Converting garage into a home gym?

[ChocoTrio]

Has anyone converted their garage into a home gym?

I want to do it as cheaply as possible and just wondered what would be the essentials that need adjusting/adapting? My thinking is - just get some suitable flooring in and then some (manual) equipment, weights etc. That should be easy enough and from what I've read should definitely be covered by permitted development rules (though, please correct me if I'm wrong?). Or have I oversimplified the idea of creating this home gym?

Garage will already have power and lighting. It won't have heating, but I don't think it matters for a home gym because the point of exercising will be to warm up etc. A little bit of cold may even act as a bit of motivation to work harder!

Clicky link This website gives helpful information on whether permission is required.

Is it an integral garage attached to the house, or separate? Are you planning on changing the door to a window?

If integral is the floor level the same as your house floor level? Mine was lower, so had to be built up and insulated. Despite being insulated it's still bloody cold in there though! Previous owners of our house didn't do a very good job!

You can normally contact your local planning team and ask their advice, though sometimes they do charge!

@CharmingB

Thanks - I will checkout that link.

The garage is separate from the house, but just beside and behind a little after the drive way. Separate building though. If that makes sense.

I'll also look into asking local planning team.

What did you do for equipment? Was that simple enough to get manual equipment in there?

@CharmingB

Btw. Just checked that link you gave. Garage is a separate building but I'm not planning on changing the windows or doors.

Not sure how garage being a separate building impacts upon permitted development? May need to do more research.

Literally get flooring done and put some exercise equipment in there for a workout. That's it.

I think if you're just planning on keeping the original door then you can do whatever you like to the inside of it. It's only if you're changing it's habitability or appearance of it that it could create a planning issue.

And let's face it - there's a lot of "home gyms" that are effectively just "garages" for unused equipment lol!

Assuming you have a solid hardstanding under the garage you shouldn't have any issues getting equipment in there. Just check the height on some of it. You wouldn't want to be standing on a stepper/elliptical and have your head bouncing off of a cross beam!

Also, check that your equipment is able to be levelled if the floor is uneven - the last thing you need when you're pulling a heavy weight is for it to be wobbling!

@CharmingB

Thank you for the useful tips! My new build home and garage are not ready yet, but I'll watch out for the height when I do move in. Covid has delayed building by a few months, but it is understandable.

FYI in case anyone else considers garage conversions. This was a useful link too: Converting your garage into a gym

"You will typically not have to seek planning permission for internal work on a garage unless your home is a listed property or occupies a conservation area, since the size and structure of the building will remain the same."

"If all you want to do is buy a treadmill for your garage, then you won’t have to worry."

What I'm planning is very simple. Flooring and some equipment to do workouts at home. I checked with the builders too.

We've used a large, interlocking flooring tile in a garage to create a workshop floor (for fixing cars). It's easy to install and stops the floor from being slippery. Might work for you to put equipment on?

@PragmaticWench - Thank you!

Were the flooring a bit like these? Value Interlocking Vinyl Floor Tiles

Did you install yourself or did you get a professional floorer in?

It's a great idea because it looks like it has grip and is hard wearing. Think my old gym had something similar for flooring tbh!

@ChocoTrio that's pretty much exactly the flooring. My father has it in his workshop too and he laid it with no problems, I believe it's designed for self-instalation.