OT, sorta: Home gym flooring over carpet

[ScaldedDog]

I want to turn a roughly 11x11 bedroom into a home gym. The room has nearly brand new carpet in it, which I'd rather not rip up. What flooring could I lay over it that could be removed later without staining or elsewise ruining the carpet, and would work well as a floor for exercise machines, weights, etc?

Mark

 

[KPSquared]

You could lay down 3/4" T&G plywood first, then whatever you wanted over the plywood (heavy rubber works good for gym)

If you cover the whole floor in plywood, it will help spread out the pressure on the carpet. It will be a little flat when you pull it all out, but will fluff back up in no time. No worse than when it came off the roll. . .

 

[JakeKohl]

You could lay down 3/4" T&G plywood first, then whatever you wanted over the plywood (heavy rubber works good for gym)

If you cover the whole floor in plywood, it will help spread out the pressure on the carpet. It will be a little flat when you pull it all out, but will fluff back up in no time. No worse than when it came off the roll. . .

but is he going to spend as much on the plywood as he is saving by not removing the carpet?

 

[KPSquared]

He didn't say he wanted to compare prices. He said he wanted something to cover the carpet.

 

[shoot summ]

I would get the anti-fatigue mats from Harbor Freight.

http://www.harborfreight.com/4-piece-anti-fatigue-foam-mat-set-94635.html

Or if you have a Tractor Supply look at their 4x6 "stall mats"

The later will probably be more likely to flatten the carpet somewhat.

 

[KPSquared]

As long as you flatten the carpet evenly it won't matter. Its crushed almost flat on the roll before it's installed and it just takes some time to recover.

 

[maxspeed96ct]

I purchased a huge clear Matt for my home gym from American floor mats. Com. It wasn't cheap , but that's cause I did the biggest one piece they sold .
I forget the exact size but its something like 10x 20 . I got a clear one and it lay right on my carpet .

I purchased mine from the garage covering section. I looked over and over at all the stuff at the local stores and no one had anything large enough and I didn't want the stuff that pieces together .

If you find a patern or color you like , they will send you a free sample of it .

 

[maxspeed96ct]

Let me know of you want more details of pics of my setup .

 

[Zeke]

T & G sounds good and adding some miter bolts might keep it together. I'd just use cheaper OSB sheathing. Maybe some visqueen over the carpet. Sounds silly, but I'd cover the OSB with thin indoor/outdoor carpet. Glued down that would help keep the whole floating floor together.

 

[ScaldedDog]

Let me know of you want more details of pics of my setup .

I would.

Mark

 

[ScaldedDog]

but I'd cover the OSB with thin indoor/outdoor carpet.

Clearly you haven't seen me sweat.
Mark

 

[KPSquared]

Even just a layer of poly b/w the OSB and the carpet. There are some nasty chemicals in OSB (even plywood for that matter) that could possibly yellow or stain your carpet.

Ok, my final solution is 6mil poly, 3/4" T&G OSB, then stall matts from Tractor Supply. Killer home gym, completely removable.

Let us know what you do. . .

 

[Resurfacer]

Carpet is not designed to be used as an underlayment. Anything you cover the carpet with, especially plywood's will wear the carpet's yarn treatments. and probably cause
the yarn to not stand up as designed. I would only cover carpet short term to protect from moving heavy objects. Just pull the carpet up from the tack strip and roll the carpet up for storage.

 

[Garage Flooring]

Many of our customers have used our interlocking rubber tiles for this over low pile carpet... I have never done it over a high pile...

 

[kngelv]

Carpet is not designed to be used as an underlayment. Anything you cover the carpet with, especially plywood's will wear the carpet's yarn treatments. and probably cause
the yarn to not stand up as designed. I would only cover carpet short term to protect from moving heavy objects. Just pull the carpet up from the tack strip and roll the carpet up for storage.

This is the right way to do it if you plan on ever taking up the gym floor. Any other method will fail. DO NOT use stall mats for a gym floor. They do not have enough give for the weight a human being and are very uncomfortable for any kind of weight training. My friend had them in his home gym for a few years and finally got rid of them. The anti-fatigue mats like they sell at Lowe's and Harbor Freight also **** for a home gym as they are not dense enough. What you want are rubber tiles or rolls specifically designed to handle weights and other gym equipment. I have a 20x20 are in my basement of gym specific interlocking tiles. I've been a dedicated weightlifter for around 17 years and have a lot of experience lifting on the aforementioned floor types.

James

 

[maxspeed96ct]

Sorry it took me so long to reply, I have a mat on tall carpet. below are some pics, and heres a link to what I used . http://www.americanfloormats.com/roll-out-garage-flooring/

I purchased the levant pattern, I purchased the clear and its sitting on a tan rug. I dont think a interlock system will work over carpet honestly, you need something thats one piece.

Anyways, here are some pics of my home gym.

 

[ChuckP]

This is the right way to do it if you plan on ever taking up the gym floor. Any other method will fail. DO NOT use stall mats for a gym floor. They do not have enough give for the weight a human being and are very uncomfortable for any kind of weight training. My friend had them in his home gym for a few years and finally got rid of them. The anti-fatigue mats like they sell at Lowe's and Harbor Freight also **** for a home gym as they are not dense enough. What you want are rubber tiles or rolls specifically designed to handle weights and other gym equipment. I have a 20x20 are in my basement of gym specific interlocking tiles. I've been a dedicated weightlifter for around 17 years and have a lot of experience lifting on the aforementioned floor types.

James

That's the whole point of stall mats. That they don't give. Whether you are dead lifting, squatting or preforming oly lifts, it's best to stay away from a floor that gives as well as any sort of athletic shoe for the same reason. Do some reading on biomechanics if you're wondering why. This is why many people lift barefoot or in a hard, non compressible soled shoe like chuck taylors or pf flyers.

OP, fwiw I use 3 4x6 stall mats on carpet in one of my rooms. My power rack sits on top of them. I've also built a platform with plywood and stall mat for Olympic lifts. Carpet still looks new underneath it all. If you do go the stall mat route, be warned, they do stink for a few days initially.

 

[kngelv]

That's the whole point of stall mats. That they don't give. Whether you are dead lifting, squatting or preforming oly lifts, it's best to stay away from a floor that gives as well as any sort of athletic shoe for the same reason. Do some reading on biomechanics if you're wondering why. This is why many people lift barefoot or in a hard, non compressible soled shoe like chuck taylors or pf flyers.

OP, fwiw I use 3 4x6 stall mats on carpet in one of my rooms. My power rack sits on top of them. I've also built a platform with plywood and stall mat for Olympic lifts. Carpet still looks new underneath it all. If you do go the stall mat route, be warned, they do stink for a few days initially.

I'm well aware of the biomechanics. I lift barefoot myself. My main focus is powerlifting. Stall mats are wrong for this. I don't mean "give" in the sense of softness. Here are the type of tiles I have

http://www.rubberflooringinc.com/interlocking-tile/38-sport-lock-tiles.html


James

 

[ChuckP]

I'm well aware of the biomechanics. I lift barefoot myself. My main focus is powerlifting. Stall mats are wrong for this. I don't mean "give" in the sense of softness. Here are the type of tiles I have

http://www.rubberflooringinc.com/interlocking-tile/38-sport-lock-tiles.html


James

and why are stall mats wrong for powerlifting? And what do you mean by "give" then? I can't believe i'm actually entertaining this bro science, but i'm bored, so please, enlighten me.

oh and ..."What you want are rubber tiles or rolls specifically designed to handle weights and other gym equipment"

 

[KPSquared]

Bro science. . awesome.

 

[kngelv]

The type of flooring I referenced has a little "give" before stabilizing. It can absorb heavy weights but not cause instability as it slightly compresses. The stall mats are too dense. This is not good for the joints. It's like being on concrete. Joint pain is quite common in powerlifters. I've lifted on both surfaces and I always felt more comfortable on the gym flooring vs. the stall mats.

James

 

[ChuckP]

Sounds good. If it works for you, obviously stick with it. I've personally never experienced any joint pain while lifting on stall mats. Who knows, could just be genetics. Just remember.. Tendons and ligaments take longer to warm up due to poor blood circulation. take care.

 

[JamieK]

Just carefully pull the carpet up, roll it up, and store in a closet. Use a stretcher or knee kicker to unook it from the tack strips. You'll have to pull the tack strips up and they'll probably break, but they're cheap.

 

[kngelv]

Sounds good. If it works for you, obviously stick with it. I've personally never experienced any joint pain while lifting on stall mats. Who knows, could just be genetics. Just remember.. Tendons and ligaments take longer to warm up due to poor blood circulation. take care.

Thanks. Likewise.

James

 

[lerand]

A little off-topic, I'm looking for something to put over carpet under my reloading workbench. I think I found my answer in this thread. I just ordered the rubber interlocking tiles from Garage Flooring.

I'll give an update with how they work.

 

[Bigbadboston]

I am looking to do this (to protect a carpet I can't remove and end up with a great surface for workouts). This thread is great! If there's any new updated advice, or experiences since the original thread was active, that would be incredibly helpful!

Thanks!!

(I'm probably looking to follow maxspeed69ct's process - would love to learn if this is ill advised)

 

[Garage Flooring]

A lot of customers will use the TrueLock Rubber Flooring tiles over a low pile carpet.

 

[RaceDeck1]

The type of flooring I referenced has a little "give" before stabilizing. It can absorb heavy weights but not cause instability as it slightly compresses. The stall mats are too dense. This is not good for the joints. It's like being on concrete. Joint pain is quite common in powerlifters. I've lifted on both surfaces and I always felt more comfortable on the gym flooring vs. the stall mats.

James

Check out SnapSports ( sports flooring division ) , we have many options for both indoor gym and outdoor sports flooring http://www.snapsports.com/

 

[Bigbadboston]

What happens if liquid spills? Wont it seep and get stuck there unless
I disassemble the floor after each spill?

What other risks might there be to the carpet? Ie what is the risk with higher pile carpet? Permanent damage to the way it stands up?

The one I have is medium pile

 

[Garage Flooring]

I'm not a fan of putting anything over a medium pile carpet other than maybe another rug to protect the floor.