Where to Start When Building a Home Gym: The Foundation Matters
When building out a home gym, many enthusiasts focus on the equipment first. However, after helping thousands of home gym owners, one thing has become clear: flooring is where you need to start.
Flooring is a foundational element that's difficult to change once you've placed heavy equipment on it. Making the right choice from the beginning can save you time, money, and frustration down the road.
Three Levels of Home Gym Flooring Options
When selecting flooring for your home gym, consider these three options based on your budget and needs:
1. Budget Option: Amazon Clip-Together Mats
If you're working with a tight budget, the interlocking foam mats available on Amazon will provide basic protection. These affordable options are better than nothing, though they may not offer the durability or stability of higher-end solutions.
2. Mid-Range Option: Stall Mats
Stall mats represent the middle ground in home gym flooring. These thick rubber mats, originally designed for horse stalls, have become popular in home gyms due to their durability and reasonable price point.
3. Premium Option: Commercial Grade Flooring
For those looking for a long-term solution, commercial grade rubber flooring offers superior quality. This option stays in place better, lasts longer, and provides a more professional look and feel to your training space.
Why Proper Flooring Matters
A good home gym truly does start from the ground up. The right flooring not only protects your subfloor from heavy weights and equipment but also provides crucial benefits to your training:
- Allows you to train harder with confidence
- Provides safety through proper impact absorption
- Enables longer training sessions with reduced joint stress
- Stays in place during dynamic movements
When you avoid cutting corners on flooring, you're making an investment in both your training environment and your long-term athletic development.
Remember that changing your flooring after setting up equipment is much more difficult than getting it right the first time. Take the time to consider your needs, space, and budget before making this important first decision in your home gym journey.
