Simple Tips to Turn Your Garage into a Gym

Are you ready to finally get into better shape? You might want to drop a few pounds, get stronger, or just start to feel healthier, and you know that working out can help. One of the best ways to do that is by going to the gym.

Of course, lots of people say they don’t have time for the gym, or that they worry about feeling awkward at the gym. They end up putting off exercise and never get into shape. Fortunately, you can make things easier on yourself. Build a gym in your garage! It’s easier than you might think.

How Much Space Should You Dedicate to a Garage Gym?

If you’re like a lot of people, you end up putting everything that doesn’t have a place of its own into the garage. It’s the “storage room” for many homes.

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

This means that you will have to think about what you are doing with your garage space. Are you going to keep an area of the garage for storage, or will you clean it all out and organize it better?

Do you have a workbench in the garage? Do you keep your car in the garage? You need to think about how much space you have, so you can determine the size and type of gym you can add.

A good way to get some extra space in the garage is to add some wall storage. A nice option might be to choose a slatwall, which can help increase storage space. You could also add a vertical bike rack.

Know how much space you have and how you want to arrange your garage gym before you start to buy your fitness equipment. Make sure you know how you want to set everything up since it can be hard to move heavy gym equipment once it’s installed and in place.

What About a Wall Mirror?

If you have enough space on one of your walls, consider adding a wall mirror. This is helpful for many types of sports. It can ensure you are doing the exercises correctly since you can see yourself.

Get the Garage Ready

This picture comes from BoxJunkies, and it shows an in-garage gym. It has a TV, gym equipment, and plenty of other conveniences.

During this stage, you will be making changes and renovations to the garage. Consider what sections you might need to add or change, how it will be used in the future, and what work will be required to get it into shape.

You might want to have some power outlets added if there aren’t enough.

If you need more outlets to handle exercise equipment you need to plug in, a television, or other equipment, have them installed professionally. An electrician can ensure that the work is done quickly and correctly, without any risks for you.

You can do several projects on your own to get the garage ready. For example, you could add some new storage units, paint the garage, etc.

If you have wooden beams on the ceiling, you could create a drop ceiling. This can give the gym a nice, finished look. Just be sure to insulate it properly, so you don’t have mice or other pests hiding there.

Those who have a solid finished ceiling could consider adding some lightweight storage to it. This blog from BLACK+DECKER shows you what to do.

Consider Your Flooring

Don’t forget about the flooring in your garage.

Here is an epoxy garage floor. Picture by AllGarageFloors.

Even though you have concrete flooring, and it can support the weight of your exercise equipment, concrete alone just isn’t practical for a gym floor. It will be uncomfortable for floor exercises, and it could start to deteriorate.

It’s not able to handle the types of impacts that tend to come from using exercise equipment. You might end up with a lot of scratches and cracks.

You should also consider the winter. Those concrete floors get cold, and it will be difficult to keep the temperature comfortable in the garage. Fortunately, you have some other options to consider.

Polyurea or Epoxy

Having an epoxy or polyurea coating on the floor can be a great option. These are waterproof coatings, they resist impact, and they are solid. You will also like the shiny look of your floor. The coating can help with the longevity of your garage floor.

Why is a waterproof option important? Garages get humid, which can lead to mold growth, which can be unhealthy. You want to reduce the possibility of having too much humidity buildup in the garage. Having a waterproof floor will help. So will getting a good dehumidifier.

Rubber Training Mats

Another option to consider is to use rubber training mats. These are great because they tend to be affordable and easy to lay down in the garage.

Having a textured rubber mat will also help to provide more stability during workouts, and it keeps the equipment from rolling around. The cushioning of the mats makes it more comfortable when exercising on the floor, and they can absorb sound in case you drop any of your exercise equipment.

You should check out some other mat flooring ideas. The Best Flooring Options for Your Home Gym from Men’s Health is a good resource.

Carpet or Rug

Although carpet might seem to be a good and simple option, you need to be careful. If you choose this option, you should choose a tightly woven carpet or rug that is hard-wearing. This will provide more longevity, the equipment will stay where it belongs, and you will have more stability when you are training.

However, carpeting has some negatives. It will get dirty easily, and it will start to deform over time. Rugs and carpets aren’t waterproof either. If there is even a small amount of water on the carpet, it will be difficult to get out before it begins to get moldy. You might not even notice this at first.

Some people like carpets because they can help to keep the garage gym warmer in the winter. However, a better option would be to get a small, safe heater instead. This will keep you warm when you are working out on cold days.

Quality, solid flooring is essential to ensure the floor and the equipment remains in good condition.

Aeration in the Garage

When working out, you need to have cool, fresh air. You should always have at least one machine that will help with the air quality in the gym. This could be a dehumidifier, a heater for the winter, or an air conditioner, for example.

The dehumidifier, as mentioned, is always a good option. When you exercise, the temperature in the space can start to rise, which means the humidity can rise, as well. A dehumidifier will help with this. If you want something simple and easy to use, consider this garage ventilation system from Humidex.

It can help with the air quality and reduce mold. It’s a durable option that is perfect for a gym space.

The Space Needs Insulation

Insulation is essential for the longevity of your gym equipment and your health.

When you have a well-insulated garage, the temperatures will be more consistent. You won’t have to worry about freezing temperatures in the winter and even the hot sun will be more bearable. Insulation can help to reduce the amount of noise that escapes the garage, as well. That could be helpful for late-night workouts.

Check to see if there are any issues with your current garage insulation. Check for cracks and holes that might need to be filled. Those spaces could let in pests and cold air. Using fiberglass insulation or polyurethane foam can help to reduce the risk of mice since they won’t chew through those materials.

Of course, the garage walls and ceiling aren’t the only aspects of insulation to consider. You also need to consider what happens if the door isn't so well insulated.

How do you like this garage door model? Vog design 9' x 7', in Black color, with a window layout: Left-side Harmony.

You can find a range of insulated garage doors. There are options with no insulation, R-12, and R-16 insulation. Insulation for your home is calculated using the R-value. Higher values mean greater insulation effectiveness, while lower values mean less insulation. House walls, for example, are between R-13 and R-21. Roofs will typically have R-40 insulation.

Make sure that you have a good, insulated garage door. If you don’t, all the effort you put into insulating the rest of the garage will be for naught. It will be more difficult and expensive to keep the temperatures comfortable in the garage.

You should find a door with good insulation and have it installed by professionals. Remember, it’s not just the door that’s important. You also need to consider the weatherstripping and the gaskets. It needs to be installed correctly if you want to have a great door that is also energy efficient.

If there is a second floor in the garage that has a sleeping area, full insulation is a huge benefit. The same is true if you have an attached garage. It will ensure that you aren’t losing heat and spending too much on energy costs.

You can find some easy ways to reduce your electricity and heating bills with the garage door. Choose the right weatherstripping, for example. There are many different types of weatherstripping available.

You can even find garage doors that have weatherstripping between the panels. This is known as the InterLok^TM joint, and it is only available with Garaga’s doors. This will help to ensure the door has been sealed against cold winds and other issues.

Some of the other elements that could affect the insulation of your garage door include seals on the floor, such as a Storm Shield threshold, bottom weatherstripping, and window seals.

Floor seals can be helpful for those who have an uneven garage entrance. It helps to prevent water from getting into the garage when it rains. The rubber threshold can be helpful in the winter, as it ensures ice won’t form under the weatherstripping and stick the door to the garage floor.

Windows in the Garage

Is your garage as dark and dismal as a basement?

You might want to add some additional natural light.

You can do this by adding some windows. While it would be difficult to add them to the walls in the garage, it’s easy to get a new garage door with windows. Even if you already have a great garage door that doesn’t have windows, you could just have the windows installed.

You can find many different types of windows that might work well for you depending on how much privacy you want in the garage gym. You can determine where the windows should be placed, too.

If you have a garage door that doesn’t have windows, we can install windows relatively easily. We can just change out some of the panels on the garage door. Check out this article about adding windows to an existing door to learn more.

A New Garage Door Could Be the Key

At Mar‑Lin Dock & Door, you’ll find a range of colors and styles that could work well for your new garage door. Maybe you are looking for a modern style, or perhaps you want more of a classic look. We can help you get the perfect door for your needs. Check out all the various options for models and colors with our Design Centre tool!

You can even get a free quote by email.

What about this garage door? This is a Classic CC, our best-selling design, 9' x 7', Ice White color, with 4 lite Orion windows.

If you’re having trouble deciding, make sure to contact us at 519-326-5888.
We’re ready to help you find the right garage door for you and your budget.

The last thing you have to do is bring in the gym equipment to the garage and start getting in shape.