Deadlifting at home...floor protection?

I'm thinking about buying some weightlifting equipment for a backup plan (we're expecting a child...and I'm realistic about not making it to the gym as much).

As far as deadlifting goes, I was wondering how much protection I would need for the ground. Would a layer or 2 of carpet be OK? I'll be lifting about 325-350 lbs at the most...and I don't drop the weights too hard. Assume no bumper plates either.

Any feedback would be appreciated...thanks!

All I ended up doing was built a small deck basically. I took 4 layers of playwood, 4 ft by 4 ft and put some horse stall rubber mats down on top of that, glued the mat to the plywood and worked well for my use. That was before I started attending a local gym though. I haven't used it for a while and it got put outside which ended up rotting.

can't you just purchase some of those floor protectors they sell at dicks. What type of flooring do you have, tiles?

^

It's a concrete floor. Can I find examples of these floor protectors online?

Use horse mats from a farm store. Check out this article on building a lifting platform: http://www.ironmind.com/ironmind/ope...weathome6.html
I think for your needs, horse mats on top of 3/4" plywood would be good.

Originally Posted by leveque

^

It's a concrete floor. Can I find examples of these floor protectors online?

Mine had these cool interlocking rubber mats before:




I haven't seen them anymore though. The only other thing Dick's ever has is foam, which usually crushes pretty easily.

Other than that, the horse stall mats are probably your best bet.

Building a deadlift platform is probably your best bet. At our gym we have some that are 2 pieces of 1" plywood with 1" rubber mats along the sides the weight would rest on and another layer of plywood in the middle where'd you'd stand on. (I hope that makes sense.. I've had more than a few to drink...)

something like these. I've seen then in sporting good stores made out of pretty firm material.

Originally Posted by fpr

something like these. I've seen then in sporting good stores made out of pretty firm material.

If you get strong at all those won't help, and jackhammering and pouring a new floor is probably not tops on your list. Listen to travis and build a platform. I've dropped close to 400lbs from overhead and pulled close to 800 on ours and my basement floor is still intact.

Ben, can you get a picture of your platform?

I used squares of 1/2" plywood, and stapled some indoor/outdoor carpet on top. The plywood squares sit on top of a 10'X10' square of the same carpet that my rack/bench sit on. Concrete floor. It's been fine for years.

Yeah - I'll snap some pics tomorrow morning when we're back down there.

Originally Posted by Ben Moore

If you get strong at all those won't help, and jackhammering and pouring a new floor is probably not tops on your list. Listen to travis and build a platform. I've dropped close to 400lbs from overhead and pulled close to 800 on ours and my basement floor is still intact.

as far as you know then one day you'll lift them up and realize it was just about to fall through the floor

Originally Posted by ryuage

as far as you know then one day you'll lift them up and realize it was just about to fall through the floor

We've moved the platform to the new gym - the floor is fine.

here's a good video on building a platform...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jSHt5syE20

Here's a couple of articles too...

http://www.ironmind.com/ironmind/ope...weathome6.html

http://www.stumptuous.com/cms/displa...le.php?aid=152

here's a couple of sites for homemade stuff...

http://www.davedraper.com/pmwiki/pmw...EquipmentIdeas

http://www.geocities.com/fightraining/

Been trying to get some ideas together for a home gym as well and the above has been much of what I've found and that looks like it's good... I saw a homemade equipment thread here too that's probably got even better ideas but I couldn't find it... which is funny considering I found all this... Hope this all helps!! Let us know what you did... more info never hurts

The platform video is ok, but complicates it more than you need.

Take 2 sheets 4x8 plywood lay them next to each other long ways
2 more sheets at 90deg to the others on top
1 sheet 90deg to those in the middle and lay the rubber strips on the outside of that.

I dead lifted on concrete for a while and as I never dropped the weight so it really wasn't an issue besides the clanking noise. i ended up getting some of those interlocking mats anyway. Make sure to get thicker than 1/2". 1"+ being ideal.

Originally Posted by Ben Moore

The platform video is ok, but complicates it more than you need.

Take 2 sheets 4x8 plywood lay them next to each other long ways
2 more sheets at 90deg to the others on top
1 sheet 90deg to those in the middle and lay the rubber strips on the outside of that.

Just do this.

What is the deal of standing on plywood instead of the mat material that the weight sits on? Plywood and mat can really mess up a sumo puller. Not to mention the weight sink into the mat slightly whereas the puller does not when on plywood.

This is how I made mine.

1. Screw 3 sheets of 1/2'' (4'x8') plywood on top of each other (I used wood glue too for extra strength).
2. Screw a 3/4'' (4'x4') sheet of plywood in the middle.
3. Cut a 3/4'' (6'x4') piece of rubber matting in half long ways (so you end up with two 2'x6' pieces)
4. Using contact cement, stick down the rubber pieces and then use screws on the outer edges of the rubber for extra hold.

Here is me dropping 400+ on it

Video

Again, why stand on plywood? Is it just the cost of the mat?

Originally Posted by HeavyBomber

Again, why stand on plywood? Is it just the cost of the mat?

Yeah, the mat was $65 for a 6x4 piece. The plywood was like $15

Originally Posted by HeavyBomber

Again, why stand on plywood? Is it just the cost of the mat?

because that way the majority of the impact is on the platform. Also that way you can move it away when you're done. Dropping the weight on the mats if they were just on the floor would still leave damage over time

No, I'm not questioning why the plywood, I'm questioning why you don't place rubber across the entire platform?

Originally Posted by HeavyBomber

No, I'm not questioning why the plywood, I'm questioning why you don't place rubber across the entire platform?

In my own opinion, I think it is a cost matter. I thought about doing all of mine in rubber but didn't due to cost.


That and tradition as most Olympic lifting platforms seem to be set up the same way.