So, I finally decided to tackle installing vinyl sport flooring in my home gym over in New Jersey. Why? Well, my old basement floor was concrete, and every time I did a workout, it felt like my joints were taking a beating. I saw some ads online about how vinyl could soften things up, and I thought, “Hey, why not give it a shot myself?”

Starting Out with the Plan

First off, I sat down at my kitchen table and started researching. Looked up prices for vinyl rolls and tools needed. Real talk: I ain’t no pro, so I figured DIY could save me some cash. Budget? Around 500 bucks for everything, which sounded decent compared to hiring someone. Next, I measured the space—about 200 square feet in my basement—just used a simple tape measure I had lying around.

Getting the Materials

I hopped in my car and drove to the local hardware store. Picked up a vinyl roll that was sport-grade, which basically means it’s thicker and meant for exercise. Also grabbed some adhesive glue, a utility knife, and a roller tool to smooth it out. Total cost? Ended up at 550 dollars, ’cause I splurged on extra glue for good measure.

The Actual Installation Process

Alright, here’s where the real work began. I cleared out the whole basement—swept the concrete floor clean, moved all the workout gear to the garage. Then, I laid out the vinyl roll on the floor and started cutting it with the knife. Measured twice, cut once, but still managed to mess up a corner. Had to trim it again, which wasted a bit of material.

• Applied the glue with a notched trowel I borrowed from a neighbor.
• Placed the vinyl down carefully, pressing it flat with the roller to avoid air bubbles.
• Repeat steps for the whole area, taking breaks every hour ’cause my back was killing me.

Hit a snag when I realized the floor wasn’t perfectly level—some bumps caused the vinyl to wrinkle. Fixed it by adding more glue underneath and using extra pressure from the roller. Took me two full days, working evenings after my day job.

Wrapping Up and Results

Once everything was laid, I let it dry overnight. Next morning, stepped on it and did some jumping jacks. Felt amazing—way softer than concrete, and it didn’t slip at all. Total time spent? Maybe 10 hours total, plus the drying. Costs stayed under 600 dollars with all the supplies. Sure, it ain’t flawless—there’s a small gap in one spot—but for a DIY project, I’m pretty proud. Learned that patience is key, and measuring is harder than it looks.

Would I do it again? Probably, but only if the space was smaller. It saved money and gave me a sense of accomplishment. Just don’t expect pro-level results without practice!