Take Your Space from Garage to Gym without Hassles

Thinking about recommitting to getting into shape? Maybe you want to lose weight. Perhaps it's more about building muscle for you. Whatever the case, transforming your garage into a home gym is a simple, easy way to help make sure you stick to your plan.

Going to the gym is just too easy to put off. And when you do, your health suffers for it. No more! We're going to help make sure you can work out whenever you want without any excuses.

Step One: Choose Your Space Wisely

For most of us, the garage usually becomes a storage space. It's where everything we don't want in the house goes.

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

You have some decisions to make. Will you continue to store those items in the garage? What about the other stuff cluttering up that space – your workbench, for instance? Will you still want to park your car inside at times?

You can still have a gym and store things in your garage, but you'll need to maximize your storage space. Wall storage is a great way to do just that. For instance, a vertical bike rack could be just what you need. On the other hand, slatwalls can help you expand your storage, too.

Consider the space in the garage and how it will fit your fitness needs. Where will you put each piece of equipment? What equipment do you want in the first place? Remember – most of this stuff is heavy and not easily moved, so you want to install it where it's going to stay and not have to do a lot of rearranging.

Is a wall mirror in your future?

If you look at most gyms today, there's at least one wall that is nothing but mirrors. That can offer a lot of benefits, particularly for yoga, ballet, and more. It can also give the illusion of more space in your garage.

Step Two: Prepare Your Garage

BoxJunkies shared this image, which shows an in-garage gym. The owner opted for lots of extras, like a new TV.

Now we get to the part where you'll need to start planning for renovations. What spaces will change? What will you be adding? How will the various sections of the garage be used? Will that change in the future?

Maybe you'll decide to add a TV to the wall, or you could need new outlets to power your treadmill or other training equipment.

If you're adding outlets, you'll need to undertake electrical work. We highly recommend hiring a professional in that case. Even a small mistake in your wiring could spell disaster – and could have deadly consequences – so work with an electrician to get your space right.

Of course, there are plenty of things that you can do on your own. Painting is one of them. You can also install storage units and even redo your ceiling or build training equipment depending on your level of DIY skills.

For instance, if your garage ceiling isn't all that aesthetically pleasing, consider adding a drop ceiling. You'll want to insulate behind it, though, so you can prevent mice from making their home there and you can better control the temperature.

There's even the possibility of adding ceiling-mounted storage to your ceiling if it's solid. Make sure to explore this blog by BLACK+DECKER to learn more about installing it.

Consider Your Floors

Chances are good you haven't thought much about your garage floors, but you should.

This is a stunning epoxy garage floor, photo credit to AllGarageFloors.

Your garage already has a concrete floor, and it is strong enough to support pretty much whatever equipment you decide to install.

However, there's a big difference between strength and durability. The real problem here isn't being able to hold a lot of weight; it's able to stand up to hard impacts. Concrete doesn't do that well.

Eventually, impacts from setting weights down and using other types of fitness equipment will cause the floor to crack and deteriorate. In a very short time, you could find that your floor needs to be repaired.

There's also the question of temperature. Concrete absorbs the cold during the winter and can be uncomfortable while also cooling the entire space.

You have plenty of other flooring options, though, including:

● Epoxy/polyurea: Both epoxy and polyurea are waterproof and impact resistant. They also add a nice visual element to your garage. Multiple coatings can be applied to help ensure that the floor lasts longer and to protect the concrete underneath. Why worry about waterproofing the flooring? Your garage is subject to a lot of humidity, which means there's a chance for mold and mildew to grow. Waterproof flooring helps prevent that from becoming a reality.

● Rubber mats: Another option is to cover just the training area in your garage with rubber mats/interlocking flooring pieces. These are impact-resistant, affordable, and provide padding for your body if and when it comes into contact with the floor. Many mats are also waterproof. You can get plenty of mat flooring ideas from this post on The Best Flooring Options for Your Home Gym by Men's Health.

● Carpeting: Finally, you could use a rug or carpeting. However, exercise care here. You want a hard-wearing type of carpet with a tight weave that will provide cushioning but stand up to lots of use. It's also important to make sure that it will hold up to any moisture without allowing mold to grow. Carpeting also gets dirty very quickly and can be difficult to clean more than just the surface. They can be warm and comfortable, but we recommend using a heater and a different form of flooring.

Fitness equipment can be very heavy and will damage your floor quickly if you choose the wrong option.

Think about Airflow

If you're training hard, you don't want to be stuck in close, humid, stagnant air. You want fresh air. In most cases, you'll need a device to help with that. It could be an air conditioner, a heater, or even a dehumidifier, depending on your space and where you live.

Of all these, the dehumidifier is probably the most important (aside from keeping you cool and safe in the summer heat). That's because, in addition to the natural humidity in the air, your sweat will add yet more moisture. A dehumidifier helps remove that moisture and makes the space cooler and more comfortable.

Not sure what your options are? There are plenty of models on the market. One we like in particular is this garage ventilation system from Humidex. It's impact-resistant, easy to use, reduces mold, and boosts your air quality.

Consider the Insulation

Insulation helps protect your health, but also your fitness equipment.

Insulation does many different jobs. First, it helps keep you from freezing in the winter and roasting in the summer. It also reduces noise in the garage, so you don't wake the household when you're working out at 5 am.

The first step is to check the interior and exterior walls for cracks that must be filled. Check the walls inside and outside the garage.

Small cracks and holes can allow in mice and insects, as well as hot or cold air. You can use fiberglass insulation or polyurethane foam to seal those since mice don't like to chew on those types of material.

There's a good chance that your walls and ceilings are well-insulated, but your garage door might be lacking. If that's the case, there's a major gap in your defenses.

Like this modern garage door? This is a Vog design, 9' x 7', in black lack, with Harmony windows on the left.

You'll find a wide range of garage door insulation options on the market. Some come with no insulation. Others have R-12 or R-16 insulation. Like your home, garage door insulation levels are based on R-value.

The higher the number, the better insulated the door is. For instance, your home's walls are somewhere between R-13 and R-21, while the roof is probably insulated with R-40 insulation.

If the walls are already insulated, your next step is to opt for an insulated garage door. This is important as it will help keep the air inside warm or cool depending on the time of year, reduce noise, and make it harder for insects, rodents, and other pests to get into your space. It will also protect the investment you're making in fitness equipment and accessories like a sound system or TV. Finally, an insulated garage door will also help reduce your energy usage by maintaining a stable temperature in the space.

However, there's more to this than just buying a high-efficiency garage door. The quality of the installation and hardware used also make a big difference. We're talking about the gaskets, weatherstripping, and other components that help to seal the gap around the door. So, in addition to an energy-efficient garage door, you want to have a professional install the door.

Did you know that you can easily reduce your heating and electricity bills with the right garage door?

The key is your weatherstripping, which is used to block the gap at the sides and bottom of the door and prevent airflow into and out of the garage. You'll find several different types of weatherstripping, and each one is unique.

In addition, you'll find weatherstripping between each garage door panel. With Garaga garage doors, you benefit from the InterLok™ system, which helps to weatherproof the door even against winter winds.

There are other factors to consider, too. For instance, window seals are critical, as is the bottom seal on the door, such as a Storm Shield threshold. These seals help ensure that even if the floor is damaged or uneven, air does not come through. It can also help prevent moisture from penetrating the garage and ice from forming under the weatherstripping during the winter.

Add Some Windows

Is your garage dark and drab? Adding natural light could be just the thing. While it might not be possible to cut windows into your existing walls, you can certainly order a garage door with windows installed.

You'll find different types of windows available, and each offers something different in terms of privacy and style.

We recommend thinking hard about your windows and how you'll be using your space.

Do you care if people can see inside your garage?

You can also choose where the windows are installed on the garage door, whether that's at the top, on the side, or in another location.

Already have a garage door without windows, but want to add light?

You can do that without even having to replace the door. The right garage door professionals can simply change out a few panels on the door to add windows and let in natural light. Check out this article about adding windows to an existing door to learn more.

Complete the Look with a New Garage Door!

Dig this garage door look? It's a Classic CC design, 9' x 7', in Ice White color, with 4 lite Orion windows.

At International Door Corp, we can offer garage doors in a wide range of styles and colors, to fit your home's aesthetic and your budget.

Use our Design Centre tool to virtually "try on" different doors and colors with your home.

When you have a better idea of what you want, go ahead and ask for a free quote by email.

Struggling to make up your mind? Don' worry.

We can help there, too. Contact us at 207-784-0622.

Our experienced garage door professionals will be happy to help guide you to the right door.