If you’re tired of having to buy flimsy workout equipment that has to be unfolded and be rolled out every time you want to work up a sweat, you may want to consider building your own home gym. Though the thought of building an addition just for staying fit may seem like a serious investment, if you have an underutilized basement it could be less expensive than you think. With just a couple of weeks’ worth of work, you can transform your basement into a fully functional gym, giving you a great place to exercise in the privacy of your own home. There are a number of ways to go about remodeling your basement to create this space, and you’ll want to carefully consider your budget, the environment around your house and the features you’re looking to include before coming up with a plan of attack.

This first step in building your home gym is to prevent flooding into this space. In some areas, this may just mean checking or improving your sump system, while in other it may require comprehensive crack repairs and waterproofing. Flooding or constant high moisture can seriously damage the electronics and metal components in many types of exercise equipment and other items you put in your gym. The amount of moisture in your basement can also affect the building materials you used to remodel it. For example, lumber and drywall are only suitable for very dry and waterproof basements, while damper conditions generally require specialized, moisture-resistant basement finishing panels. In addition to their different properties when exposed to water, these materials often have different limitations regarding the weight they can support. This means that if you’re looking to mount heavy televisions or mirrored walls, you’ll need to be sure that the walls you install can provide the proper level of support.

Floors are another important factor for basement home gyms. You’ll need to be careful when placing heavy equipment into your remodeled basement to prevent floor cracks that can allow water to invade the space. Vinyl laminate flooring with a waterproof adhesive, stained and sealed concrete, cork or epoxy floor coatings are all durable options that can protect your floor when you’re building a home gym. Also, keep in mind that many basement finishing systems and some floor types not listed above utilize subfloor systems to create a gap for water to collect and feely flow below the floor of your basement room. These subfloors generally have strict weight requirements, which can limit the various type of equipment and weights you can use in this space.

Once you’ve gotten walls and floors that are right for the basement gym you’re looking to create, you can start working on the finishing touches. If boxing or other martial arts are part of your routine you may want to consider hanging a punching bag from the joists above. Maybe you’re having trouble finding a TV that can fit the weight restrictions on your wall. Consider installing a light-weight projector and screen instead for watching your favorite workout videos.

To help you make sure you build the best home gym possible, you may want to consider working with a basement remodeling contractor. These professionals can advise you of the various advantages of different basement remodeling techniques and help you choose an option that supports as many features as possible for your workout space.

Christopher Behan is a professional writer specializing in the home improvement industry. His writing focuses on basement remodeling, replacement windows, sunrooms, and other home remodeling products and services, and his work has been featured on multiple home improvement websites.

Christopher Behan is a professional writer specializing in the home improvement industry. His writing focuses on basement remodeling, windows, sunrooms, and other home remodeling products and services. His work has been featured on multiple home improvement websites. http://www.1800basement.com/

Author Bio: Christopher Behan is a professional writer specializing in the home improvement industry. His writing focuses on basement remodeling, replacement windows, sunrooms, and other home remodeling products and services, and his work has been featured on multiple home improvement websites.

Category: Home Management
Keywords: basement remodeling