Alright folks, let’s talk hardwood gym floors. Been wanting to upgrade my garage gym for months, finally tackled it last weekend. Here’s how I figured out the costs step by step.

Measuring the Jungle

First I dragged my dusty tape measure across the garage. Did the old heel-to-toe shuffle to count steps – 15 feet wide, 20 feet long. Quick math: 15 times 20 is 300 square feet. Wrote that down on a pizza box because my notepad was buried under weight plates.

Wood Hunting Mayhem

Went to three lumber stores like a confused goldfish. First place tried selling me fancy Brazilian cherry wood – yeah right, like I’m made of money. Second spot had oak that felt like concrete. Finally found maple at the last store. Guy said it’s tough enough for deadlifts but won’t bankrupt me. Score.

Checked prices per box:

• Maple: $8 per square foot
• Oak: $10 per square foot
• That crazy Brazilian stuff: $15 per square foot

Hidden Cost Surprises

Almost choked when the clerk started adding extras:

• Foam padding underneath? That’s another $1 per foot
• Glue for the planks? $50 for buckets
• Delivery fee? $75 because boards won’t fit in my Corolla

Then remembered the trim pieces! Those little edge bits cost more than I expected – like $4 per foot for quarter-rounds. You think you’re done calculating and boom, more money holes appear.

DIY vs Pro Installation

Got a quote from some flooring guys just in case. They wanted $4 per square foot to install! Did the math – 300 sq ft times $4 is $1200 just for labor. Hell no. Watched four YouTube tutorials instead. Bought rubber mallet and knee pads for $40 total. My back might regret this later but my wallet’s happier.

The Final Damage

So here’s the ugly truth:

• Maple planks: 300 sq ft × $8 = $2400
• Padding: 300 × $1 = $300
• Glue + tools = $90
• Delivery + trim = $175

Total out of pocket? $2965. Could’ve saved maybe $500 with cheaper wood, but this maple should survive my kettlebell drops. Still cheaper than the $4000+ quote I got from pros. Moral of the story? Double every cost estimate you start with. Always.