Okay, so I’ve been messing around with this idea for a basketball court, and I wanted to use this LVL stuff – you know, laminated veneer lumber. I thought it would be a fun project, and honestly, I was kind of curious about how it would hold up.

First thing I did was check out some of the LVL at the local shop. I needed to see it in person, feel the weight, and get a sense of how sturdy it was. It looked pretty strong, all those layers pressed together.

Then came the planning stage. I’m no architect, but I sketched out a basic design for a small court. I figured I’d start simple, and it wouldn’t be huge. Just something to play around, not an official sized court.

The Prep Work:

• I leveled the ground where I wanted the court to be. This took some time and a lot of effort.
• I laid down a base of gravel, get it well compacted.
• I built a simple wooden frame to contain the LVL “floor.” Just some basic 2x4s, nothing fancy.

Next, I started laying down the LVL panels. I cut them to size – and let me tell you, cutting that stuff was a bit of a workout! It’s solid. I made sure they fit snugly within the frame, kind of like a giant puzzle.

Once I got all the pieces in place, I fastened them together. I used some heavy-duty screws and some construction adhesive – I wanted this thing to be solid. I figure, it is basketball, there is going to be jumping.

The final step was applying a sealant. I wanted to protect the wood from the elements, especially rain. I found a sealant designed for outdoor use and gave the whole surface a couple of coats. Wait for it to dry for a couple of days, then get ready to play.

After all, the kids and I shot some hoops on it, and it felt pretty good! It’s got a nice, solid feel underfoot. It’s definitely not the same as a professional court, but for a DIY project, I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. It’s been holding up pretty well so far, even after a few rainstorms. I might need to reapply the sealant eventually, but that’s just part of the maintenance.