, choosing and purchasing your gym equipment. The main thought should be – what do you want to achieve from this? For expert advice on what equipment to buy depending on your goal, read this article, but for now, here are our top tips for each goal:
Weight loss – Any of the below:
- Rowing machine
- Treadmill
- Cross trainer
- Stepper
- Exercise bike
Muscle gain – Either of the below
- Range of weights and a dumbbell
- Dual adjustable pulley
- Power blocks
General toning – Get some weights and one of the cardio machines.