Buying a House - Placement of Power Cage

marathonic

I'm going to be on the market for a house this year and am currently on the lookout.

Where do you all keep your home gym equipment?

There are quite a few houses in my price range but I'm not sure on where I can/should place my Power Cage and 235kg Olympic weightset. The more inflexible I am with the placement of the equipment, the more limited my house choice will be.

In order of preference, I'd probably say:

1. Garage
2. Downstairs Bedroom
3. Upstairs Bedroom
4. Wooden Shed

The problem is that, obviously, if I want to go for a house with a garage or a downstairs bedroom, I'm limiting my choices.

Do many of you keep your equipment in an upstairs bedroom or a wooden/removeable shed?

If you keep it in an upstairs bedroom, did you do anything to reinforce the floors? Also, how long ago was the house built (not sure if this is a factor)?

If you keep it in a shed, was it bought specifically for this purpose and what size is it?

GASMANN

build a shed, i done it not for gym stuff but for my work gear. but it would be the right job for you.
i built mine without windows to stop any magpies getting a look in and a steel door.
dimensions are 11' x 20' and a ceiling height of 8'.
cost for materials inc plaster finish on outside was around €2000 and well worth it. if i had a bigger garden id stick in another one for a home gym.

Deise Musashi

Upgraded existing concrete shed, the business! No fear of floors failing or excess noise when rest of the house is asleep.





Plastic window since replaced by bolted in steel frame, no panes. It leaves a breeze through to keep damp at bay but no-one can fit an arm in.




Insulation, you need some in the winter!


A good solid door!


Rack with weight stack and pull down/low row setup

Cardio, ab station and the entertainment centre!

Kettlebells and home made basketball medicine ball.




Skipping ropes and weight tree

marathonic

Deise Musashi wrote: »

Upgraded existing concrete shed, the business! No fear of floors failing or excess noise when rest of the house is asleep.

Good post and some good pictures. I'm still on two minds whether to purchase in Northern Ireland or Southern Ireland (I'm from close to the border) but have just checked the North's rules and you don't need planning permission as long as it's single story and below 30 square metres. Sounds like I could consider that provided the site is big enough.

arse..biscuits

Im building a concrete gym out my back right now. Hoping to finish the walls tomorrow. Its about 3.5m by 7m internal. 6 inch concrete floor on 6inches of compacted hardcore. You really don't want all that weight on a wooden floor.

Mellor

marathonic wrote: »

have just checked the North's rules and you don't need planning permission as long as it's single story and below 30 square metres. Sounds like I could consider that provided the site is big enough.

Similar rules in the republic.
Up to 25sq.m, single story no planning required.

Upstairs is not an option. A 50kg argos set is one thing but not a full oly set. Deadlifts and squats would put a huge load on a small area the floor.

marathonic

Some interesting points.

I've one additional question - some of the houses that I'm looking at are quite 'space-restricted' outside.

What do you think is the minimum width of a building that would be required, from a safety perspective, to place the equipment in?

The bar is a standard 7 foot bar but you'd obviously need a little space for some sideways movement of the bar. I was thinking 9 foot wide would be sufficient as it'd give a foot of space at each end. Do you think it'd be safe enough going any less?

I'll also be upping my budget by 10k for any houses that already have a shed or downstairs bedroom as the 2k needed for any work could go towards the 20% deposit I'll be putting down towards the house - meaning an additional 8k mortgage. It'd add 40 per month to the mortgage but is worth considering.

Hanley

marathonic wrote: »

Some interesting points.

I've one additional question - some of the houses that I'm looking at are quite 'space-restricted' outside.

What do you think is the minimum width of a building that would be required, from a safety perspective, to place the equipment in?

The bar is a standard 7 foot bar but you'd obviously need a little space for some sideways movement of the bar. I was thinking 9 foot wide would be sufficient as it'd give a foot of space at each end. Do you think it'd be safe enough going any less?

I'll also be upping my budget by 10k for any houses that already have a shed or downstairs bedroom as the 2k needed for any work could go towards the 20% deposit I'll be putting down towards the house - meaning an additional 8k mortgage. It'd add 40 per month to the mortgage but is worth considering.

Have a look at Kevpants shed in his recent training log post. He's about 4mm of clearance on either side. Total.

arse..biscuits

Hanley wrote: »

marathonic wrote: »

Some interesting points.

I've one additional question - some of the houses that I'm looking at are quite 'space-restricted' outside.

What do you think is the minimum width of a building that would be required, from a safety perspective, to place the equipment in?

The bar is a standard 7 foot bar but you'd obviously need a little space for some sideways movement of the bar. I was thinking 9 foot wide would be sufficient as it'd give a foot of space at each end. Do you think it'd be safe enough going any less?

I'll also be upping my budget by 10k for any houses that already have a shed or downstairs bedroom as the 2k needed for any work could go towards the 20% deposit I'll be putting down towards the house - meaning an additional 8k mortgage. It'd add 40 per month to the mortgage but is worth considering.

Have a look at Kevpants shed in his recent training log post. He's about 4mm of clearance on either side. Total.

How can he load and unload the bar?

Deise Musashi

The bar is a standard 7 foot bar but you'd obviously need a little space for some sideways movement of the bar. I was thinking 9 foot wide would be sufficient as it'd give a foot of space at each end. Do you think it'd be safe enough going any less?

Part of the reason I got that particular cage is the safeties are on a quick release type pin, not long saber types. I was going to have it turned 90 degrees from where it is now, wouldn't have had room to pull long bars out the front of the rack.

Once I set it up the roof joists meant I had to have it faced the other way so I've about a foot either side of the olympic bar. It means you have to stand beside the bar to put the plates on, can't face the bar end and do it. Not too bad but twenties (or Fives for me) get awkward to handle when you are half bet from your last set.

I would like as much room as possible around the rack for spotters/moving plates etc. I guess at least six inches either side, so a dodgy lift doesn't put a bar end out the side of your shed wall? Eight foot wide should be enough, more is better though

Scuba Ste

Buy a house with as big a back garden as you can afford and build a decent sized shed. Then you can have a gym and somewhere to have bbq's on the rare sunny day.

If your thinking about using a room downstairs be aware that the floor may be a suspended timber floor. If it is, you won't be doing any lifting on it.

Antisocialiser

Mellor wrote: »

Upstairs is not an option. A 50kg argos set is one thing but not a full oly set. Deadlifts and squats would put a huge load on a small area the floor.

I'm moving in to an apartment block and was planning on getting a 7ft bar and some roughly 150kg of plates. There is enough space in the spare room but is it a very bad idea? (im on the top floor)

Gym matting = profit?

Nervous Wreck

arse..biscuits wrote: »

How can he load and unload the bar?

Check out the video and see. It's insane how tight the space is and he manages it with ease. Practice, I guess.

Mellor

Antisocialiser wrote: »

I'm moving in to an apartment block and was planning on getting a 7ft bar and some roughly 150kg of plates. There is enough space in the spare room but is it a very bad idea? (im on the top floor)

Gym matting = profit?

An appartment is different. A house will typically have a suspended timber first floor. And appartment will have a concrete floor. It's the point loads on timber that is the issue.
But stil get matting with a concrete floor, for the sake of the neighbours, and its just better in general.

arse..biscuits

Mellor wrote: »

Antisocialiser wrote: »

I'm moving in to an apartment block and was planning on getting a 7ft bar and some roughly 150kg of plates. There is enough space in the spare room but is it a very bad idea? (im on the top floor)

Gym matting = profit?

An appartment is different. A house will typically have a suspended timber first floor. And appartment will have a concrete floor. It's the point loads on timber that is the issue.
But stil get matting with a concrete floor, for the sake of the neighbours, and its just better in general.

Can you recommend where to get rubber matting? I'll be occupying my new gym soon

Tigger

arse..biscuits wrote: »

Can you recommend where to get rubber matting? I'll be occupying my new gym soon

i use cow mats
serious rubber in them

arse..biscuits

Tigger wrote: »

arse..biscuits wrote: »

Can you recommend where to get rubber matting? I'll be occupying my new gym soon

i use cow mats
serious rubber in them

Where can you get your hands on those?
Someone mentioned rubber flooring for horses is good.

DM-BM

Co-op superstores

arse..biscuits

Anywhere in Dublin?