Complete Guide to Garden Gym Sheds

Transform Your Outdoor Space Into an Epic Garden Gym Shed: A Step-by-Step Guide

Driving across town to go to the gym is a chore – not to mention bad for your bank balance. It takes time and forces you to fork out extra money for fuel (unless you’re lucky and live next to your dream gym).

For this reason, many people are toying with the idea of garden gym sheds for outdoor fitness. With these, they step outside, walk a few yards across the lawn and start pumping iron without any usual hassle.

The convenience of setting up should be obvious. It’s right outside your house! Furthermore, you can enjoy it how you want without worrying about pesky gym etiquette. Once you’re done, it’s just a quick nip inside for a warm, private shower.

Are you considering obtaining one of these buildings? If so, this article is for you. We discuss what they should have, how to set one up, and the advantages they offer over conventional alternatives. You’ll learn everything you need to know about maintaining and organising your gym and success stories from users of these buildings.

So, without further ado, let’s dive in!

Key Features And Design Elements Of A Garden Gym Shed

A high-quality outdoor gym should have the following features:

Compact Size
Garden gym sheds are bijou compared to conventional gyms. Unless you have a massive budget or a warehouse in your garden, they aren’t as roomy as commercial facilities.

That said, this could be a good thing. Despite their compact size, home gyms still provide plenty of room for multi-gyms, resistance machines, treadmills, rowing machines, and yoga mats.

The average UK shed is 8 feet by 6 feet. That’s usually enough space for tools, the lawnmower, or a tiny gym. Planning laws limit the height of UK sheds to 2.5 metres at the eaves and 4 metres at the highest part of the roof. This is usually sufficient space for most equipment. However, you may need more than this to fit things like a squat rack or TRX apparatus.

Versatility
Another critical feature is their immense versatility. You can change things around as much as you like—it’s your space!

For example, suppose you want to train for the local village 10K run in the spring, but it’s the middle of winter. Add a treadmill and exercise bike to the workout space (and maybe a space heater if it is cold) and start trotting or pedalling to your heart’s content.

Likewise, to focus on strength and power, add plyometric equipment or a set of medicine balls. These can easily fit inside garden gym buildings and enhance your regimen.

Customisation Options
Converting a regular garden shed into a gym is okay, but you can often do much more to enhance your experience.

For example, why not add custom flooring and ventilation? These solutions can prevent dropped weights from harming the structure while providing fresh air to keep you cool during monster cardio sessions.

You could also play with the décor to make your gym space unique. Putting posters on the wall or adding series lighting can help the interior feel more personal and homely.

If you decide to build from scratch using 1st Choice’s premier buildings, you can enjoy even more customisations, including:

• Internet connectivity for overhead screens and TVs
• Attractive external cladding
• Fully insulated walls to retain warmth in the winter and cool in the summer
• French bi-folding and double doors
• Ultra-durable low-maintenance EPDM rubber roof with guttering and downpipe
• Internally lined plasterboard
• A choice of laminate flooring options
• Proper foundations and damp-proofing to prevent mould and unhealthy environments

All the buildings on this page can be made to suit your requirements. Please contact 1st Choice so they can advise you with prices.

How To Set Up A Garden Gym Shed At Your Home

Setting up your new gym shed takes some work, but the results, like consistent training, are worth it. Get it right; you will have the perfect space to transform your fitness and physique.

Choose The Right Spot
The first step is to choose the right spot for your new workout dungeon. Consider access, sunlight, and proximity to your primary dwelling.

If you plan to convert an existing shed into a gym, consider moving it to a better location. Working out at the bottom of your garden is less convenient than next to your patio or decking. (You might dislike the idea of long walks across the lawn in winter).

Also, consider the gym’s proximity to your home for running power lines. Digging a trench across your garden is more hassle than running a cord a few feet from your home’s rear.

Lastly, pick a location with level ground as they require flat surfaces. (You don’t want heavy dumbbells rolling over your toes because the floor isn’t level!)

If you need access to a flat area, get professional contractors to build a concrete base. These provide reliable support for structures built on top.

Prepare The Groundwork
The next step is to prepare the groundwork for your gym shed. You don’t need planning permission for sheds in the UK as long as they fall under permitted development rules.

The first step is to lay the foundations (if you still need to get them). You can choose from:

• Pouring concrete into an excavated pit (sometimes reinforced with rebar)
• Laying aggregate and placing paving slabs on top of it, joined together with suitable mortar
• Using a wooden foundation supported on waterproof concrete pillars

Concrete is often the most durable option but also the most expensive. To be suitable for DIY, you need to have professional experience.

Paving slabs are more traditional and affordable but will only support small sheds or garden buildings. Finally, wooden foundations are cheap if you already have a proper aggregate sub-base and level concrete blocks in place. They are an attractive alternative to stone or concrete. Take a look at the foundation options from 1st Choice, which will make your life easier.

Assemble The Unit
Once you finish the groundwork, it is time to assemble the shed. Some sheds come complete, others pre-fabbed. 1st Choice’s sheds include free installation to save you time, money and effort and are made from premium materials to your specifications. You have complete control over the design and specification (unlike flat-pack or pre-fabbed alternatives).

Fit The Interior
The next step is to fit the interior. This part is where things get fun. Consider the following:

• The flooring you want to use. Most gyms have laminate or durable rubber floors able to absorb shocks and impacts
• The fitness equipment you want to include. You could focus on weights, cardio, plyometrics or all three.
• The lighting and heating systems. Some shed-based gyms use electric underfloor heating to stay warm in winter and install bright spotlights for evening and early-morning sessions. Consider future-proofing your gym with air-conditioning for the summer months (just in case of another heat wave like 2022’s).
• The weatherproofing you will include. These buildings need insulation, ventilation and waterproof roofs to cope with the changing British weather. Exhaust fans may also be necessary in small sheds or when condensation is an issue from all the sweat.

Apply The Finishing Touches
The final step is to personalise it. You want to make it feel like yours. Add paint, wood panelling, wall artwork, and various storage solutions to reduce clutter.

Getting a licensed electrician to install the various power outlets and ensure everything meets electrical standards is essential. You should not do it yourself.

Tips For Setting Up Your Garden Gym Shed

Here are some additional tips to consider when setting up your new building:

• Measure the space available for your shed before you start building. Check you have enough room for the equipment you want it to house.
• Ensure you add padding and cushioning above and below hard floors to prevent dropped weights from causing damage.
• Add soundproofing to your gym building if you grunt or play loud music to avoid annoying the neighbours.
• Include plenty of wall mounts for TVs to entertain you during extended cardio sessions.
• Place hooks for jackets and coats on the back of the doors.

Advantages Of A Garden Gym Shed Over A Traditional Gym Membership

There are so many advantages over a traditional gym membership that it’s hard to list them all. Discovering the joys of working out on your property changes your perspective.

Cost-Effectiveness
Starting the ball rolling, these buildings are considerably less expensive month-to-month than conventional gym memberships. The average subscription price is £40 monthly (or £480 per year), a significant chunk of the average annual income.

The only ongoing costs you will pay are for maintenance and energy. Fortunately, 1st Choice only installs garden buildings made of premium materials to enhance their longevity.

Privacy And Comfort
Garden Shed Gyms also boost privacy and comfort. You don’t have to work out with others who are watching you sweat and grunt.

This aspect is especially attractive to people who feel self-conscious at commercial gyms. You can do any yoga pose or stretch without anyone watching you.

Customisation
Customisation is another benefit of these buildings. You can personalise the space and equip it for your specific training requirements. With commercial gyms, you have to make do with whatever management provides.

Convenience
Finally, they will provide unrivalled convenience. You don’t have to navigate rush hour traffic or cycle in the cold to get your workout. Commutes take seconds, not hours.

Once you’re done, you can hop in the shower immediately. You don’t have to drive home sweating in your car before rinsing yourself down.

Creative Ways To Personalise And Customise Your New Gym Shed

How you personalise and customise is a matter of personal taste. It’s your outbuilding, so you can do whatever you want!

In addition, planning laws are lax. As mentioned above, permitted development rights give you considerable leeway.

With that in mind, here are some creative ideas to consider:

• Add a motivational board. Post a picture of yourself to show your progress every month.
• Add skylights. Take advantage of your gym in the garden and allow natural light to enter.
• Include mood lighting. Install multi-coloured LED strips that change and create different moods for your workouts.
• Create a theme you love. Banish the grey and miserable British weather with a tropical theme, or indulge your zen ideals with a minimalist and calming interior.
• Post your favourite athletes and bodybuilders on the wall. Work towards their aspirational physiques or fitness levels. (Frank Zane, anyone?)
• Add some plants. Including greenery in the space helps bring your garden inside and fosters a relaxing atmosphere.
• Include Bluetooth speakers. Control the music, podcasts, and radio shows you listen to from your phone.
• Hang mirrors. Check your form and ogle your biceps with full-length reflective surfaces.

Ultimately, it’s your space. You control how your gym building looks and feels. Keep experimenting until you find something you like, or get inspiration from people who’ve done it already.

Tips For Maintaining And Organising Your New Shed Building

These buildings are practical home additions, but organising them can be challenging. You have to fit a lot of items into a small space.

Keeping them clean is even more difficult. It would help if you dealt with dust, condensation, and the trainers strewn across the floor.

Feeling stuck? Here are some tips to stay on top of organisation, maintenance, and cleaning:

• Sweep the floor regularly. Get rid of dust, dirt and grime brought in from the garden. Keep mats near the entrance to trap particles dragged in from outside.
• Plan on monthly or quarterly deep clean days. Use these to scrub your equipment and remove stubborn grime and debris.
• Categorise gym items into boxes. Add shelves, hooks, and chests to keep similar items together. Buy exercise equipment with its own storage devices (such as racks of dumbbells).
• Add pegboards and cabinets. Keep bar clips, hand exercisers, and jump ropes accessible on modifiable boards. Add medicine balls to cabinets.
• Control moisture levels. Install vents and add dehumidifiers. Low humidity will protect equipment from rust and prevent mould buildup. Aim for humidity levels between 45% and 65%.
• Inspect your shed for leaks. Check for cracks in the woodwork, floors, and ceiling. Small issues can develop into more significant problems over time.
• Insulate your shed. Extremes of hot and cold may damage your gym equipment, particularly rubber components like seals. Padding in the walls and ceilings helps maintain consistent heat levels between midnight and noon.
• Declutter and rotate. Clear out items you’re not using and replace them with ones you will use. Don’t keep anything in your gym that doesn’t serve a practical purpose.

Conclusion – Why A Garden Gym Shed Is A Perfect Addition To Your Home

By now, you should know why these buildings could be the perfect addition to your home. It offers the ultimate cost-effective convenience for the committed gym enthusiast. You never have to commute to the gym again and have all the privacy you will ever need. You can sweat peacefully instead of worrying about people ogling you or watching you stretch.

You can also make your gym space your own. You don’t have to follow whatever your local gym insists is good music, equipment, or décor.

If you haven’t invested in a shed gym yet for backyard fitness, you’re missing out. These incredible workout spaces are compact, versatile, functional, and customisable, providing everything you need to enjoy exercise, bust through plateaus, and get the physique of your dreams.

So what are you waiting for? Phone today and get your project started.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Garden Gym Sheds