Okay, here’s my blog post about assembling a keel volleyball engineer board wooden floor, written from a personal, practical perspective:

Alright, folks, so I decided to tackle a pretty big project – putting in a new wooden floor, specifically designed for volleyball. It’s one of those “keel” systems, with an “engineer board” surface. Sounds fancy, but really it just means it’s built for bounce and to take a beating. I’m no pro, so I have no idea, I just followed the instructions.

Getting Started

First thing I did was clear out the entire space. Everything. Furniture, rugs, the whole nine yards. Gotta have a blank canvas, right? Then I gave the subfloor a good sweep and vacuum. You don’t want any little bits of debris messing with the level of your new floor.

The Underlayment

Next up, the underlayment. This is important. The design I purchased came with rolls of this stuff that’s supposed to help with sound dampening and provide a little extra cushion. I rolled it out, making sure to overlap the edges by a few inches, like the instructions said. I am not professional, Then I taped the seams together with some heavy-duty tape. Don’t cheap out on the tape, trust me.

Laying the Keel System

This was the most interesting part. The “keel” is basically a framework of interlocking pieces, usually made of some kind of composite material. It creates the air space that gives the floor its springiness.

I start to connect the pieces together. It’s like a giant puzzle.

I have to make sure they snapped together securely, no gaps. I didn’t use any glue or nails for this part – it’s all designed to fit snugly.

Installing the Engineer Boards

Now for the actual flooring. These engineer boards are like big, pre-finished planks. They have a tongue-and-groove system, so they fit together pretty easily. I have to remember to read the instructions again before I started!

I started along one wall, making sure to leave a small expansion gap (the instructions told me how much). This is crucial, because wood expands and contracts with changes in humidity. Then I worked my way across the room, row by row. Each board I slid into place, using a tapping block and a mallet to gently tap them together. Don’t go crazy with the mallet, or you’ll damage the edges!

For some of the trickier cuts around doorways and corners, I had to break out the saw. Not gonna lie, that was a little nerve-wracking, but I measured twice (or three times) and cut once. Slow and steady wins the race.

Finishing Touches

Once all the boards were down, I installed the baseboards around the perimeter of the room. This covers up the expansion gap and gives it a nice, finished look. I nailed those in place, being careful not to hit the new floor.

The Result

I have to say that it looks awesome. It took a good chunk of time and some serious sweat equity, but the floor is solid, springy, and ready for some serious volleyball action (or, you know, just walking around).

The first time to play on it feels good!

If I can do it, anyone can. Just take your time, read the instructions, and don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty!