More and more people are converting existing space into a workout room, rather than paying for a fitness center membership. After all, if you work during the day, have to run kids to their practices and clubs, you probably do not feel like spending time traveling back and forth to the fitness center. Also, by having a workout space at home, you can exercise anytime you choose.
If you're looking at converting existing space into a workout room, flooring will be the main consideration. You can probably leave the walls and ceiling the same, but you need flooring that is durable, yet easy on the joints.
The best option for indoor workout space is interlocking rubber tiles. If you have not seen these, there are a lot of great options. You can choose one solid color, choose a checkered pattern with two colors, or you can choose a different color for each part of the room. You can design your floor anyway you like.
Why go with interlocking tiles? The main reason is it's shock absorbent. If you're planning on doing jumping jacks, floor exercises or running in place, your body will appreciate the extra cushioning of the floor. The tiles also have an excellent slip resistance quality which is very important for any workout area. Rubber will also absorb sound effectively. While you're working away on the treadmill or elliptical, your family will still be able to hear the TV in the next room.
These are also very durable. If you have heavy exercise equipment, it will not damage the floor. You can move equipment around and the floor will stay put. A rubber floor will easily last 15 years and depending on the quality, it could last as many as 30 years. If you tend to sweat a lot while working out, rubber tiles are easy to clean. Just grab a damp cloth and wipe it down.
Interlocking rubber tiles are easy to install. You and a buddy can easily install the floor in one weekend. If the existing floor is concrete, wooden or vinyl, you can place the rubber tiles on top of the existing floor. If the floor has a wall-to-wall carpet, you'll want to rip the carpet out, place a subflooring such as plywood, and then install the rubber tiles.
Rubber flooring is fairly inexpensive. If at some point you decide to use the room for something else, the rubber tiles can be used in a different area, such as your garage or laundry area.