I've always dreamt of having an outdoor gym space, and I knew if I ever did it, I wanted turf. Turf is pretty expensive though, and the price was tough to justify seeing as I already have a perfectly functional garage gym. After spending a bit of time at the ole YouTube university, I felt like I had a good enough grasp on the overall process and decided to give it a shot — and honestly, this was actually one of the smoothest DIYs I've done yet (aside from the 120 degree heat index).
There's really nothing that requires a super high level of skill. It's really just making sure you're ready for a few long, hard, back-breaking days of labor. And while you may have second thoughts during the process, I'll tell you this: it's more than worth it. I work out pretty much every single day out there now, and the best part — there's no rules about being barefoot or shirtless. Plus, it's been an incredible space to play sports with the kids, for my wife to homeschool, and it creates the perfect environment to continue building a healthy relationship with fitness and movement by including our kids at such a young age.
The 10-Step Process
- Clear all of the grass, rock, roots, debris, etc.
- Level the ground.
- Install a weed barrier — make sure to overlap a bit, and hammer down spikes to hold it in place.
- Add gravel. I used 3 yards of plantation mix for 500 sq ft — use a hard faced rake to spread the rock to a 2–3 inch depth.
- Spray down water on the rock. This is a must before compacting, to reduce dust.
- Compact the rocks — the most important step, so take your time here.
- Lay and cut the turf. I used a box cutter and a lot of patience.
- Nail the turf down.
- Spread the sand — use a fertilizer spreader, then go over it all with a push broom (I used 12 50 lb bags).
- Water down the turf again.
Tools & Materials, By Step
- 1. Spade — shop here
- 2. Hand Tamper — shop here
- 3. Weed Barrier, Border & Stakes — barrier, border, stakes
- 4. Plantation Mix — shop here
- 5. Hose with a sprayer nozzle
- 6. Plate Compactor — rented from Home Depot
- 7. Turf & sand, purchased locally
- 8. Nails — shop here
- 9. Turf & sand, purchased locally
- 10. Hose with a sprayer nozzle
Cost Breakdown
Watch the Full Install
For the visual learners (like myself), my full install video walks through the whole thing start to finish.
Watch on YouTubeAlso Featured in This Build
If you have any questions, send me an email: adamckorson@gmail.com. I'd be more than happy to help!
*I am not a professional and do not claim to be. This post is for entertainment purposes only.
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