Home gym ideas

[thecrow]

I'm currently trying to work out if we can get a home gym in an outbuilding we're planning to have built at the bottom of the garden. We've got about 4.5m width to play with (leaving room either side) and anything up to about 7m depth. The original idea was to split it 50/50 having the back half as storage and the front half as a gym. However, I'm not convinced it is going to have the space needed.

I'm looking to get a squat rack, bench and area for deadlifts etc, dumbells and a treadmill (for the Mrs).

If anyone has done something like this, I'd welcome your thoughts, photos etc.

[BobSaunders]

thecrow said:

I'm currently trying to work out if we can get a home gym in an outbuilding we're planning to have built at the bottom of the garden. We've got about 4.5m width to play with (leaving room either side) and anything up to about 7m depth. The original idea was to split it 50/50 having the back half as storage and the front half as a gym. However, I'm not convinced it is going to have the space needed.

I'm looking to get a squat rack, bench and area for deadlifts etc, dumbells and a treadmill (for the Mrs).

If anyone has done something like this, I'd welcome your thoughts, photos etc.

Squat rack and bench can be the same thing. Just move the bench back and then you have room for deadlifts using the bar. Ensure there is appropriate cushioning on the floor. Treadmill in the corner.

Depends how much of a showhome look you want for the gym.

[thecrow]

BobSaunders said:

Squat rack and bench can be the same thing. Just move the bench back and then you have room for deadlifts using the bar. Ensure there is appropriate cushioning on the floor. Treadmill in the corner.

Depends how much of a showhome look you want for the gym.

Sorry, that's what I meant re the squat rack/bench idea. Didn't word it very well. Not too fussed about it looking like a showhome, just want it to work. Was thinking rubber interlocking tiles on the floor all over for cushioning.

The other thing that I've been wondering about is height. It looks like I can only go to 2.5m (presumably external, so less internally). It doesn't seem enough if I'm going to be doing pull ups or overhead pressing anything? I've no experience in seeking permission for something like this, which, I understand I'd have to do if I was to go for a higher ceiling.

[KAgantua]

Hi mate you can only have up to 2.5m height if its within 2m (I think) of a boundary)

I have a cross trainer/ cable fly/ squat rack in my home gym, 5x3m log cabin.

I have to ahve the squat rack at a certain point in the gym due to head room, and cannot do skipping or overhead press (Can do pull ups though)

j

[russy01]

Ive recently built one and the issue with power cages, racks etc is the height - if you are trying to keep the ridge height below planning conditions etc.

[hyphen]

thecrow said:

I'm looking to get a squat rack, bench and area for deadlifts etc, dumbells and a treadmill (for the Mrs).

Consider how you will do Pullups/dips.

Deadlifts risk/reward ratio is questioned by many, so don't feel you have to do them.

Edited by hyphen on Monday 19th August 21:23

[hyphen]

russy01 said:

Ive recently built one and the issue with power cages, racks etc is the height - if you are trying to keep the ridge height below planning conditions etc.

KAgantua said:

Hi mate you can only have up to 2.5m height if its within 2m (I think) of a boundary)

Something I have wondered- can you dig down a bit and then build it so its still 2.5m above natural ground?

[KAgantua]

hyphen said:

russy01 said:

Ive recently built one and the issue with power cages, racks etc is the height - if you are trying to keep the ridge height below planning conditions etc.

KAgantua said:

Hi mate you can only have up to 2.5m height if its within 2m (I think) of a boundary)

Something I have wondered- can you dig down a bit and then build it so its still 2.5m above natural ground?

Oddly i was considering doing the same.
I suppose you can have more than 2.5 height then but you are opening a world of pain

- Drainage: If water gets into the log cabin below ground, how will it drain away? Will you have a soakaway and/ or ground pump? Turning it from a basic shed job to a big big engineering project.
- Access: If it is a foot or so below ground inside, how will you get in from the garden? do you need to build concrete steps down for example - how will they allow drainage?
- Given the below ground part needs either soil or more likely pea shingle abutted against it, will that rot the wooden walls? What will you build the 'below' part out of? Engineering bricks? Can you lay those?
- Amount of spoil removal - are you building up or down? if down, how will you dispose of tonnes of earth If up, how will you get all the soil onsite? What is access like?

Too much drama basically - you are turning a simple log cabin build into a whole new ball game, IMO

[BobSaunders]

thecrow said:

BobSaunders said:

Squat rack and bench can be the same thing. Just move the bench back and then you have room for deadlifts using the bar. Ensure there is appropriate cushioning on the floor. Treadmill in the corner.

Depends how much of a showhome look you want for the gym.

Sorry, that's what I meant re the squat rack/bench idea. Didn't word it very well. Not too fussed about it looking like a showhome, just want it to work. Was thinking rubber interlocking tiles on the floor all over for cushioning.

The other thing that I've been wondering about is height. It looks like I can only go to 2.5m (presumably external, so less internally). It doesn't seem enough if I'm going to be doing pull ups or overhead pressing anything? I've no experience in seeking permission for something like this, which, I understand I'd have to do if I was to go for a higher ceiling.

Get some extra movable mat padding under the dead lifts. Nothing complicated, you just don't want to drop it if you are going large or not feeling it.

Overhead press will be a problem, but you can do that outside if required, or sat on the bench. Clean and jerk will be a problem.

Pull up's, just set the chin up bar lower and bend your knees. You only need a head's height(?), and a couple of inches play above it. At least it will preserve good form momentum, otherwise you will whack your head... :-)

[Equus]

hyphen said:

Something I have wondered- can you dig down a bit and then build it so its still 2.5m above natural ground?

In terms or Permitted Development under Planning, yes, you can.

Although, as KAgantua has touched upon, while that sounds easy, technically (tanking/damp-proofing the bit that's below natural ground level) adds to the expense and is defects-prone.

[thecrow]

Re deadlifts, I'm looking forward to getting back into them. Have been out of the gym for a while but was doing sets at 180kg before I stopped, so would like to aim at least in that direction. I was taught well so form is strict (it is on everything, form first, then weight as form allows).

The builder is talking about oversized joists with 300mm centres, and I think he said 22mm ply on top (I'm waiting on a quote and am not technical really myself, so that might be rubbish), with my rubber floor on top of that. I want to be able to drop any weight I'm likely to lift, and realistically am going to have to do clean and jerk outside, so I'd like to be able to have confidence that I could drop 250kg (say) from deadlift height without going through the floor. Extra mats would be worth looking at, although presumably it changes the movement slightly (starting higher up?).

I think as has been suggested, pull ups from a lower starting point would be OK. I like the idea of having lots of space above my head but have to remember this isn't going to be a commercial gym! I'm used to doing pull ups from a completely dead hang, so presumably on my knees will engage the core a bit more!

Has anyone got photos of their kit in situ so I can see what sort of space people leave around equipment, and how much you've fitted into a given space?

Thanks for all the advice so far, much appreciated.

NB I'd considered digging down to get ceiling height but figured as has been suggested, that it changes the whole scope too much. I'd probably be more inclined to seek permission for a higher ceiling (next door have something in the same part of their garden that is significantly above 2.5m, and they don't seem like the type to do anything not-by-the-book).

[KAgantua]

thecrow said:

Re deadlifts, I'm looking forward to getting back into them. Have been out of the gym for a while but was doing sets at 180kg before I stopped, so would like to aim at least in that direction. I was taught well so form is strict (it is on everything, form first, then weight as form allows).

The builder is talking about oversized joists with 300mm centres, and I think he said 22mm ply on top (I'm waiting on a quote and am not technical really myself, so that might be rubbish), with my rubber floor on top of that. I want to be able to drop any weight I'm likely to lift, and realistically am going to have to do clean and jerk outside, so I'd like to be able to have confidence that I could drop 250kg (say) from deadlift height without going through the floor. Extra mats would be worth looking at, although presumably it changes the movement slightly (starting higher up?).

I think as has been suggested, pull ups from a lower starting point would be OK. I like the idea of having lots of space above my head but have to remember this isn't going to be a commercial gym! I'm used to doing pull ups from a completely dead hang, so presumably on my knees will engage the core a bit more!

Has anyone got photos of their kit in situ so I can see what sort of space people leave around equipment, and how much you've fitted into a given space?

Thanks for all the advice so far, much appreciated.

NB I'd considered digging down to get ceiling height but figured as has been suggested, that it changes the whole scope too much. I'd probably be more inclined to seek permission for a higher ceiling (next door have something in the same part of their garden that is significantly above 2.5m, and they don't seem like the type to do anything not-by-the-book).

The cabin - putting new slabs in front later this year - path was a lash up job with stuff I had available last year - no money left

Looking out the doors and the shelf above that contains accesories, skipping rope, radio etc.

Cable fly to right of gym, the thing hanging up on the left is a punch bag I have lashed up when not in use.

Squat rack and cross trainer - Squat rack has one of the members upside down as it breaches the roof trusses otherwise. You can still do pullups as long as you are not kipping (Strict, slow form) or like 7foot tall. (In which case you can still do them, you just need to bend your thighs upward as you lift yourself up

Also squeezed a dehumidifier and heater in there as well as a yoga ball in the corner.

[ukwill]

Here's ours. It's a SIP garden room, 8x4m (apex roof height 4m - needed for golf swing ). We have it 50/50 - one half for workouts and one half is a golf sim. There's also a toilet/shower room.









Weights - dumbbells 10-35kg, free weights (160kg) and a Versaclimber. 15mm rubber flooring.