Can a basement be used as a gym with rubber flooring installed?
A basement can be used as a gym if it is dry and can be adequately ventilated.
Before conversion, damp patches, salt efflorescence, flaking plaster or mould should be investigated from a building physics perspective rather than relying on ventilation. Depending on the findings, the cause may be defective external waterproofing, a leaking pipe or condensation on cold surfaces. The measures required depend on those findings.
Drying through ventilation is only possible where the absolute humidity of the outdoor air is lower than that of the basement air. On warm, humid summer days, prolonged ventilation can increase moisture levels in the basement. Humidity-controlled ventilation or a dehumidifier can stabilise the indoor climate.
The required room height depends on the exercises and equipment planned. It must accommodate the height of the equipment, the maximum height reached during exercise and the necessary safety clearance to the ceiling. Equipment should be planned with the movement and safety areas specified by its manufacturer.
Before installing a rack, a heavy weight set or several strength machines, the basement floor should be checked for its capacity to carry the total load and the concentrated loads at machine feet or weight-storage racks.
Flooring should be selected for the actual level of use. Under cardio equipment, flooring made from 1 cm-thick gym mats is generally sufficient for vibration damping. Free-weight areas require thicker, shock-absorbing gym flooring: at least 2.5 cm, preferably 4 cm.
Where weights are dropped, the complete floor build-up must be designed to withstand the resulting impacts and vibration and to provide the necessary sound insulation.