Home gyms are a great addition to any home. While many people believe that all cardio equipment needs to be downstairs, this isn't always the case, especially if you live in an apartment. With some planning, knowledge, and equipment, you can easily create a dedicated, high-quality home gym on the second floor or hardwood floors.

How to Create a Home Gym Upstairs or on Hardwood Floors

If you're thinking about setting up a home gym but only have space for equipment upstairs, on hardwood floors, or both, here are some tips on creating a home gym upstairs or on hardwood floors.

Create a Plan

The first step in setting up your home gym is to create a plan that outlines what pieces of equipment you want and how much space you have available for each piece of equipment. You may also need to consider how much time you will be able to dedicate to your new workout routine so that you can make sure the equipment you buy is appropriate for the amount of time available, i.e. do you have to keep moving it around to make space for daily living? It's also important to consider any physical limitations or injuries when choosing which machines will work best for you.

Evaluate the Floor Strength

If you're setting up your gym upstairs or in a place with hardwood floors, consider having an engineer evaluate the floor's weight-bearing capacity before proceeding. The last thing you want is to have your floor cave in because it can't hold up under the strain of heavy machines. If it turns out that your floor is not strong enough, there are several ways to reinforce it (such as adding extra joists). You'll need to consult an engineer for advice on doing this correctly. 

Decide on the Equipment's

Before thinking about any other type of preparation, you need to think about what kind of equipment you plan on having in your home gym. Some types of equipment are heavier than others and require more floor space. If you plan on having several pieces of equipment in your area, they must fit comfortably without overcrowding the room. 

Our Landice machines range in weight from 235 lbs. for our upright bike to 375 lbs. for our ellipticals. Our treadmills weight 340 lbs. with our L10 model coming in at 460 lbs.

Once you know what equipment you want to buy, look up the manufacturer's recommended flooring requirements. You can find this information in the owner's manual that came with your equipment or by looking online at the manufacturer's website.

Invest in Floor Mats

Heavy equipment can easily damage a hardwood floor, which is why you should invest in rubber floor mats for any equipment that will be resting directly on the flooring. It's recommended that you get rubberized mats for treadmills and bikes, along with rubberized mats for weight benches. Some people opt to put their weight bench in the center of their room and use a large mat around it to decrease noise and protect the flooring from scratches.

Soundproof the Room

Most homes have a room overhead in which, during exercise, they tend to make noise. For example, jumping jacks and crunches can be loud and potentially bother those living downstairs. One way to soundproof an area is by placing sound-absorbing panels on walls and ceilings. These panels should be placed where the most noise is likely to occur. Additionally, you can also install new carpets with thick padding to dampen vibration noises from reaching the upper floors of your house.

Invest in Proper Lighting And Ventilation

When exercising at home, it's essential to have proper lighting so that you can see what you're doing without straining your eyes too much. You should see what you are doing when using machines like treadmills or elliptical trainers, which require a lot of coordination between eye-hand movements. 

Ventilation is also important. Having either a window nearby to open or a fan or AC unit to keep air circulating will make your workout experience that much better.

Take Away

The most effective workout routines don't require a lot of space or equipment, and you don't need to spend a lot of money on gym memberships, but some essentials are key to reach your full potential. The proper equipment can help you reach your fitness goals faster and easier.