Our basement, where our gym is, had tile when we moved in. We have it completely covered with the interlocking rubber gym floor tiles. Easy to clean.

I like an 'entry level' cork floating floor in a work out area (utilitarian pattern). You can seal the floating cork floor if you want. But it doesn't need it. Cork dimples (dents that pop out with heat) when heavy objects are placed on them for long periods of time (like a king sized bed, etc).

An area rug underneath the workout bike will prevent the dimples from happening. You can use floating cork flooring throughout the basement area. It *should cost the same as a higher-priced laminate ($3/sf). It can do everything a carpet can do...and more.

If cork floating floors (click-together flooring) interests you:

www.icorkfloor.com

Order some samples from Anne. If it is something you are going to work with, ask the builder to create a concrete slab that is ready for a floating laminate floor. That's all the prep you will need.

Or you could do large vinyl flooring that looks like tile, so that it would be resilient and easy to clean while still looking like a normal room flooring for when guests pass through.

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