How to Build Lifting Platforms

Weight training builds strength, endurance and helps improve your physical appearance. While it adds these benefits, you may damage your living area due to the constant dropping of the weights. Weight lifting platforms give you the ability to lift high volumes of weight without worrying about it causing damage to your floor. You can make your own platforms using products found in hardware stores to avoid the expensive costs of purchasing platforms or repairing the damage from dropping heavy weights.

Things You'll Need

  • 4 sheets of 8-by-4 foot and 3/4 inch plywood
  • 1 sheet of AB plywood
  • 8-by-4 foot rubber mat
  • Industrial strength adhesive
  • Caulking gun
  • 1 1/4 inch wood screws
  • Drill
  • Reciprocating saw
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Place two sheets of the 8-by-4 foot plywood side by side. Fill the caulking gun with the adhesive and spread the adhesive along the ediges of the plywood sheets. Press the two boards together to allow the adhesive to hold them into place. These two boards will act as the bottom of your weight lifting platform.

    • 2

      Spread adhesive on the bottom of the two remaining sheets of 8-by-4 foot plywood. Lay them in the cross direction onto of the first two sheets of plywood. Laying them in the different direction will make sure that the cracks of the platform are not lined up which can cause the wood to split. If you need to spread more adhesive on the boards, do so before laying them into place.

    • 3

      Screw the 1 1/4 inch wood screws into place along the edge of the platform. The screws need to be placed 16 inches apart. Make sure you have screws in all the corners of the platform as well.

    • 4

      Spread adhesive onto the AB plywood sheet and lay it on the top portion of your weightlifting platform. This board will be where you will lay your weights when the platform is in use.

    • 5

      Cut the 8-by-4 foot rubber mat into 2 equal sections lengthwise. Spread the adhesive on the bottom of the mat and lay them on separate ends of the platform. The rubber mats are used to make sure you do not slip or slide when using the weight lifting platform.

    • 6

      Allow the platform one day for the adhesive to dry and settle before using it during training. Test out the platform by standing and moving on it to make sure it does not crack or separate in any place.