1930s Semi Refurb - Part 13A of ... (Workshop Upgrades - Gym?)

[dlockers]

Hi folks,

I am hanging my tools up for a little while (2nd kid arriving in the next 3-5 weeks), but keen to keep something low-effort but high impact ticking over. I have a 12.8 x 2.93 space to work with, with a "garage vibe" in the front 3rd with a pit, then a workshop/storage vibe in the second 3rd, and then the final 3rd has just become a dumping ground.

Ultimately I think it'll be a space for a smiths machine. It does get quite cold in here though, and dust/crud from the workshop can make its way over (I think I am going to buy a dedicated shop vac for in here, often the main vac is by the job site).

Broadly, I am thinking I clear out everything, including the old workbench/MDF tool board (a bit sacrilege as I like 'heritage' things like that) and then do......something. Is it worth DPC'ing and fully separating the space? Insulating? Boarding out? Putting a ceiling in?*

Thoughts? Thanks!

*I am planning on swapping the roof in the 3-5 year time horizon and adding solar.

 

[itsallaboutyou]

Mega space that. The OCD in me says yes to all of the above!!

I’d definitely consider how you plan for the roof - bearing in mind the weight and number of panels. I’m aiming to do something similar on a 7x4 slab on which currently stands a lean to conservatory.

Almost a shame to cover up the quite tidy looking roof trusses with board and insulation!

But well jelly. I’ve got two bathrooms and another 5 fire doors before I can even contemplate the garage / workshop / bike storage.

Best of luck with the tiny human!

 

[Buffman]

Smith machine is for plebs, go for a proper squat rack stand. (Smith machine fixed range of motion is not a great movement if it's not accompanied with lots of other kit)

Id certainly want it insulated but to be honest for the cost of a gym membership I just prefer going to the gym with all the equipment there vs a cold shed vibe

 

[Nemiyen]

All the best with your second kid.

Smith machine is great for solo body building but I agree with the above, go for a power rack (decent one, not a cheap ass Ebay special) and set the height correctly etc and you'll be fine.

 

[Begbie]

Probably bang in a cheap Chinese diesel heater rather than insulate etc. cheap to buy and run, set up timers etc for before you workout.

Smith machine can have advantages too, do you plan to squat and dead?

What is your normal workout routine?

If no squat and dead, a bench and dumbbells is another great option - but dumbbells aren't cheap.

 

[dlockers]

Smith machine can have advantages too, do you plan to squat and dead?

What is your normal workout routine?

If no squat and dead, a bench and dumbbells is another great option - but dumbbells aren't cheap.

My work out routine is I didn't know smiths and power rack were different So nothing! I will be starting at 0.

Probably bang in a cheap Chinese diesel heater rather than insulate etc. cheap to buy and run, set up timers etc for before you workout.

Would that do the full 13x3m building? I like the idea of leaving the walls as they are, and I know I'll have issues insulating and joining up the DPC that's already there etc. So just whacking heat in sounds good

Id certainly want it insulated but to be honest for the cost of a gym membership I just prefer going to the gym with all the equipment there vs a cold shed vibe

Am not a gym bro, do not like gyms

Mega space that. The OCD in me says yes to all of the above!!

I’d definitely consider how you plan for the roof - bearing in mind the weight and number of panels. I’m aiming to do something similar on a 7x4 slab on which currently stands a lean to conservatory.

Almost a shame to cover up the quite tidy looking roof trusses with board and insulation!

But well jelly. I’ve got two bathrooms and another 5 fire doors before I can even contemplate the garage / workshop / bike storage.

Best of luck with the tiny human!

The trick is not to finish any jobs. You can move on quicker

 

[Begbie]

My work out routine is I didn't know smiths and power rack were different So nothing! I will be starting at 0.

Would that do the full 13x3m building? I like the idea of leaving the walls as they are, and I know I'll have issues insulating and joining up the DPC that's already there etc. So just whacking heat in sounds good


Am not a gym bro, do not like gyms


The trick is not to finish any jobs. You can move on quicker

Guy I worked with used one to heat a garage bigger than yours, and inside a van it's roasting within seconds. Worth a YouTube/Google, some guys heat massive double garages with them.

You can't (you can, but it forces your body movement - which can be damaging) squat or deadlight with a smith machine. They are useful for benching, pressing and other movements though. A cheap rack and some dumbbells would give you more options.

There's a home gym thread that has loads of advice on it.

 

[DRZ]

Would that do the full 13x3m building? I like the idea of leaving the walls as they are, and I know I'll have issues insulating and joining up the DPC that's already there etc. So just whacking heat in sounds good

Check out my thread on here but in short - yes. My double garage is a bit over 30sqm and with a cold deck roof with no insulation, a single glazed window, an alu double garage door and a draughty side door it'll keep a delta of +20c over ambient at the lowest permitted tick rate once up to temp. The air coming out of the thing is extremely hot at full chat. They cost pennies to run and with moderate tinkering can be (sorta) brought into Home Assistant and automated.

 

[itsallaboutyou]

My work out routine is I didn't know smiths and power rack were different So nothing! I will be starting at 0.

Would that do the full 13x3m building? I like the idea of leaving the walls as they are, and I know I'll have issues insulating and joining up the DPC that's already there etc. So just whacking heat in sounds good


Am not a gym bro, do not like gyms


The trick is not to finish any jobs. You can move on quicker

I’m in the 96.4% is good enough club!!

Wife is not, unfortunately!!

 

[Nemiyen]

I’m in the 96.4% is good enough club!!

Wife is not, unfortunately!!

Haha yeah I know the feeling! If it's functional, it's finished! Painting and tidying up doesn't count as a finished job.

 

[Martynt74]

My work out routine is I didn't know smiths and power rack were different So nothing! I will be starting at 0.

Smith machine is very similar to a squat rack but had the barbell in a fixed location which slides down poles on the left/right. It's good for some exercises as it restricts the "wobble", but then similarly you're better off learning the movements at low weight first.

Something like this effectively gives you everything you could need (maybe add a curl bar which has the bar a little bent to avoid wrist strain). You then also get cables for pull downs etc. Mirafit generally is a great balance of quality/price.

Mirafit Home Gym Rack Package

Strength train at home with this Mirafit Gym Rack Package. Includes power rack with cable system, adjustable weight bench, landmine, Olympic barbell and 100kg of bumper plates. With a wide range of exercise options, you'll enjoy every workout!

mirafit.co.uk

 

[Nemiyen]

Smith machine is very similar to a squat rack but had the barbell in a fixed location which slides down poles on the left/right. It's good for some exercises as it restricts the "wobble", but then similarly you're better off learning the movements at low weight first.

Something like this effectively gives you everything you could need (maybe add a curl bar which has the bar a little bent to avoid wrist strain). You then also get cables for pull downs etc. Mirafit generally is a great balance of quality/price.

Mirafit Home Gym Rack Package

Strength train at home with this Mirafit Gym Rack Package. Includes power rack with cable system, adjustable weight bench, landmine, Olympic barbell and 100kg of bumper plates. With a wide range of exercise options, you'll enjoy every workout!

mirafit.co.uk

That's similar to my setup, just a different brand though.

If you're OK with second hand kit, power racks and the like can be picked up super cheap if you're lucky enough to be buying when someone is selling.

I got all my kit for a fraction of the RRP prices from Gumtree or Facebook, I can't remember.

The only issue with mine is it's Domyos kit and they have a non standard OD hole for the bar and stuff! I keep meaning to go Olympic sizing but what I've got works fine for me.

 

[Martynt74]

The only issue with mine is it's Domyos kit and they have a non standard OD hole for the bar and stuff! I keep meaning to go Olympic sizing but what I've got works fine for me.

You can usually get adaptors for 25mm to 50mm plates. I got some as the cable pulldown on my rack uses the smaller plates. Unsure if Domyos would fit though if sizing is odd.

Agree with facebook. Especially for metal plates, although i much prefer rubber coated.

 

[Nemiyen]

I think the Domyos stuff is 28mm hole diameter so slightly not normal. They are a French brand (well, sold by Decathlon) so that probably explains it!

I'm sure there're adapters that can be used on these as well somewhere though, although I don't think I've got the width for an Olympic bar anyway as my rack is between a load of other crap in the garage.

I like the rubber stuff for not being as loud when they clash together, but I got metal when I bought them so that's all I've stuck with.

I do have some rubber ones for some exercises though but they're only lighter weights.

 

[jpaul]

looks enough space for a bike on trainer with zwift projection onto the wall,
home climbing wall would be my dream, mulling over something in new garage with 6m gable.

what are you using the summer house for though.

 

[dlockers]

Check out my thread on here but in short - yes. My double garage is a bit over 30sqm and with a cold deck roof with no insulation, a single glazed window, an alu double garage door and a draughty side door it'll keep a delta of +20c over ambient at the lowest permitted tick rate once up to temp. The air coming out of the thing is extremely hot at full chat. They cost pennies to run and with moderate tinkering can be (sorta) brought into Home Assistant and automated.

Cheers, your thread did ring a bell when someone mentioned it. I think that's a plan. When you say pennies - how much did you pay and what's the running cost? Feels relatively when talking to a man with a macca

 

[dlockers]

Smith machine is very similar to a squat rack but had the barbell in a fixed location which slides down poles on the left/right. It's good for some exercises as it restricts the "wobble", but then similarly you're better off learning the movements at low weight first.

Something like this effectively gives you everything you could need (maybe add a curl bar which has the bar a little bent to avoid wrist strain). You then also get cables for pull downs etc. Mirafit generally is a great balance of quality/price.

Mirafit Home Gym Rack Package

Strength train at home with this Mirafit Gym Rack Package. Includes power rack with cable system, adjustable weight bench, landmine, Olympic barbell and 100kg of bumper plates. With a wide range of exercise options, you'll enjoy every workout!

mirafit.co.uk

Top man thank you. I'll do more research but that does look along the lines of what I was thinking. Can you get these for cheap second hand or do people tend to hold onto them?

That's similar to my setup, just a different brand though.

If you're OK with second hand kit, power racks and the like can be picked up super cheap if you're lucky enough to be buying when someone is selling.

I got all my kit for a fraction of the RRP prices from Gumtree or Facebook, I can't remember.

The only issue with mine is it's Domyos kit and they have a non standard OD hole for the bar and stuff! I keep meaning to go Olympic sizing but what I've got works fine for me.

(Y)

looks enough space for a bike on trainer with zwift projection onto the wall,
home climbing wall would be my dream, mulling over something in new garage with 6m gable.

what are you using the summer house for though.

Interesting - never heard of it. Will check it out. That could effect layout. I was planning on a bike looking out of the window.

I could do a climbing wall outside actually...shed has eaves of like 5m when you add the pad. Interesting idea!!!

Summer house is an office/bachelor pad. Wife dominates downstairs TV so I do most of my chilling out on desktop pc. This way we have a space each for our own shows and a space for working, kids gear etc...

 

[DRZ]

Cheers, your thread did ring a bell when someone mentioned it. I think that's a plan. When you say pennies - how much did you pay and what's the running cost? Feels relatively when talking to a man with a macca

The heater was less than £100 and I run mine on Kerosene (which I wouldn't recommend unless you can keep the fuel outdoors safely as it STINKS). It costs about 20p/hr on kerosene, 30p/hr on pump diesel. You could take it a lot further than I have - people use EGR coolers to extract the wasted heat in the exhaust using water/glycol coolant and pump that around radiators in the space in addition to the air heating. You do get significant efficiency benefits doing that but it is a hassle (and cost) to set up and I've not quite got around to that yet.

 

[dlockers]

The heater was less than £100 and I run mine on Kerosene (which I wouldn't recommend unless you can keep the fuel outdoors safely as it STINKS). It costs about 20p/hr on kerosene, 30p/hr on pump diesel. You could take it a lot further than I have - people use EGR coolers to extract the wasted heat in the exhaust using water/glycol coolant and pump that around radiators in the space in addition to the air heating. You do get significant efficiency benefits doing that but it is a hassle (and cost) to set up and I've not quite got around to that yet.

That's awesome. Thank you! I'll check your thread out, I assume you link to the gear?

It'll be just to take the edge off in the winter.

 

[Martynt74]

Top man thank you. I'll do more research but that does look along the lines of what I was thinking. Can you get these for cheap second hand or do people tend to hold onto them?

Yeah, Facebook/Ebay.

Usually cheap as cost a fortune in postage so people are limited by selling locally.

Mirafit have an Ebay store too with seconds which i've found pretty decent in the past too.