The Best Types of Flooring for a Home Gym

Why pay hundreds of dollars each year for a gym membership when you can transform any unused space in your home into a gym? A home gym allows you to work out and achieve your goal weight at the comfort and privacy of your own home!

One of the most important design elements to consider when building a home gym is the flooring. The right flooring will protect you from injuries. The right flooring also eases the stress caused by the weight of your gym equipment. In today’s post, we are listing down the most ideal flooring types to consider when building a home gym:

Rubber Flooring

Rubber flooring is the best flooring option for home gyms. The material effectively absorbs shock and provides cushion for heavy weights and gym equipment. The rubber material also provides excellent traction so it does not slip all over the surface, preventing injuries. Finally, rubber flooring provides the right give to support weight when you work out. You can get rubber flooring from your local hardware store or the nearest sports equipment supply store. Our advice is to get high quality rubber tiles instead of cheap ones. High quality rubber flooring is more durable and less likely to slip and slide when in use.

Carpet

Carpet might not be the most obvious choice when it comes to home gym flooring but it’s surprisingly efficient in evening out surfaces for a gym floor. The material also absorbs shock and eases stress caused by heavy gym equipment. The only drawback of using carpet for a home gym is that the material does not provide enough give to cushion the weight. This means, if you tend to use heavy equipment like free weights, carpets might not be the best choice for your gym flooring. Also, make sure to get durable, low-pile carpet for your home gym.

Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring make an excellent choice for gym flooring, especially if you tend to prefer low impact exercises like Pilates or yoga. The material is not only affordable, it’s also durable. However, laminate flooring is not ideal for workout that requires heavy weights or heavy gym equipment. The thin material will not absorb shock nor prevent slipping.

Foam Flooring

Foam is a great alternative to rubber flooring. The material is easy to clean and provides cushion to absorb shocks. This is an excellent material for gym users that perform strength training such as planking, sit-ups and pushups. Foam flooring is also lighter and more portable than most flooring types. Some types of foam flooring can be interlocked together to form a checkerboard pattern and comes in various colors so the possibilities are virtually endless. The only drawback from using foam flooring is the durability of the material. Foam flooring is not advisable for those who use heavy gym equipment.

Vinyl Flooring

Just like rubber and foam flooring, vinyl flooring interlocks with each other so it are very easy to install. This material comes in an array of colors, sizes and designs. Vinyl is very bendy, it flexes in all directions so it is durable. It provides ample cushion similar to that of rubber flooring. Vinyl flooring is also very easy to clean and resistant to mold and mildew. The only drawback of using vinyl flooring for home gyms is its inability to absorb shock as efficiently as foam or rubber flooring. This means, this material is not ideal for those who use heavy gym tools and equipment.