Home Gym Plans

[jdonyx]

I know there are plenty of you who work out at home, and who have gone through the trials and tribulations of planning out the space and equipment needed, so I am asking for any help in doing this. My current home doesn't have enough space to create my home gym, but my wife and I are considering moving and if we do, having a plan for home gym space is part of the requirement for any new home we purchase.

One of the issues with this plan is that here in NC there are not a lot of basements in homes, most houses are built on a slab or with a crawlspace, we might get lucky and find the *perfect* house with a basement in our price range that meets all of our other needs, but I am not sure.

My thoughts were the following:
Treadmill and Elliptical for Cardio (we already own the treadmill and I want the elliptical).

For weights my ideas were either a system like the following:
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/ptec/sps.html

or

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/ptec/wms.html

Then with all of that, we would add a olympic weight set, plus a dumbbell set (one of the one that dial up and down for weight)

I understand that this gets pricey, but I am starting to save now for my "ultimate" home gym and one way to get there is ask questions and learn from others...

Thanks

[BELLC]

...but my wife and I are considering moving and if we do, having a plan for home gym space is part of the requirement for any new home we purchase.

Why build it in the house? I'd rather spend a few grand and put up a barn or metal building out back and do it right, like, higher ceilings for wall-mount chinup bars, proper supports for cable pulldowns. And lots of floorspace for exercise matting and accidental weight drops. And a bathroom big enough for a commode and shower.

Then, do what I did. Hookup a DirecTV dish to a big screen TV, get a recliner, a small fridge, internet access, and have a place to yourself outside the house. You can always add a pool table later if you quit working out.

[jdonyx]

Current neighborhood coveninets don't allow that type of detached buildings being added to the house, plus my lot is too small.

Also there are other reasons to move...

All good ideas tho.

[jude-o]

IMO the power rack is the clear winning plan. They don't restrict your movement the way a leverage machine does, and the machine won't let you barbell squat (a critical exercise in my opinion.)

[JeepCreeper]

Why build it in the house? I'd rather spend a few grand and put up a barn or metal building out back and do it right, like, higher ceilings for wall-mount chinup bars, proper supports for cable pulldowns. And lots of floorspace for exercise matting and accidental weight drops. And a bathroom big enough for a commode and shower.

Then, do what I did. Hookup a DirecTV dish to a big screen TV, get a recliner, a small fridge, internet access, and have a place to yourself outside the house. You can always add a pool table later if you quit working out.

x2

I'd add : a large fridge, a/c|heat, stove/oven/microwave and definitely a pool table... and a beer tap. For when the wife b*tches about you spending too much time in the gym.

[1devil]

I know there are plenty of you who work out at home, and who have gone through the trials and tribulations of planning out the space and equipment needed, so I am asking for any help in doing this. My current home doesn't have enough space to create my home gym, but my wife and I are considering moving and if we do, having a plan for home gym space is part of the requirement for any new home we purchase.

One of the issues with this plan is that here in NC there are not a lot of basements in homes, most houses are built on a slab or with a crawlspace, we might get lucky and find the *perfect* house with a basement in our price range that meets all of our other needs, but I am not sure.

My thoughts were the following:
Treadmill and Elliptical for Cardio (we already own the treadmill and I want the elliptical).

For weights my ideas were either a system like the following:
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/ptec/sps.html

or

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/ptec/wms.html

Then with all of that, we would add a olympic weight set, plus a dumbbell set (one of the one that dial up and down for weight)

I understand that this gets pricey, but I am starting to save now for my "ultimate" home gym and one way to get there is ask questions and learn from others...

Thanks

I would never put together a home gym without a power rack. If you get adjustable dumbells I would go with ironmaster or powerblocks. They are not cheap, but both are quality products.
http://www.ironmaster.com/store/Quic...bells-c-1.html
http://www.powerblocks.com/blocks.html

I put all of my stuff except the treadmill in the garage. I have the Powertec rack, powertec utility bench, dumbell set 5-100, an old commercial lat pull/seatedrow machine with various attachments, curl bar, about 400lbs of olymic weights and some rubber stall mats for floor protection. I would like to get some 120 and 140 lbs dumbells down the road. I purchased everything, except the utility bench, used (mostly off of craigslist). You can find some incredible deals on craigslist if you are patient and know what you are looking for.

Do you have a budget in mind?

You should really check out the gym equipment forum. There is a wealth of information over there.

[BELLC]

x2

I'd add : a large fridge, a/c|heat, stove/oven/microwave and definitely a pool table... and a beer tap. For when the wife b*tches about you spending too much time in the gym.

I was beginning to think I was the only one around here with a sense of humor, even if I was being serious.

[slackdaddy]

My home gym is in a 30x30 garage that has been finished out. Would you believe that there is a pool table and a bar in there?

[IR45N]

This one doesn't look too bad.
http://www.cyberpump.com/gallery/album11/aaa

Absolutely have the pool table, the fridge, beat up LaZBoy; gottra rest betwen sets & not hog a bench if someone else wants it.

[joed]

Maybe you can find a house with a 2 car garage & convert one of them into a weight room. If you're definitely gonna move though, this is a good time to look for 'almost new' last Xmas workout presents that were hardly ever used. I've seen 'em going for ten cents on the dollar in local papers, especially by people who, like you, are moving & don't want to haul the stuff around to continue collecting dust.

[grebagal]

I don't know what stores they have where you are but we have a Dunham's Sporting good store in MI where we recently purchased a Smith Machine cage System. It was made by Marcy Strength training equip. It has everything! Check it out online, We caught it on sale. I imagine if you bought it online you could save a penny or two. Good Luck!

Grebagal

[ctgblue]

go to the nautilus website, commercial section, on the right they have a "gym builder"
you layout the room dimensions and you can put their equipment in it, great for planning
I am using it to plan out a 10,000sqft gym now
as well as new home gym


http://www.nautilus.com/nautilus_bra...equipment.jsp#

[BELLC]

I am using it to plan out a 10,000sqft gym now
as well as new home gymhttp://www.nautilus.com/nautilus_bra...equipment.jsp#

I'm curious. I've been considering the same thing. The rural gyms here are no bigger than 1200-1600 feet and there is just no room for floor exercises. I don't care for the condition they are in and are not maintained properly.

What were the demographic factors that help you determine that square footage of 10,000 was what you need?

[jdonyx]

go to the nautilus website, commercial section, on the right they have a "gym builder"
you layout the room dimensions and you can put their equipment in it, great for planning
I am using it to plan out a 10,000sqft gym now
as well as new home gym


http://www.nautilus.com/nautilus_bra...equipment.jsp#

Thank you all for your insight and for you sense of humor... even though I missed it...