Building a home gym on my balcony

Bonkrs

I'm thinking off building a Home Gym which would consist of a power rack+bench+barbell+weights. The only space i have available for this is my 2x4m balcony. I have a few questions:

Is it a problem to lift weights outside when it's cold? Will i be fine if i put on a sweater, do a good 5 mins of skipping and the proper warmup sets or do i have to do additional warmup to minimize chance of injury?

Does anyone have a good suggestion on the kinds of mats to use and where to get them in the dublin area? I can easily find the lifting equipment but seem to have problems finding proper mats (i'm not really sure what to get for mats actually).

Thanks for the help.

EileenG

First thing I'd do is check that your balcony can actually take the weights. Another thing to consider is the risk to other people if you drop a weight.

If you are dressed for it, you can lift outside in cold weather.

You can buy heavy foam matting in most shops or in Argos which should do the job. They sort of jigsaw together, so you should be able to get them to fit your balcony. Martial arts shops should have bigger ones.

Roper

This has the potential for comedy gold! Oh how I wish Peter Sellers were still alive.

Smyths (the toy store) sell play matts that are decent quality for not much money. But most non pourous mats are going to get really, really slippy with dew, rain, snow etc. You could use the mats they have in kitchens. They're heavy duty rubber with large holes in them. Around the same price per square foot I think.

BrianD3

The Argos foam mats are no good IMO. They may be alright for putting under machines etc. but if you drop a weight on them they don't provide much absorption.

I have heard of people using heavy duty, non slip rubber matting designed for use in stables. Try your local farm supplies store

Hanley

briand3 wrote: »

the Argos Foam Mats Are No Good Imo. They May Be Alright For Putting Under Machines Etc. But If You Drop A Weight On Them They Don't Provide Much Absorption.

I Have Heard Of People Using Heavy Duty, Non Slip Rubber Matting Designed For Use In Stables. Try Your Local Farm Supplies Store :d

+1

c - 13

They had some very thick playground slabs in Smyths recently, quite think and looks like they'd absorb the shock of something dropped on them. Had a non-slip surface which would be important. Not cheap though, I think they were E12.99 per 1M^2 slab IIRC.

gabgab

Are you training regulalrly at the moment?? I ask because you are asking about warming up etc,

If not then I suggest a chin up bar and some weights, get some workouts based on these relatively cheap pieces of equipment and see how it goes for 3 months,

Have you thought about the following?

Winter, proper winter weather not the type we choose to forget at the moment, lashing rain, windy etc.
How will the equipment hold up through one of these, eg the bench after getting wet all winter,
Everyone in the area will be gawking at you, were all a little self conscious at times,

Just some things to consider before going to big expense and then jacking it in,

talkin4

If this baclony is in an apartment complex, I hope you haven't bought the bench without checkin ur lease, in most cases, how u use ur balcony is strictly limited and most balconies are "common property" (i.e. they do not belong to the apartment owner but use of same is granted to the owner for duration of lease) Rules vary from complex to complex.

Degsy

Its not a bad idea in principle but i reckon the irish weather would soon put the kaybosh on it.Imagine coming home from work at 6.30 pm in november with a hurricane raging outside,pissing rain and the threat of snow.I certainly wouldnt fancy bench pressing 100ks with the rain pouring down my face and the bar dripping wet.

Bonkrs

This has the potential for comedy gold! Oh how I wish Peter Sellers were still alive.

?

Winter, proper winter weather not the type we choose to forget at the moment, lashing rain, windy etc.
How will the equipment hold up through one of these, eg the bench after getting wet all winter,
Everyone in the area will be gawking at you, were all a little self conscious at times,

It's not a fully open balcony so you just get some spatters when it's rainy and windy. Anyone any ideas if a standard powerrack and bench will survive that for a long time?

Degsy

Bonkrs wrote: »

?



It's not a fully open balcony so you just get some spatters when it's rainy and windy. Anyone any ideas if a standard powerrack and bench will survive that for a long time?

It might but is the baclony strong enough to take all the extra weight?You dont want to drop your deadlift and find yourself hurtling into space..

Edit
I just thought of something else..what if birds fly in and crap all over your equipment?

LegacyUser

You can't put weights on a balcony...it just can't work and it's also not allowed! I have a balcony...and it's covered...and in the winter, it gets completely pissed on even beneath the shelter...

Bonkrs

mmm too bad, off to the gym it is then

rubadub

talkin4 wrote: »

If this baclony is in an apartment complex, I hope you haven't bought the bench without checkin ur lease,

Yep, last place I was in you couldnt put a clothes horse out on the balcony, and most peoples gym equipment falls under that category