Originally posted by: StarsFan4Life
You guys convince my wife to put plywood as flooring in a brand new home.
I'm really not sure what you're looking for in this floor. If the hardness of the plywood is a concern, then it's probably not a good choice. I don't know what type of flooring is typical in a gym. The only gym I've used since college is at my wife's office, and it's just carpeted.
If you're just worried about the aesthetics, I don't think you understand what type of plywood I'm recommending. I'm not talking about ugly stuff with football-shaped patches. You can get a paint-grade sanded plywood at Home Depot or Lowe's for less than $40 per sheet. Paint it a color similar to the carpet, or paint it some other color. Or you could get the stain-grade stuff for $40-50 per sheet and a can of Polyshades for $10. You can get a piece of flat moulding to cover the edges.
Edit: Aren't the freeweight benches at gyms usually on a big rubber-ish pad? One of those would probably be a good solution to your problem. If you get something that is tiled, the tiles will probably pop apart because the carpet isn't a solid surface.