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Home gym basement or garage [Article, Video]

Posted by Pascal Landshoeft

Mar 18, 2020 9:00:00 AM

Home gym basement or garage

Home gym basement or garage

 
If you have a basement available, you are probably better off putting your gym in there. It is easier to regulate the temperature and you will keep the parking space for the cars.
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Home gym 

 
When you are planning your home gym it easy to get confused or carried away. To avoid this I recommend that you do the following things before making any decisions: 
 
  • Get a trial gym membership 
  • Survey the area 
  • List of exercises 
  • List of equipment 
 
The first thing I would do is to get a trial gym membership for a month if you are not a member already. Suck the maximum out of that gym membership. Talk to trainers, other members and attend as many classes as you can. Also, make a point of getting into the habit of going to the gym. Aim to go at least three times a week, ideally more. Why spent alt of money on a home gym if you can not maintain the discipline to go regularly to the gym. With this trial, you will find out what you like and what you do not like to do. 
 
While you are testing out things in the gym survey your garage and your basement. Measure the walls, doors, and windows. Make a note in which direction doors and windows open. Keep a record of infrastructure which can not be moved like mechanics for the garage door or a boiler/stove in the basement. The more attention to detail you pay in this survey the less you will have to regret a purchase that won’t fit at a later stage. Also, make sure that you know how you will access the basement or garage to get the heavy equipment in on delivery.
 
Based on your gym trial write down a list of exercises that you want to do on a regular basis. Start with the program you are currently doing and do not fool yourself. If you don’t like a machine or exercise now it is also likely that you will not do it at home. Avoid spending money on elaborate machines that you won’t use. 
 
Based on your list of exercises write up a list of equipment that you want to get. Overlay this with the survey of the garage and basement. This might already make it very clear which one of the rooms is to be preferred. Use the Rogue Zeus engine to design your rooms and try as many arrangements as you can. The thought process will come in handy. 
 

Basement gym 

 
A basement gym is a great option if you already have a basement. Things to check in your basement before moving any equipment in are: 
 
  • Electricity?
  • Water?
  • Sockets?
  • Light?
  • Ventilation?
  • Heating?
  • Cooling?
  • Access?
  • Space?
  • Walls?
  • Color?
  • Floor?
 
This a good checklist to be sure that everything is to your satisfaction. If not make the structural changes and plan them before you move the gym equipment in. A blueprint of the finished room will help to mark the walls and floor with a pencil or notes for the necessary work to be done.
 
Another thing to address is clutter. Especially a basement has the tendency to be used as a dumping ground for memorabilia and Knick-knacks. Before you can do anything you need to do a cleanup. If you have trouble doing this read some of Mari Kondos booms and watch her show. Go into the basement and: 
 
  • Touch everything in there 
  • Decide whether it makes your heart jump or not 
  • If it does, find a place in your living quarters to put it on display 
  • If you don’t want to put it on display, say goodbye.
 
There are also some clever options to put in a metal frame on the ceiling with a bet to store things like Easter and Christmas decorations. This way they are not blocking the floor when they are not used. 
 

Pros of a basement gym 

 
The insulation of a basement is often very good. The storage is often used for items that can be easily discarded or put on the walls to save space. As there are often no walls in a basement you will get a great floor space to implement a gym. In addition, it is less likely that you will disturb anyone with loud music, be it the neighbors or the rest of the family. 
 

Cons of a basement gym 

 
Many houses simply do not have a basement so therefore it is not an option. In older buildings, basements can be damp. Ceilings can be very low and therefore not suitable for lumpia lifting. If the washing machine and dryer are placed in the basement it will be hard to put them somewhere else. There will be little to no natural light and you can not get out of the door to do a run in the middle of a circuit or sled pulls and pushes. 
 

Garage gym 

 
A garage gym is a great option if you already have a gym. Things to check in your garage before moving any equipment in are: 
 
  • Electricity?
  • Water?
  • Sockets?
  • Light?
  • Ventilation?
  • Heating?
  • Cooling?
  • Access?
  • Space?
  • Walls?
  • Color?
  • Floor?
  • Cars?
  • Installed infrastructure? 
 
Garage gyms are great as they connect you directly to the outdoors to do runs and other activities that require more space. Some might also like the aspect that they can open the garage door and exercise with others in the neighborhood. The big question with garage gyms is that you usually use it for the car and bicycles. This is different from a basement gym as things in the garage are used more often. 
 

Pros of a garage gym 

 
A garage gym has access to the outdoors. It is also easier to keel the dirt out of the house. Another advantage is that you have daylight. There are also more houses with garages than basements, so it is more likely you will have one available. 
 

Cons of a garage gym 

 
You have to give up the parking space in the gym. This can have an impact on your car insurance premium. Apart from that, the car is exposed to the weather and possible theft. In winter garage gyms can become very cold so you have to think harder about heating. In summer a garage gym will also become hot easier. 
 

Summary 

 
Overall if you have a basement I would personally say it is the better place to place a gym of equal size in compression to a garage. Of course there are ma y factors at play, but considering the most common factors and same available space, turn the basement into a gym.
 

Topics: Kettlebell, Rogue, Powerlifting, Crossfit, TITAN, Barbell, Plates, Bench, Dumbbell, Rack, Diet