I'm planning to relocate my Element Fitness Functional Trainer, which weighs about 950 lbs when assembled, from my garage to a second-floor room in my house. The machine has a weight stack of 210 lbs on each side, adding up to 420 lbs total, but I really need to free up space in my garage. My main concern is if my second floor can handle such a heavy piece of equipment without compromising the structural integrity of my home. Has anyone here successfully moved a heavy functional trainer or similar gym equipment upstairs? Would using mats or plywood to distribute the weight help, or is it just too risky? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
Generally, the standard live load capacity for residential second floors is about 40 pounds per square foot. To figure out if it's safe, you'll want to consider the footprint of your trainer, which is 61" x 37.5" (approximately 15.9 square feet). That would put you at around 636 lbs just over the floor itself, which is manageable, but it's close to the limits. If you're worried, I'd recommend putting down a larger sheet of plywood, like 8x8, and maybe adding some foam under it to absorb sound and protect the floor. Better safe than sorry!
I agree with the plywood idea, but definitely consider how much weight you keep on the machine when it's upstairs!
Have you thought about just moving it to the basement instead? You might be pushing the limits of what that second floor can handle. It might not collapse, but you could definitely notice some creaking or bowing over time. Moving it downstairs might save you a lot of hassle and worry!
That's a solid plan! Plus, fixing the plywood down could provide extra stability and prevent any bowing.